King João IV

On December 1, 1640, this very palace witnessed a revolution that changed Portugal forever. A group of forty conspirators stormed through these halls, killed the Spanish secretary of state, and proclaimed the Duke of Braganza as King João IV, ending 60 years of foreign rule. João IV never wanted to be king. The wealthiest nobleman in Portugal, he lived comfortably at his estate in Vila Viçosa.

But his wife Luísa convinced him with legendary words: she would rather be queen for one day than duchess all her life. Within hours, he was crowned at this palace, becoming known as "the Restorer" of Portuguese independence. His decision sparked a 28 year war with Spain. Portuguese forces fought desperately to defend their newfound freedom, winning crucial battles like Montijo in 1644. João IV spent his reign fortifying borders, recruiting soldiers, and forming alliances with France and England to survive against Spanish power.

Beyond warfare, he was passionate about music and collected one of the world's largest music libraries here. He wrote treatises defending modern composers and even composed sacred music himself. The entire collection was lost in the catastrophic 1755 earthquake that destroyed much of the palace and the surrounding area.