Constitutional Charter of 1826


The Charter of 1826 or Carta Constitucional, often simply referred to as the Carta, was the second constitution in Portuguese history. It was given to the country in 1826 by King Dom Pedro IV.
In contrast to the first constitution, the Portuguese Constitution of 1822, approved by the constitutional assembly or cortes and the Setembristas, quarreled bitterly, which ultimately led to civil war. The Carta was restored and set aside repeatedly as one side or the other gained the upper hand. Thus it served as the constitution of Portugal from 1826 to 1828, from 1834 to 1836 and from 1842 until the end of the monarchy in 1910. In 1852 the Carta underwent significant change in the constitutional reform intended to make it acceptable to the Setembristas as well.

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