Antonio Oscar Fragoso Carmona Portuguese military and political figure, Marshal of Portugal Date of Birth: 24.11.1869 Country: Portugal

1. Early Life and Military Career
2. World War I and Ministerial Roles
3. 1926 Coup and Triumvirate
4. Provisional Head of State and Transformation of Portugal
5. 1927: Appointment of Salazar
6. Presidency and Symbolic Leadership
7. Reelections and Legacy

Early Life and Military Career

Osvaldo Arnaldo de Sousa Carmona was a Portuguese military and political leader who served as Marshal of Portugal. After graduating from the Royal Military College, Carmona served in the army in both Portugal and the colonies.

World War I and Ministerial Roles

During World War I, Carmona did not travel to Belgium to fight on the front lines but instead commanded his corps from Lisbon. He later held the position of Minister of War from 15 November to 18 December 1923.

1926 Coup and Triumvirate

On 28 May 1926, Carmona played a leading role in a military coup alongside generals Gomes da Costa and José Mendes Cabeçadas. They established the "Dictatorship without a Dictator," a triumvirate of generals. Carmona became Minister of Foreign Affairs on 3 June but resigned on 6 July.

Provisional Head of State and Transformation of Portugal

Carmona served as provisional head of state, prime minister, and minister of war (until 16 November) from 9 July to 29 November 1926. During this time, he initiated a transformation of Portugal into an authoritarian state.

1927: Appointment of Salazar

In 1927, Carmona appointed António Salazar, who quickly restored the country's troubled economy, as Minister of Finance with extraordinary powers.

Presidency and Symbolic Leadership

Carmona served as acting President of Portugal from 29 November 1926 and was formally elected President on 15 April 1928. He resigned as Prime Minister on 18 April, and in 1932, he appointed Salazar to the role. Salazar's declaration of the authoritarian "New State" regime in 1933 effectively made Carmona a figurehead president.

Reelections and Legacy

Carmona was reelected in 1935, 1942, and 1949. He died in office in 1951 and was buried in the Jerónimos Monastery near Lisbon. His legacy remains complex and controversial, with some historians viewing him as a crucial figure in Portugal's transition to authoritarianism, while others emphasize his role in stabilizing the country after a period of instability.