Alberto Monsaraz

Alberto de Morés Monsaraz (28 February 1889, Lisbon – 23 January 1959) was a Portuguese politician and poet. He was one of the central figures in the Integralismo Lusitano that dominated the far-right of Portuguese politics during the early years of the twentieth century.

Early years

Born in Lisbon, he was the son of the poet António de Macedo Papança, who became the first Conde de Monsaraz in 1910. In 1907 the young Monsaraz began studying law whilst also writing for the right-wing journal Pátria Nova. As a result of his involvement in monarchist politics it would be 1915 before he finally graduated. Independently wealthy due to coming from a leading family, Monsaraz was involved in funding a number of journals associated with the new movement, including Nação Portuguesa, Ideia Nacional and A Monarquista. The issue of succession proved a divisive one, with different elements within the movement supporting different candidates for the throne, and in 1925 Monsaraz resigned from the Junta Central as part of these problems.

Later years Monsaraz initially became even stronger in his national syndicalism and for a brief spell looked to Nazism, declaring Adolf Hitler to be his political idol. However this fervour did not last long and by 1936, when he returned to Portugal, Monsaraz had come full circle and was once again advocating Integralism. He remained a strong critic of Salazar, refusing to even mention his name and instead referring to him as "the orator of Sala do Risco", although by this time Monsaraz's political influence had all but ended.