Afonso Augusto da Costa, GCTE, GCL ( Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐˈfõsu ˈkɔʃtɐ]; born in Seia, 6 March 1871; died in Paris, 11 May 1937) was a Portuguese lawyer, professor and republican politician. Costa was the leader of the Portuguese Republican Party and he was one of the major figures of the Portuguese First Republic.
Afonso Costa’s name is indelibly attached to Portuguese interventionism. He led the government when Portugal entered the First World War in March 1916; participated in the first Sacred Union cabinet; and led the second, starting in April 1917. He also led the delegation to the Paris Peace Conference from March 1919 onwards.
Arrested in Oporto, Costa was later on dispatched to the fort of Elvas, on the Spanish border. Never charged with any crime, he was released on 30 March 1918, leaving Lisbon for Paris, his home until his death.
After Sidónio Pais 's military coup d'état in December 1917, Costa went into exile in Paris and though he did sometimes return briefly to Portugal, he never again lived there, even after Pais's assassination in 1918.
Afonso Costa’s name is indelibly attached to Portuguese interventionism. He led the government when Portugal entered the First World War in March 1916; participated in the first Sacred Union cabinet; and led the second, starting in April 1917. He also led the delegation to the Paris Peace Conference from March 1919 onwards.
By the time he graduated he had already married and had made a name for himself both as a scholar and as a republican firebrand. His doctoral thesis – “The Church and the Social Question” – attacked Pope Leo XIII’s (1810-1903) encyclicals and propounded a reformist Marxist current. The prestige he gained as a lecturer in Coimbra helped his private legal practice, and this in turn boosted his political career in the Portuguese Republican Party, to which he belonged. He was first elected to parliament in 1899, a rare breakthrough for the Republicans. In June 1900, Costa defended a motion calling for resolute steps towards the establishment of a Republic. Shouted down by other parliamentarians, he warned the ministers present in the House: “ Rira bien qui rira le dernier ”.
Afonso Costa was born in Seia , Beira Alta and was baptized in the church of Santiago .
Afonso Costa was also known for his famous speech at the Chamber of Deputies on November 20, 1906, where he stated:
1871 – 6 March – Born in Seia, son of Sebastião Fernandes da Costa, lawyer and conservator of the land registry in that village, and Ana Augusta Pereira da Costa.
He married in Coimbra on 15 September 1892 with Alzira Coelho de Campos de Barros de Abreu (Oliveira do Hospital, Oliveira do Hospital , 20 April 1876 – Lisbon, 1970), daughter of Albano Mendes de Abreu, Physician , and his wife Emília de Barros Coelho de Campos, and writer’s sister , José de Barros Mendes de Abreu ( Oleiros , Vilar Barroco , 20 July 1878 -?), with generation.
It was played by Virgílio Castelo in the series ” O Dia do Regicídio “, produced by RTP in 2008 .
Between October 7 and 25 and between November 19 and December 8, José Norton de Matos was acting president of the Ministry.
Afonso’s education details are not available at this time. Please check back soon for updates.
Afonso Costa’s mother’s name is unknown at this time and his father’s name is under review. We will continue to update information on Afonso Costa’s parents.
Like many famous people and celebrities, Afonso Costa kept his personal life private. Once more details are available, we will update this section.
Zodiac Sign: Afonso Costa was a Pisces. People of this zodiac sign like romance, to sleep, spiritual themes and dislike the know-it-all, to be criticized, and cruelty of any kind. The strengths of this sign are being compassionate, artistic, gentle, wise, while weaknesses can be to be fearful, overly trusting and desire to escape reality.
Portuguese republican politician who served as the 59th, 64th, and 66th Prime Minister of Portugal. He was the leader of the Portuguese Republican Party, and played a key role in the passing of progressive laws.
He was given up at birth but was found by his parents ten years later and re-adopted.
He signed a law that banned Jesuits from Portugal and he established a separation of church and state.