The nonviolent rebellion became known as the "Carnation Revolution" as protestors planted flowers in the military's rifles and tanks in a rare example of a military coup intended to establish democracy.
When a group of idealistic young military leaders revolted in 1974, it swiftly became a popular insurrection as the troops were joined by ecstatic spectators.
The revolution started on April 25th, 1974, in Lisbon. With minimal resistance from loyalist troops, it took less than 24 hours to depose the dictatorship that had controlled Portugal with an iron grip since 1926 under Antonio de Oliveira Salazar and since 1968 under Marcelo Caetano.
The events of April 25th shifted the Portuguese state from authoritarian dictatorship to democracy.
It came after a protracted period of social upheaval and power conflicts between left and right-wing political factions.
The revolution brought an end to Western Europe's longest-running authoritarian rule.
