Manuel II of Portugal

Dom Manuel II (15 November 1889 – 2 July 1932), sometimes known as the Unfortunate (o Desaventurado) or the Patriot (o Patriota), was the last king of Portugal, reigning from 1908 until 1910.

Manuel was born in the Palace of Belém, Lisbon, during the reign of his father, Carlos I. He was his third and youngest child. Before ascending the throne, he held the title of Duke of Beja. He received a traditional education. Manuel entered the naval school in 1907. He was never expected to be king, since it was expected that his elder brother would assume that role.

After the regicide in 1908, which killed the King and the Prince Royal, Manuel, then 18 years old, became king. He reigned as constitutional monarch through an extremely volatile political climate which culminated with the end of nearly 800 years of monarchy in 1910. As king, he believed that it was his father's direct involvement in political affairs that caused his death, so he limited the use of his powers in influencing the government; however, he was very active in solving what would become to be known as the Social Question. Manuel also ended some traditions, like the traditional hand-kissing ceremony.

During a period of unsustainable political instability the monarchy was overthrown in 1910, which converted Portugal into a republic. Manuel and his family subsequently fled to exile in the UK. During exile in 1913, he married Augusta Victoria of Hohenzollern. He created a considerable library by buying Portuguese books in auction houses. Manuel died in 1932 aged 42 at Twickenham, Middlesex.