Painting of the "Naval Battle at Cape St. Vicente"

The clear sky of that day, July 5, 1833, was clouded by the smoke of the cannons. The calm sea stirred with their thunder, starting the last battle of the Portuguese Navy, exclusively fought between sailing ships off Cape St. Vincent. Morel-Fatio (1810-1871), the acclaimed official painter of the French Navy, recorded it impressively. The liberal armada swept away the naval power of the "Miguelistas" (King Miguel I supporters), contributing to the end of the Portuguese Civil War in 1834.