Acclamations of monarchs

According to the Livro de Exéquias e Aclamações, held in the archive of the Funchal Municipal Council (Câmara Municipal do Funchal), Joseph I was acclaimed king in the city of Funchal on 4 January 1751; Maria I on 29 June 1777; John VI on 7 April 1818; Pedro V on 7 September 1855; Luís I on 20 January 1862; Carlos I on 28 December 1889; and Manuel II on 6 May 1908. The said book does not record the day on which Maria II was proclaimed queen in the city of Funchal, but it is known that this ceremony, together with the recognition of the Constitution, took place at the town hall (Paços do Concelho) on 6 June 1834. As we shall see in the article Restoration of Portugal, the acclamation (aclamação, formal public proclamation of a new king) of John IV took place on 11 January 1641.

In 1855 a pamphlet entitled Aclamação de S. M. F. o Sr. D. Pedro V, no Funchal was published in this city, describing the festivities held on that occasion.

For the acclamation of kings a procession was organised, joined by all the official bodies. It passed through various streets of the city, stopping at several points so that the councillors (vereadores) could announce there, with the customary ceremonial, the name of the new reigning monarch. This procession was discontinued only at the acclamation of Manuel II.