Shortly after the 1885 Berlin Conference on the colonial partition of Africa, Portugal presented the Pink Map, detailing their claims to vast swath of African territory which they claimed to be theirs by right of discovery.
Most European powers accepted Portugal's claims, but Britain, possibly prompted by Cecil Rhodes and his ambition of building a "Cape-to-Cairo railway," rejected it, leading to the 1890 British ultimatum on Portugal. King Carlos I's acceptance of the ultimatum was one of the factors that contributed to widespread discontent with the monarchy, eventually culminating in the republican revolution of 1910.
But what if Portugal had gotten its Pink Map claims? I don't imagine this can be done solely through diplomacy, but maybe a minor British screw in Africa would suffice? Maybe they have more troubles with the Boers and the natives?
Anyway, what would be the consequences of Portugal getting all of that African territory? Would Angola and Mozambique be merged into a single colonial administration? Also, would the Portuguese monarchy survive?
Most European powers accepted Portugal's claims, but Britain, possibly prompted by Cecil Rhodes and his ambition of building a "Cape-to-Cairo railway," rejected it, leading to the 1890 British ultimatum on Portugal. King Carlos I's acceptance of the ultimatum was one of the factors that contributed to widespread discontent with the monarchy, eventually culminating in the republican revolution of 1910.
But what if Portugal had gotten its Pink Map claims? I don't imagine this can be done solely through diplomacy, but maybe a minor British screw in Africa would suffice? Maybe they have more troubles with the Boers and the natives?
Anyway, what would be the consequences of Portugal getting all of that African territory? Would Angola and Mozambique be merged into a single colonial administration? Also, would the Portuguese monarchy survive?