The Portuguese Crown Jewels and the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake

When the Great Lisbon Earthquake struck on November 1, 1755, it didn't just level the city—it also scattered the Portuguese crown jewels across the rubble. In this episode, we trace the story of the monarchy's most precious regalia: the Sceptre of the Armillary Sphere, the Crown of João V, and the legendary São Jorge Diamond. We explore how the jewels survived the tsunami and fires, only to be smuggled to Brazil ahead of Napoleon's invasion in 1807. Along the way, we uncover the secrets of the Portuguese Diamond Rush in Minas Gerais, the role of the diamond in financing the Age of Absolutism, and the mystery of the missing Braganza tiara. This is a story of greed, devotion, and the glittering symbols of an empire in crisis. #CrownJewels #LisbonEarthquake #1755 #PortugueseEmpire #Braganza #SãoJorgeDiamond #JoãoV #MinasGerais #DiamondRush #RoyalRegalia #Sceptre #Tiara #NapoleonicWars #BrazilColony #History #FexingoHistory #Portugal #Jewelry Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo