Royalist attack on Chaves The attack on Chaves , which occurred on July 8 , 1912 , was a military action performed by supporters of the monarchy of Portugal in opposition to the Portuguese First Republic , which had been proclaimed two years prior . The attack was led by Henrique Paiva Couceiro , who had campaigned in Africa and who had become the leader of the royalists . The royalists had been discreetly armed by the Spanish king , Alfonso XIII , and had concentrated their forces in Galicia . The attack ended with a defeat for the royalist forces . First incursion ( October 3 , 1911 ) . Couceiro had undertaken a first incursion in 1911 with about 1 , 000 men , who had formed in groups of 60 - 70 men . They had left the town of Verín , 12 kilometers from the northern border with Spain , and had marched towards the border . Most of the men were from the region of Trás - os - Montes and were from a diverse array of social classes and skills . There were more than 100 priests in the group . In terms of military equipment , there were only 400 ancient rifles , a few Winchester rifles , and Mauser Pocket Pistols adapted to rifles , to which were added a score of semi - automatic pistol s , daggers , and swords . The 1 , 000 men had crossed the border after a long march in the mountainous region between Bragança and Vinhais , near the present - day Montesinhos National Park . The republican garrison in Bragança had waited for an attack that never came . This is because the royalists had changed their plans and now marched on Vinhais , which had a smaller garrison of men - only eighty infantry , cavalry and border guards . These forces from Vinhais had left the small town and had concentrated on a hill nearby . Negotiations were begun but the military commander of Vinhais refused to join or to surrender . He gave Paiva Couceiro two hours to abandon Portuguese territory . Meanwhile , the Vinhais commander had sent messengers to Chaves and Bragança asking for reinforcements . When day came and he saw the large group of royalists camped nearby , he knew that he would have to retreat and he did so . The royalists occupied Vinhais . They hoisted the white - and - blue flag of the monarchy and proclaimed the end of the Republic . Priests of neighboring villages and a band of villagers cheered them on and used the Republican flag for target practice . However , the royalists , who were expecting a general uprising , did not receive the support they were expecting . On the nearby mountain , Republican troops remained and at any moment Republican reinforcements were expected to arrive from Chaves . Thus , the royalists abandoned Vinhais , and headed for the border . The republican garrison from Vinhais had meanwhile retreated towards Chaves , where they had met the troops coming in their support . When they arrived in Vinhais the royalists had already left . Crossing the rugged mountains north of Vinhais , and reduced to about 600 men after desertion s , the rebels made their way back into Spain . The companies that still remained formed nine groups , some staying near Xinzo de Limia and Ourense , but the bulk of the column concentrated nearer the border in Verín . The attack on Chaves ( July 8 , 1912 ) . After a hard winter in exile the refugees were eager to fight again . In February Paiva Couceiro joined them in Galicia . It was hoped that the towns in the north , now more than ever , would come over to their side . They now had more men and material . The original plan was to cross the mountains of the Barroso , west of Chaves , and link up with followers of a pro - monarchist priest in Cabeceiras de Basto . The army was divided into three groups . One tried to capture the fortress of Valença do Minho across from Spanish Tui . This endeavor ended in resounding defeat and retreat back into Galicia . The second group , of 200 men , was to enter Portugal via Vila Verde da Raia and create a diversion for Couceiro ’ s larger plan . The third group , composed of 450 men was the main column , commanded by Paiva Couceiro . This larger group crossed the border near a small village called Sendin , north of Montalegre . 23 soldiers and some customs police defended the town . Alerting Chaves to the danger , these men from Sendin retreated to a nearby hill south of the town . Chaves was convinced that Couceiro would attack Montalegre and head south towards Cabeceiras de Basto . The rebels raised camp at dawn and moved east towards Chaves . In Padornelos a few people came out to greet them and offer their allegiance to the king and to the Catholic Church . Vilar de Perdizes was the next village , where the priest knelt to kiss Paiva Couceiro ’ s feet . Meanwhile , the military commander in Chaves , Augusto Ribeiro de Carvalho , not knowing of Paiva Couceiro ’ s move across the north , had decided to send the main part of his forces with machine guns towards Montalegre to stop the royalists ’ passage to the south . Another group of 100 men was sent to the border to resist a possible incursion from the small group of Royalists that were in Feces , across from Vila Verde . On the morning of July 8 the rebels appeared just outside of Chaves . No one had expected this attack , since the last news had the rebels just outside of Montalegre . The people of Chaves had not even paid attention to the warnings brought from the customs guards who had fled the northern villages . Chaves then came under attack . Augusto Ribeiro de Carvalho hurried to recall the troops that he had sent out a day earlier ; however , he also had local support from the townspeople . 150 civilian volunteers from Chaves , trained briefly months earlier , hurried to help the authorities against the royalists . The regular soldiers numbered around 100 . The battle was one of scattered firing with small arms and casualties were light . The rebels could not penetrate the defenses , nor could the garrison venture out to attack them . Meanwhile , the rebel group on the border , in Feces , had remained in its position , until they could hear the sounds of gunfire coming from Chaves . They crossed the border and managed to raise the royalist flag over the customs house . The small detachment of regular troops had meanwhile moved south to take up a better position . This group of rebels , nevertheless , never made it past the border . After a lull in the fighting , the royalists opened fire on the town with their two artillery pieces . The town ’ s guns had been taken away to defend the road to Montalegre . However , the Chaves forces were supplemented by reinforcing regular forces , who set up their artillery on a hill called Alto da Forca , south of the town , from which they could fire at will on the royalists . Royalist defeat . The royalists were unable to return fire , and this defeat resulted in a general celebration in Chaves . The streets filled with people , who were crying and laughing in each other ’ s arms . Paiva Couceiro ’ s forces suffered 30 dead . It is said that , near the border , a rebel soldier , not hiding his tears and rage , responded to someone who offered him a glass of wine : “ Why do I want wine ? What I only wanted was the Monarchy in Portugal . ” After the final dispersion of his men to Spain , Paiva Couceiro published a manifesto explaining his reasons for the defeat and proclaiming that his struggle was over . Tributes . In honor of the republican victory , in Lisbon a street was given the name “ Defenders of Chaves ” , and in Porto another street was given the name “ Heroes of Chaves . ”