Editing Távora affair (section)

==Prelude==
In the aftermath of the [[1755 Lisbon earthquake|Lisbon earthquake]] on 1 November 1755, which destroyed the royal palace, King Joseph I took up residence in a tent complex in Ajuda, on the outskirts of the city. This was the centre of Portuguese political and social life at the time. The King lived surrounded by his staff, led by the prime minister, Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, and was attended by members of the nobility.

The prime minister was a strict man, son of a country squire, with a grudge against the old nobility, who despised him. Clashes between them were frequent and tolerated by the king, who trusted Sebastião de Melo for his competent leadership after the earthquake.
[[Image:Armas Tavora.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Coat of Arms of the Távora family.]]
King Joseph I was married to [[Mariana Victoria of Spain|Mariana Victoria of Spain, Infanta of Spain]], and had four daughters. Despite an attested happy family life (the King loved his daughters and enjoyed playing with them and taking them on nature walks), Joseph I had a favourite mistress: Marquise Teresa Leonor, wife (and aunt) of Luís Bernardo, heir of the Távora family. Luís Bernardo's parents, Marquise [[Leonor Tomásia de Távora, 3rd Marquise of Távora|Leonor Tomásia de Távora]], and her husband, Francisco de Assis, [[Count of Alvor]] and former [[List of governors of Portuguese India|Viceroy of India]], headed one of the most powerful families in the Kingdom. They were related to the houses of [[Duke of Aveiro|Aveiro]], [[Duke of Cadaval|Cadaval]], and [[Marquis of Alorna|Alorna]]. They were also among the bitterest enemies of Sebastião de Melo. Leonor de Távora was politically influential, preoccupied with the affairs of the Kingdom handed to, from her perspective, an upstart with no education. She was also a devout Catholic with strong ties to the [[Jesuit]]s, including her personal [[confessor]], [[Gabriel Malagrida]].