Movimento dos Capitães

The Movimento dos Capitães , Portuguese for movement of the captains , was formed in August 1973 in the Portuguese armed forces as a forerunner of the Movimento das Forças Armadas (MFA).

The protagonists were initially simple and medium-sized portepees within the officer corps, and their first demands were only of a corporate nature. In a short time the movement clearly defined itself and was decisively jointly responsible for the final overthrow of the Estado Novo regime under Salazar's successor Marcelo Caetano through the Carnation Revolution of April 25, 1974.

In general usage in Portugal, the terms Capitães de Abril ("Captains of April"), Movimento dos Capitães and Movimento das Forças Armadas (MFA) are often used synonymously. This is the name of the film Carnations for Freedom , which vividly depicts the Carnation Revolution, in the Portuguese original title Capitães de Abril .