thumb|300px|Portuguese military in public order duty during a Maoist demonstration at the Rossio Square, Lisbon, in the troubled period which followed the Carnation Revolution On the morning of 25 April 1974, the Armed Forces Movement (MFA, Movimento das Forças Armadas) – consisting mostly of junior officers of the three service branches – launched a coup d'état, known as the Carnation Revolution, which would bring an end to the New State regime and shortly the Overseas War. While the revolt included several military units located on the mainland, the forces that departed from the Cavalry School located in Santarém, led by captain Salgueiro Maia, were the ones that managed to obtain the surrender of prime-minister Marcelo Caetano after a stand-off at the National Republican Guard headquarters in Lisbon, where he and some other members of the Government had taken refuge.
thumb|300px|portuguese military in public order duty during a maoist demonstration at the rossio square lisbon in the troubled period which followed the carnation revolution on the morning of 25 april 1974 the armed forces movement (mfa movimento das forças armadas) – consisting mostly of junior officers of the three service branches – launched a coup d'état known as the carnation revolution which would bring an end to the new state regime and shortly the overseas war while the revolt included several military units located on the mainland the forces that departed from the cavalry school located in santarém led by captain salgueiro maia were the ones that managed to obtain the surrender of prime-minister marcelo caetano after a stand-off at the national republican guard headquarters in lisbon where he and some other members of the government had taken refuge