General Bernardo de Sá Nogueira de Figueiredo
(Marquis of Sá da Bandeira)
Today is the 4th of April 1810, and we find ourselves in Queluz, at the gate of the Cavalry Regiment No. 11. A smooth-faced young man, with traits of a nobleman, has just dismounted at the doorway of the barracks, and asked the sentry for the Commander of the Unit. He was soon received by the Commander, who he found, in his office, surrounded by several officers, all poring over letters from Spain and Portugal.
Once the newcomer enters the room, the Commander, absorbed in his papers, asks him what he is coming for. The young man then explains that he would like to join the Unit as a volunteer. The Commander does not look open to the idea, but decides to interview him anyway:
- How old are you?
- Please know, Your Grace, that I haven't turned 15 yet.
Wrinkling his nose, the Commander addresses him: - And may I ask you who you are, Milord?
- I am Bernardo de Sá Nogueira de Figueiredo, the eldest son of Faustino Lopes Nogueira de Figueiredo, Governor of Cadaval, Judge in Oporto and Lord of the Prazo of Reguengo – was the answer.
- Listen, my young man – said the Commander -, you are young, the child of a good family, good people of law and jurisdiction, wealthy people of our land. The court will return and the court needs quality, well-trained noblemen. There, you will find an easier and faster career. You will be given royal favours. The career of arms is a career of sacrifice; a career of struggles and exhaustion, barely appreciated by the court. A nobleman like you has the right to an easier life, greater fame and income. So, go back home and follow that path.
- No, Sir - replied the young man. - The atrocities of our Fatherland’s enemies are too present in my mind, so that I may forget them. Tears of anger rolled out my eyes, tears the size of fists, when two years ago I saw them, worn-out and hungry, covered in mud and dust, crossing our fields of Santarém, marching towards Lisbon. Sir, at the age of 12, I was overwhelmed by rage and despair when I realized that the Portuguese had forgotten about their History and the greatness of a past made of sacrifice, yet full of Honour and Valour. Soon after, we all felt the weight of disgrace. I, myself, have seen General Baron de Thiebault invade my house, seize my horses, shred our property and our lives.
Sir, I do not aspire to riches, I do not wish to follow an easy career.
I want to do my duty, Sir.
And now that enemy forces are gathering in Spain to once again set foot on our land, I want to fight, even if this means the end of my own life. Sir, I’m asking you to accept me in your barracks to serve Portugal. Please be aware, Your Grace, that no other honour could bring me more greatness than following this Passion that warms my heart.
And, therefore, Bernardo de Sá Nogueira de Figueiredo joined Cavalry Regiment No. 11, in Queluz, as a Cadet.
Let us now go back to January 12, 1837.
We head to the Ministry of War, to the Minister's office.
Who will we find at the desk for the first time?
A 41-year-old man, with snowy white hair. He is Colonel de Sá Nogueira de Figueiredo, the Viscount of Sá da Bandeira. It is not hard seeing in him the young cadet we met 27 years ago.
How did he get there?
We must know where this man comes from and what ideas he brings along; this man who is today, for the first time, sitting behind the desk, as Minister of War.
Promoted to Second Lieutenant on December 15, 1810, he was placed in Cavalry Regiment No. 10, where he remained until 1812. In 1812 he was promoted to Lieutenant and transferred to Cavalry Regiment No. 4. Excited by the most enthusiastic ideal of serving the Fatherland, such a man could never be indifferent to the struggles that were taking place to expel the enemy from Portuguese land. And there he was, side by side with the forces in the field, fighting with bravery and boldness in many battles, many struggles, in the Peninsular War. Several times wounded, he generously gave his blood to defend the Fatherland, which was the source of his faith, the reason for his own life.
One day, in 1814, already in France, he was mortally wounded in Vieille. There, he would have remained, forgotten and possibly dead, if his warm and frank spirit, worthy of profound dedication, had not won over a man who raked through wounded and dead, madly searching for him on the battlefield.
He was ripped from the jaws of death, yet not from the Napoleonic armies.
He was taken prisoner by the enemy and as such interned in France. Released from captivity a few months later, a man like this could not remain inactive.
As soon as this soldier returned to Portugal, then belonging to the Cavalry Branch, he devoted himself to his studies. He enrolled successively at the Royal Academy of the Navy, the Royal Academy of Fortification, Artillery and Design and later at the University of Coimbra, where he studied Mathematics and Philosophy.
In other words, this man, already proven brave in combat, recognized the need for deeper preparation, and voluntarily committed to the mission of learning. Therefore, it was a natural step for him in 1819, upon being promoted to Captain, to join the Artillery. And, in 1820, when, for different contingencies, he found himself facing an exile in Paris, a man of this nature could not hold still.
No!
In Paris, he would study Chemistry with Gay-Lussac, Cuvier and other men who are notable in this science.
Shortly after, he began to study engineering, and when he headed to London, where he was also in exile, he continued to pursue his studies to become an engineer. He returned to Portugal in 1824, joined the General Staff, and soon went back to London to complete his course. In 1828, he was promoted to Major for the Engineer Branch.
Our intention was to acquaint you with the spirits of that Minister – a fearless combatant, a man who had devoted himself gloriously to the Fatherland in the battles during the Peninsular War, who had been made prisoner, who had deepened his knowledge dedicating himself, with outstanding performance, to the study of the most pursued subjects at the time, who had evidenced a bright mind, with a particular predisposition towards the scientific area, who had made proof of wisdom in all horizons of human knowledge.
It was this man, who had been close to wise men, who had lived persevering in learning all over the world, who sat today, for the first time, in the chair of Minister of War. And the first measure, to which his privileged mind gave priority, was to create a school for the training of officers. But a school that could bring unity. That is, a school that could bring together all the officers, and that, besides providing military knowledge, could instill core values in their hearts and character. And then, on January 11, 1837, he drafted the order, the law, to create the Lisbon Polytechnic Academy and on the following day the Army School.
One and the other were not separate, the Lisbon Polytechnic Academy was a military school to provide military preparation. And, only after having completed the courses at the Polytechnic Academy, the candidates could join the Army School. Only to be expected, the two schools were created in conjugation and in the same location, that is, the former Colégio dos Nobres.
The Second Portrait shows us this man guided by an Ideal.
The first Portrait shows us him following his Dream of serving the Fatherland, therefore refusing any career other than the career of Arms. In the second Portrait, we see him fulfilling his Passion for serving the Army and thus devoting himself to creating this School, certain that he would be starting an Institution capable of valuing, dignifying and exalting our Army.
Transcription of the 1956/1957 Yearbook of the Army School, pp. 15-17.
