Urban morphology as a theatre of power: the Pombaline paradox of secularization and enlightened authoritarianism in Lisbon (1755–1805)

Abstract

This study analyzes the transformation of Lisbon’s urban form following the 1755 earthquake, emphasizing how post-disaster reconstruction negotiated tensions between centralized authority and social equity – a framework that remains underexplored in Lisbon’s post-disaster urbanism studies. Through combining archival cartographic analysis with Geographic Information System (GIS), this study georeferenced and vectorized key pre-and post-1755 earthquake maps (Tinoco’s 1650 plan and a 1786 plan from an unknown author). This method resolves projection inconsistencies and metric disparities in historical units, enabling precise spatial comparisons of pre-and post-seismic urban configurations. The analysis reveals three aspects: (a) the 1755 event marked a paradigmatic shift from the traditional medieval urbanism, characterized by ecclesiastical and noble landmarks, to Enlightenment-inspired grid planning under Manuel da Maia and Eugénio dos Santos. This shift prioritized secular infrastructure and urban trade efficiency; (b) the Marquês de Pombal’s regime reduced the number of churches in Baixa by 47.1 per cent and secularized church lands through his anti-clerical policies, reflecting the Enlightenment-driven separation of state and religious power; (c) despite social reforms – Santos’ economic diversification and Maia’s public health initiatives – Lisbon’s reconstruction enhanced technocratic authoritarianism, with strategies for middle-class empowerment serving state-centric economic renewal rather than effective democratization. This research advances post-disaster urbanism studies by demonstrating how post-disaster urban transformation mediates power reconfigurations. It also provides a historical example for contemporary planners navigating tensions between centralized authority and social equity. The Lisbon case underscores that even Enlightenment-informed urban reconstruction risks intensifying social stratification when governance prioritizes economic renewal over performative democracy.