Lord Tim said:
In 1911, we became a republic. Some people, mostly the nobility and the monarch himself, disapproved of the republic and sought to re-establish their rule. They have become known as the Monarchy of the North, outside of Portugal.
In 1917, we joined the Great War on the side of the allied powers after the Germans attacked convoys of ours, ending our neutrality. We sent expeditionary forces to France, who fought with distinction, but were under the command of generals who were sympathetic to the monarchy back home. The generals gained the support of their men over the years of campaigning. When they return home the military began seeking political power once again, and knew they could achieve that power under the rule of a monarch.
In 1919, we had only been a republic for 8 years when the former king had decided to try and reclaim his throne. Supporters of his rule mounted in the North. The Portuguese civil war we are fighting is a struggle to maintain republic in Portugal, and mainly involves the two largest and richest cities of Portugal - Lisboa and Porto - facing down each other on opposite sides.
This is not all alternate history - it breaking out in civil war is alternate history but the rest is fairly close to reality. Where improvisation happens, see Spanish Civil War. >.>
