Pedro I of Brazil

Dom Pedro I, known as "the Liberator," was the first ruler of the Empire of Brazil from 1822 to 1831. He was also King of Portugal in 1826 as Pedro IV. Pedro was born in Lisbon in 1798. His parents were King Dom John VI of Portugal and Queen Carlota Joaquina.

When French troops came to Portugal in 1807, Pedro and his family moved to Brazil, which was Portugal's biggest colony.

In 1821, Pedro stayed in Brazil to rule while his father went back to Portugal. Pedro decided to support Brazil when Portugal tried to take away Brazil’s freedom. On September 7, 1822, Pedro declared Brazil’s independence from Portugal. On October 12, 1822, people chose him as Emperor.

Pedro worked to protect Brazil’s new status. He faced many challenges, but his actions helped shape the future of Brazil and Portugal. Pedro I died in 1834 from tuberculosis.

Early years

Pedro was born on October 12, 1798, in the Queluz Royal Palace near Lisbon, Portugal. He was named after St. Peter of Alcantara. Pedro belonged to the House of Braganza through his father, Prince Dom John, who later became King Dom John VI.

When Pedro was nine, his family left Portugal because French soldiers were coming. They went to Rio de Janeiro, the capital of Brazil at that time. Pedro read stories and learned from the ship's crew during the trip. In Brazil, Pedro lived with his father and brother in the Palace of São Cristóvão. Pedro's mother, Carlota Joaquina, had a difficult relationship with her husband.

Pedro was taught many subjects like mathematics, history, and languages, including Latin and French. He loved physical activities such as horseback riding and training horses. Pedro also enjoyed music, drawing, and working with wood. He married Archduchess Maria Leopoldina in 1817, and they had seven children together.

Independence of Brazil

Main article: Independence of Brazil

Liberal Revolution of 1820

Main article: Liberal Revolution of 1820

In October 1820, soldiers in Portugal rebelled and started what is called the Liberal Revolution of 1820. They wanted a new government and a constitution. Pedro, the son of the king of Portugal, was asked to go to Portugal to help calm things down. Pedro believed in freedom and fair government, which was different from his father the king, who wanted strong, absolute rule.

Pedro’s father delayed sending him to Portugal. In February 1821, soldiers in Brazil also rebelled. Pedro spoke to them and helped his father agree to their requests. When his father left for Portugal in April 1821, Pedro stayed behind in Brazil.

Independence or Death

Pedro worked to protect people’s rights and lower taxes. In January 1822, the Portuguese government ordered Pedro to return to Portugal, but many Brazilians did not want him to go. Pedro told them, “I am staying,” and this day is remembered as the Day of Stay. When soldiers tried to force him to leave, Pedro stood firm and they left Brazil.

Pedro traveled to different parts of Brazil to gain support. In September 1822, he heard that Portugal would not allow Brazil to govern itself. Pedro declared Brazil’s independence, saying, “By my blood, by my honor, by my God, I swear to bring about the independence of Brazil.”

Constitutional Emperor

Pedro became Emperor Dom Pedro I on October 12, 1822, when the Empire of Brazil was created. He was crowned emperor later that year. Some areas of Brazil did not accept his rule at first, but they joined later.

Pedro and his minister, José Bonifácio, had disagreements. Pedro dissolved the group creating the constitution and formed a new one. Some people in Brazil tried to break away, but Pedro’s forces stopped them.

Crises within and without

After long talks, Portugal agreed to recognize Brazil’s independence on 29 August 1825. But the agreement was unfair to Brazil. Portugal demanded payments and kept special trade rights for itself. It even acted as if Brazil’s independence was a gift from Portugal, not something Brazil had fought for.

A few months later, Pedro’s father, King John VI of Portugal, passed away on 10 March 1826. Pedro then became King of Portugal as Dom Pedro IV. But since people in both Brazil and Portugal did not want the countries to join together again, Pedro gave up the Portuguese crown on 2 May in favor of his daughter, Maria II. However, he kept influencing Portugal’s affairs from Brazil.

In 1825, a small group with support from nearby Argentina tried to make Brazil’s southern area of Cisplatina independent. This led to the Cisplatine War. Pedro traveled to gather support for the war. After his first wife passed away in 1826, Pedro later married Amélie of Leuchtenberg on 17 October. Amélie brought kindness and stability to Pedro’s family and court.

Between Portugal and Brazil

Pedro I had to deal with many problems in sharing power between the emperor and the government. Some people thought the emperor should pick leaders, while others believed leaders should be elected. Pedro I followed the rules and did not try to control elections or stop people from speaking freely.

Pedro I also had different views about ending slavery, but he could not make big changes because many leaders still owned slaves. He tried to help by freeing slaves on his own land. Later, Pedro I became very upset with all the fighting and decided to leave Brazil. After some conflicts in Rio de Janeiro, he realized he could not control the situation anymore. On April 7, 1831, he surprised everyone by giving up his position as emperor and going back to Europe. He said goodbye to Brazil, a country he loved, with a sad heart.

Main article: Abdication of Pedro I of Brazil

Return to Europe

Portuguese Civil War

Main article: Liberal Wars

Pedro left Brazil and went back to Europe in 1831. He traveled on a British ship and reached France. There, he used the title of Duke of Braganza. He missed his children a lot and wrote them letters, telling them to study well.

Pedro became friends with a well-known American hero, Gilbert du Motier, Marquis of Lafayette. With some supporters, Pedro created a small army and sailed to Portugal to help his daughter Maria II take her place as ruler. They arrived in the city of Porto and worked for a long time to help control the country.

Death

See also: First Carlist War

While Pedro was in Portugal, he faced many difficult situations. Over time, his health got worse. He became very ill and died on 24 September 1834. Before he died, he asked Brazil to slowly stop slavery because he thought it was unfair. His heart was kept in a church in Porto, and his body was buried in a special place for his family.

Legacy

After Pedro I passed away, people could see his time as a leader more clearly. Even those who had criticized him said he was very important for freeing Brazil and Portugal. Because of him, Brazil became a free nation and did not break into small fighting groups.

When Brazil celebrated 150 years of independence in 1972, Pedro I's remains were brought back to Brazil with honors. They were placed in a special monument in São Paulo. In 2022, for Brazil's 200th independence celebration, Pedro I's heart was honored in Brazil before being returned to Portugal.

Titles and honors

See also: List of titles and honours of the Portuguese Crown

Titles and styles

Pedro I had many important titles during his life. Here are some of the main ones:

• From 12 October 1798 to 11 June 1801, he was called His Highness The Most Serene Infante Dom Pedro, Grand Prior of Crato.
• From 11 June 1801 to 20 March 1816, he was known as His Royal Highness The Prince of Beira.
• From 20 March 1816 to 9 January 1817, he was His Royal Highness The Prince of Brazil.
• From 9 January 1817 to 10 March 1826, he was His Royal Highness The Prince Royal in Portugal.
• From 12 October 1822 to 7 April 1831, he was His Imperial Majesty The Emperor of Brazil.
• From 10 March 1826 to 2 May 1826, he was His Most Faithful Majesty The King of Portugal.
• From 15 June 1831 to 24 September 1834, he was His Imperial Majesty The Duke of Braganza.

As the Emperor of Brazil, his full title was: "His Imperial Majesty Dom Pedro I, Constitutional Emperor and Perpetual Defender of Brazil".

As the King of Portugal, his full title was: "His Most Faithful Majesty Dom Pedro IV, King of Portugal and the Algarves, of either side of the sea in Africa, Lord of Guinea and of Conquest, Navigation and Commerce of Ethiopia, Arabia, Persia and India, etc."

Nobility

As the heir to the Portuguese throne, Pedro I held these noble titles:

• Duke of Braganza
• Duke of Barcelos
• Duke of Guimarães
• Marquis of Vila Viçosa
• Count of Ourém
• Count of Barcelos
• Count of Faria and Neiva
• Count of Arraiolos
• Count of Guimarães

Honors

Pedro I was the Grand Master of several important Brazilian orders, including:

• Order of Christ
• Order of Aviz
• Order of Saint James of the Sword
• Order of the Southern Cross
• Order of Pedro I
• Order of the Rose

As King Pedro IV of Portugal, he was also Grand Master of several Portuguese orders, including:

• Order of Christ
• Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz
• Order of Saint James of the Sword
• Order of the Tower and Sword
• Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa

After giving up the Portuguese throne, he received the Grand Cross of the Portuguese Order of the Tower and of the Sword, of Valor, Loyalty and Merit on 20 September 1834.

He also received honors from other countries, including:

• Knight of the Spanish Order of the Golden Fleece
• Grand Cross of the Spanish Order of Charles III
• Grand Cross of the Spanish Order of Isabella the Catholic
• Grand Cross of the French Order of Saint Louis
• Knight of the French Order of the Holy Spirit
• Knight of the French Order of Saint Michael
• Grand Cross of the Austro-Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen

Genealogy

Ancestry

Here is a chart showing the family background of Emperor Pedro I:

Issue

Here is a chart showing the children of Emperor Pedro I: