Dom Pedro I

ABOUT

Pedro I & IV (Queluz, October 12, 1798 – Queluz, September 24, 1834), known as "the Liberator", "Father of the Country" and "the Soldier King", was the first Emperor of Brazil as Pedro I of 1822 until his abdication in 1831, and also King of Portugal and Algarves as Pedro IV between March and May 1826. He was the fourth son of King João VI and his wife, Queen Carlota Joaquina of Spain, and therefore, a member of the House from Bragança. Pedro lived his first years of life in Portugal until French troops invaded the country in 1807, forcing the transfer of the royal family to Brazil. Born: October 12, 1798, National Palace and Gardens of Queluz, Queluz, Portugal Death: September 24, 1834, Queluz, Portugal Children: Pedro II of Brazil, Maria II of Portugal, Maria Amélia de Bragança, Full name: Pedro de Alcântara Francisco Antônio João Carlos Xavier de Paula Miguel Rafael Joaquim José Gonzaga Pascoal Cipriano Serafim de Bragança e Bourbon Parents: João VI of Portugal, Carlota Joaquina de Bourbon Spouse: Amélia de Leuchtenberg (from 1829 to 1834), More Siblings: Miguel I, Maria Isabel de Bragança, Isabel Maria da Conceição de Bragança, Maria Francisca de Assis de Bragança, Maria Teresa de Bragança, Ana de Jesus Maria de Bragança, Maria da Assunção de Bragança, Francisco António, Príncipe da Beira

ABOUT

Emperor of Brazil Reign October 12, 1822 on April 7, 1831 Coronation December 1, 1822 Successor Pedro II Comonarch João VI of Portugal (1825-1826) King of Portugal and Algarves Reign March 10, 1826 on May 2, 1826 Predecessor John VI Successor Mary II Regent Isabel Maria Duke of Bragança Predecessor John VI Successor Mary II Birth October 12, 1798 Royal Palace of Queluz, Portugal Death September 24, 1834 (35 years old) Royal Palace of Queluz, Portugal Buried in Imperial Crypt, Monument to Independence, São Paulo, Brazil Full name Pedro de Alcântara Francisco António João Carlos Xavier de Paula Miguel Rafael Joaquim José Gonzaga Pascoal Cipriano Serafim.[1][2] Wives Maria Leopoldina of Austria (1817–1826) Amelia of Leuchtenberg (1829–1834) more...Descent Maria II of Portugal Miguel from Portugal João Carlos, Prince of Beira Januária do Brasil Paula Mariana from Brazil Francisca from Brazil Pedro II of Brazil Maria Amélia from Brazil Home Bragança Father John VI of Portugal Mother Carlota Joaquina from Spain Religion Catholicism

BIOGRAPHY

The outbreak of the Liberal Revolution in Porto in 1820 forced João VI to return to Portugal in April of the following year, with Pedro remaining in Brazil as his regent. He had to deal with threats from revolutionary and insubordinate Portuguese troops, all of whom were eventually subdued. Since the arrival of the Portuguese royal family in 1808, Brazil had enjoyed a great deal of political autonomy, but the Portuguese government's threat to revoke these freedoms created great discontent in the colony. Pedro sided with the Brazilians and declared Brazil's independence on September 7, 1822. He was acclaimed emperor on October 12 and defeated all forces loyal to Portugal by March 1824. A few months later, he crushed the Confederation of Ecuador, a separatist revolt that had broken out in the province of Pernambuco and spread to other provinces in northeastern Brazil. A new rebellion began in the Cisplatina province in early 1825, and the subsequent attempt by the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata to annex it led Brazil to enter the Cisplatine War. In the meantime, Pedro also proclaimed himself king of Portugal, quickly abdicating the throne in favor of his eldest daughter Maria II. The situation worsened in 1828 when the war in the south caused Brazil to lose Cisplatina, which became an independent country called Uruguay. In the same year, Pedro's younger brother, D. Miguel, was acclaimed King of Portugal by the courts. His extramarital sexual affairs created major scandals and also tarnished his reputation. Further difficulties arose in the Brazilian parliament, where political debates began to be dominated from 1826 onwards by the discussion of whether the government should be chosen by the emperor or by the legislature. Pedro was unable to deal with the simultaneous problems of Brazil and Portugal, and finally abdicated the Brazilian throne on April 7, 1831 in favor of his younger son Pedro II and departed for Europe.

BIOGRAPHY

Pedro invaded Portugal in July 1832 at the head of an army composed mostly of foreign mercenaries. Initially, his involvement seemed to be in a Portuguese civil war, but the conflict soon grew larger and encompassed the entire Iberian Peninsula in a dispute between supporters of liberalism and those who wanted a return to absolutism. Pedro died of tuberculosis on September 24, 1834, a few months after he and the liberals had emerged victorious. He was considered by contemporaries and posterity as an important figure who helped spread the liberal ideals that had allowed Brazil and Portugal to abandon absolutist regimes for more representative forms of government.

EARLY LIFE

Pedro was born on the morning of October 12, 1798 at the Royal Palace of Queluz, Portugal. He was named in honor of São Pedro de Alcântara and his full name was Pedro de Alcântara Francisco António João Carlos Xavier de Paula Miguel Rafael Joaquim José Gonzaga Pascoal Cipriano Serafim. Since his birth he received the honorific prefix of "Dom". His father was the then D. João, Prince of Brazil, with Pedro being a member of the House of Bragança. His grandparents were Queen D. Maria I and King D. Pedro III of Portugal, who were niece and uncle as well as husband and wife. His mother was Infanta Carlota Joaquina, daughter of King Charles IV of Spain and his wife Maria Luísa of Parma. Pedro's parents had an unhappy marriage; Carlota Joaquina was an ambitious woman who always sought to defend Spanish interests, even to the detriment of Portugal. There were reports that she was unfaithful to her husband, going so far as to conspire against him along with dissatisfied Portuguese nobles. Pedro was the second eldest son of João and Carlota Joaquina, the fourth child overall, becoming the heir apparent from his father with the title of Prince of Beira in 1801 after the death of his older brother D. Francisco Antônio. Since 1792, João had acted as regent on behalf of his mother Maria I, who had been declared mentally insane and incapable of governing. Pedro's parents moved away in 1802; João went to live at the Mafra National Palace while Carlota Joaquina stayed at the Ramalhão Palace. Pedro and his brothers D. Maria Teresa, D. Maria Isabel, D. Maria Francisca, D. Isabel Maria and D. Miguel went to live in the Queluz Palace together with their grandmother the queen, away from their parents who they only saw during state occasions .

EDUCATION

At the end of November 1807, when Pedro was just nine years old, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte's French army invaded Portugal and the entire Portuguese royal family fled Lisbon. The court crossed the Atlantic Ocean until arriving in March of the following year in the city of Rio de Janeiro, then the capital of Brazil, the largest and richest colony in Portugal. Pedro read Virgil's Aeneid during the trip and spoke with several members of the crew of his ship, learning the notions of navigation. In Brazil, after a brief stay in the Royal Palace, Pedro and his brother Miguel settled together with his father in the Palace of São Cristóvão. Pedro loved his father, despite never having been close to him, resenting the constant humiliation that João suffered at the hands of Carlota Joaquina because of her extramarital affairs. As a result, as an adult Pedro openly called his mother a "slut" and felt nothing but contempt for her. The experiences of betrayal, coldness and neglect What he went through as a child had a great impact on the formation of his personality and character as an adult. A small amount of stability during his childhood came from the presence of his maid Maria Genoveva do Rêgo e Matos, whom he loved like a mother, and his aide and supervisor the Friar Antônio de Arrábida, who became his mentor. Both were in charge of the prince's growth and tried to give him a proper education. Their studies encompassed a wide range of subjects that included mathematics, political economy, logic, history and geography and music. Pedro learned to read and write in Portuguese, as well as Latin and French. He was also able to translate texts from English and understand German. Later as emperor, Pedro would dedicate at least two hours of his day to reading and studying.

EDUCATION

Despite the scope of Pedro's instruction, his education proved to be deficient. Historian Otávio Tarquínio de Sousa stated that Pedro "was without a shadow of a doubt intelligent, astute [and] insightful". Meanwhile, historian Roderick J. Barman wrote that he had a "very effervescent, very erratic, and very emotional" nature. Pedro remained impulsive, never learning to exercise self-control, evaluate the consequences of his decisions or adapt his outlook to changing situations. João never allowed anyone to discipline his son. He sometimes got around his two-hour daily study routine by dismissing his instructors so he could carry out activities he considered more interesting.

FIRST MARRIAGE

Pedro found pleasure in activities that required physical skills rather than remaining in the classroom. He trained as a horseman at his father's Santa Cruz farm, becoming a good rider and an excellent farrier. Pedro and his brother Miguel enjoyed hunting on horseback through unfamiliar terrain and forests, sometimes even at night and in bad weather. The prince showed talent for drawing and crafts, making his own furniture and carving wood. Pedro also enjoyed music, becoming a skilled composer under the tutelage of Marcos Portugal. He had a good singing voice and was proficient on several instruments (including the piano, flute and guitar), and was able to play popular songs and dances. Pedro was a simple man both in his habits and in his dealings with others. Except on solemn occasions when elegant attire was required, his daily attire consisted of white cotton trousers, a striped cotton jacket and a wide-brimmed straw hat, or a frock coat and top hat for more formal occasions. He would often strike up conversations with people on the street, asking about their problems. Pedro and Leopoldina were married by proxy on May 13, 1817, with her taking the name Maria Leopoldina. She arrived in Rio de Janeiro on November 5, and immediately fell in love with her husband, who was far more charming and attractive than she had been led to expect. After "years in the tropical sun, his skin was still fair, his cheeks rosy." Pedro, then nineteen, was handsome and a little taller than average, with dark eyes and dark brown hair. "His good looks," according to historian Neill Macaulay, "owed much to his carriage, proud and erect even at an early age, and to his grooming, which was impeccable. Habitually neat and clean, he had adopted the Brazilian custom of bathing frequently." The nuptial mass

PERSONALITY

Pedro's personality was marked by an energetic will that bordered on hyperactivity. He was impetuous with a tendency to be domineering and temperamental. He was easily distracted or bored, and entertained himself with dalliances in his personal life in addition to his equestrian and hunting activities. His restless spirit led him to seek adventure, and sometimes, disguised as a traveler, he frequented taverns in the less reputable districts of Rio de Janeiro. Pedro rarely drank alcohol, but he was an incorrigible womanizer. His first known long-term affair was with a French dancer named Noémi Thierry, who bore him a stillborn child. His father, who in 1816 became King John VI upon the death of Maria I, sent Thierry away so that she would not threaten Pedro's engagement to Archduchess Leopoldina of Austria, daughter of Emperor Francis I of Austria and Princess Maria Theresa of Sicily.

INDEPENDENCE OF BRAZIL

News arrived in Brazil on October 17, 1820 that military garrisons in Portugal had mutinied, leading to what would later become known as the Porto Liberal Revolution of 1820. The military formed a provisional government and supplanted the regency that João had appointed, convening the Cortes, the century-old Portuguese parliament, this time democratically elected and with the aim of creating a national constitution.[57] Pedro was surprised when his father not only asked him for advice, but also decided to send him back to Portugal to rule as regent in his name and try to placate the revolutionaries. The prince had never been educated to govern and had previously never been allowed to participate. of state affairs. The role that would have been his birthright was actually held by his older sister, Maria Teresa; John trusted her for advice and even made her a member of the Council of State. Peter was viewed with suspicion by John and the king's closest advisors, all of whom adhered to the principles of an absolute monarchy. In contrast, the prince was well known as a strong supporter of the ideals of liberalism and a representative constitutional monarchy. He had read the works of Voltaire, Benjamin Constant, Gaetano Filangieri and Edmund Burke. Even his wife Maria Leopoldina commented that "My husband, God help us, loves new ideas". that his son would be acclaimed king by the revolutionaries as soon as he arrived in Portugal. Portuguese troops in Rio de Janeiro mutinied on February 26, 1821. João and his government did not take any actions against the rebellious units. Pedro decided to act on his own and went to meet the rebels, negotiating with them and convincing his father to accept their demands, which included the appointment of a new cabinet and the taking of an oath of obedience to the future constitution.

INDEPENDENCE OF BRAZIL

Portuguese troops in Rio de Janeiro mutinied on February 26, 1821. João and his government did not take any actions against the rebellious units. Pedro decided to act on his own and went to meet the rebels, negotiating with them and convincing his father to accept their demands, which included the appointment of a new cabinet and the taking of an oath of obedience to the future Portuguese constitution. from the parish of Rio de Janeiro met on April 21 to elect their representatives in the Courts. A small group of agitators stormed the meeting and formed a revolutionary government. João and his ministers again remained passive, with the king about to accept the demands of the revolutionaries when Pedro took the initiative and sent army troops to reestablish order. João and his family finally gave in under pressure from the Cortes and left back for Portugal on April 26, leaving Pedro and Maria Leopoldina in Brazil. Two days before, the king warned his son: "Pedro, if Brazil is going to separate from Portugal, it would be better for you, who will respect me, than for one of those adventurers".

"INDEPENDENCE OR DEATH"

Pedro was appointed regent of Brazil, and from the outset he issued decrees guaranteeing personal and property rights. He also reduced taxes and government spending. Even the revolutionaries arrested in the April Incident were eventually released. Portuguese troops under the command of Lieutenant General Jorge de Avilez Zuzarte de Sousa Tavares mutinied on June 5, 1821, demanding that Pedro swear an oath to uphold the Portuguese constitution after it was put into effect. The prince intervened alone with the rebels. The regent negotiated calmly and ingeniously, earning the respect of the troops and successfully reducing the impact of the most unacceptable demands. The mutiny was a thinly disguised military coup d'état that attempted to turn Pedro into a mere figurehead and transfer power to Avilez. The prince eventually accepted an unfavorable outcome, but also warned that it would be the last time he would yield under pressure. The crisis reached a point of no return when the Cortes dissolved the central government in Rio de Janeiro and ordered Pedro's return. Brazilians saw this action as an attempt to once again subordinate their country to Portuguese rule, since Brazil had been elevated to a kingdom in 1815. The prince received a petition on January 9, 1822 containing eight thousand signatures begging him not to leave. Pedro responded by stating that "If it is for the good of all and the general happiness of the Nation, I am ready. Tell the people that I will stay!"; this event became known as the Dia do Fico. Avilez mutinied again in an attempt to force the regent's return to Portugal. This time the prince counterattacked, rallying Brazilian troops (who had not joined the Portuguese in the previous mutinies), militia units and armed civilians.

"INDEPENDENCE OR DEATH"

Avilez was outnumbered and was expelled from Brazil along with his troops. Pedro tried to maintain some semblance of unity with Portugal for the following months, but the final rupture was imminent. He sought support outside Rio de Janeiro with the help of his minister José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva. The prince traveled to the province of Minas Gerais in April and then to São Paulo in August. He was well received in both provinces and the visits reinforced his authority. While returning from São Paulo, Pedro received news on September 7 that the Cortes would not accept self-regulation in Brazil and would punish anyone who disobeyed his orders. "Never one to avoid the most dramatic action on immediate impulse," as Berman wrote of the prince, he "needed no more time for decision than reading the letters required." Pedro mounted his tawny mare and said to those present : "Friends, the Portuguese Courts want to enslave us and persecute us. From today onwards our relations are broken. No bonds unite us anymore […] For my blood, my honor, my God, I swear to give to the Brazil freedom. Brazilians, may our slogan from today be 'Independence or death!'".