Brazilian Independence
Pedro I declared Brazilian independence on 7 September 1822, on the bank of the Ipiranga stream near São Paulo, and became emperor of a country that separated from Portugal without a revolution against its own dynasty. The path was unique in the Americas because the court had moved there. When Napoleon invaded Portugal in 1807, the British navy carried the entire royal family and some ten thousand officials to Rio de Janeiro, and Brazil became the seat of the Portuguese empire. João VI opened the ports to foreign trade, founded a bank, a press, a botanical garden and military academies, and in 1815 elevated Brazil to a kingdom equal with Portugal. The liberal revolution in Porto in 1820 demanded he return and set about reducing Brazil to a colony again — closing the courts, revoking the ports decree, and ordering his son home. João went back in 1821 and left Pedro as regent, reportedly telling him that if Brazil were to break away, he should take the crown himself before some adventurer did. The Cortes summoned Pedro repeatedly. On 9 January 1822 he refused, saying he would remain — the day is called the Fico, from the Portuguese for I stay. The declaration in September followed dispatches from Lisbon annulling his authority. The war that followed was short, fought mainly at sea by a fleet under Lord Cochrane against Portuguese garrisons in the north. Brazil remained a monarchy until 1889, kept its territorial unity, and abolished slavery last in the hemisphere, in 1888.
- Year: 1822 CE
- Category: Political
