João VI of Portugal
João VI ruled Portugal from 1816 to 1826 and was the only European monarch to govern his empire from the Americas. Born in Lisbon in 1767, he was a second son who became heir when his brother died in 1788, and took over government in 1792 when his mother Maria I became permanently insane, ruling as prince regent for twenty-four years before formally acceding. When Napoleon's army under Junot approached Lisbon in November 1807 to enforce the Continental System, the court evacuated. Some ten to fifteen thousand people — the royal family, nobility, government, treasury and library — sailed under British escort, and Junot entered the city days later. They reached Brazil in 1808. João opened its ports to friendly nations, ending the colonial monopoly, and founded a bank, a mint, a printing press, a naval academy, a medical school, a botanical garden and a national library in Rio. In 1815 he raised Brazil to a kingdom equal with Portugal, which made the colony the seat of the empire in law as well as in fact. He stayed after Napoleon's defeat, and returned only in 1821 after the liberal revolution in Porto demanded it, leaving his son Pedro as regent with the reported advice that if Brazil were to break away he should take the crown himself rather than let an adventurer have it. Pedro declared independence in September 1822. João recognised it in 1825. He was caught between his liberal-leaning position and his wife Carlota Joaquina and younger son Miguel, who twice attempted absolutist coups. He died in 1826, possibly poisoned.
- Lived: 1767 CE – 1826 CE
- Nationality: Portuguese
- Roles: king, head_of_state
