‘Independence or death! ‘ was proclaimed by Prince Pedro on September 7, 1822 when Brazil’s independence was declared. Dom Pedro was an important figure in latin american history because Dom Pedro was the first emperor of Brazil. He was also known as Dom Pedro IV to the portuguese because he was the king of Portugal. When he had fought for Brazil’s independence, he proclaimed the quote written above when liberating Brazil from portuguese rule. Actually, this is what he had been known most for; for declaring Brazil independent from Portugal in 1822. He had set up his empire in Brazil before he was ever emperor of Portugal.
It wasn’t until after his father died (Joao IV) that he had returned to Portugal to claim the crown. When he had left Brazil he handed his own crown down to his son to rule, pedro 11. Dom Pedro’s full name was Pedro de Alcantara Francisco Antonio Joao Carlos Xavier de Paula Miguel Rafael Hoaquim Jose Gonzaga Pascoal Cipriano Serafim. Seeing as to how Dom Pedro was royalty, we happen to know the exact time he was born because it had been documented. He was born on October 12, 1798 at 8:00 in the Queluz royal palace just outside of Lisbon, Portugal. As was said before. he descended from royalty.
His father’s side came from the house of Braganca. The house of Braganca is simply another name for the family’s royal house of Portugal. As for his mother, Carlota of Spain, she was a daughter of king Carlos IV. When pedro had been born, his grandmother, Queen Maria I, was still ruling Spain. It was said that her mental state was quickly deteriorating due to old age and the stress of being queen. As far as his education goes, one can imagine that he had the very best coming from a royal bloodline. His father refused to punish his son physically because he simply did not believe in disciplinary actions as such.
Since Dom Pedro was not a very disciplined person growing up, he was thought to be very emotional and irrational in his decision making. although he made good choices for the most part, he was very passionate in doing so. He was a revered leader by his people. When he was nine years old, during the invasion of Portugal in 1807, the portuguese royal family fled to Brazil. they established rio de janeiro as the de facto capital of Brazil. Fleeing to Brazil had an important effect on Dom Pedro because this set up his empire. Brazil would soon become his kingdom.
Out of all the people that had influenced Dom Pedro the most it would have been his father. And not necessarily because they had gotten along, but because Dom was a male born into a royal bloodline. Essentially it had been his sacred duty to rule and carry on the family name. Dom Pedro was not considered a terrible leader. In fact he was considered the opposite. The people referred to him as such things as their savior since he had liberated them from oppression and essentially created a country as free as one could get with the ideals of monarchy established so deeply in the roots of their modern day society.
Dom, in his name, was actually appointed to him from birth. Dom meant ‘lord’. Dom Pedro declared independence from Portugal on the seventh of september in 1822. Shortly thereafter he was named the emperor of Brazil on the twelfth of october that same year. From there, he had made it his goal to destroy any opposition to his newly found kingdom. In just two short years, Dom Pedro had defeated all armies loyal to Portugal, an impressive feat. In short Dom Pedro had eventually founded the Brazilian empire and defeated enemies loyal to Portugal. n a sense he had avenged his people for having to flee. He actually later became the emperor of Portugal for a time beginning on the year of 1826.
He had abdicated Portugal to his eldest daughter, dona Maria II. Her throne was usurped by prince dom miguel, Dom Pedro’s younger brother. With the stresses of being emperor of two countries, on the seventh of april in 1831, pedro abdicated in favor of his eldest son Dom Pedro II, and had sailed for europe. Pedro’s first wife, Maria leopoldina. had passed and so he was widowed. e was filled with regret for the way that he had treated her. he was not as kind and gentle as a husband should be, nor was he loyal. he kept her locked inside and made her endure the presence of his lover domitila de castro. he had had other previous affairs before but he was convinced that he was truly in love with domitila.
He was not selfish in his loss however, for he was seen several times holding his youngest son and saying things such as, you must be the most miserable prince in the world. he ended up cutting domitila off and married another woman, even though she was off not as royal blood. It was said that Maria had died as a result of pedro’s abuse, although it was proven that she had died of a miscarriage. these things among many others were pedro’s troubles. even for an emperor of two countries, he had had his own personal struggles. Even though Dom Pedro may have proven to be not very loyal and a bit scandalous at times, his existence is crucial to the world as we know it to this day.
The reason being is because he was the founder of the Brazilian empire. He also fought off the portuguese and liberated hundreds of thousands of people. Without him as an emperor, it wouldn’t be guaranteed that Portugal would have been liberated which has effects in itself. Dom Pedro was a very intelligent person with a great education. he was passionate about things and he was a fighter. he was stubborn to his way. Out of everything Dom Pedro has taught me to be stubborn, to never stop fighting, and to love while you still can..
