Dom Pedro I and Brazil's Declaration of Independence (1822)

The Road to Brazilian Independence (1815–1822)

Brazil was inhabited by the royal court led by King Dom João VI. In 1815, he named his son, Dom Pedro, the Regent Prince, giving him authority to govern Brazil when the King left or died.

The Constitutional Crisis and the Return to Portugal

In 1820, Portugal experienced the Constitutional Revolution, initiated by liberal constitutionalists. This movement led to the constituent assembly's meeting (known as the Cortes), which decided to create the first constitution of the kingdom and to demand the return of King Dom João from Brazil.

On April 26, 1821, the King left Brazil in the hands of his son Dom Pedro and returned to Portugal.

Military Manipulation and Dom Pedro's Resolve

The military took the side of the constitutionalist movement. General Jorge Avilez, who led the Portuguese military in Brazil, forced Dom Pedro to dismiss and banish the Ministers of Kingdom and Finance. These men were loyal to Dom Pedro, and he was left feeling helpless and humiliated. From that point, Dom Pedro swore never to give in to military manipulation again.

In September 1821, the Provincial Governments of Brazil were put in subordination, leaving Dom Pedro only the Governor of Rio de Janeiro. He was then ordered to go back to Europe and take all his court (created in 1808). This resulted in uprisings of the Bonifacians and liberals, both of whom wanted to keep Brazil united with Portugal.

The Shift in Loyalty and the Cry of Ipiranga

Dom Pedro gradually shifted his loyalty to Brazil. On January 9, 1822, he announced he would stay in Brazil (known historically as the 'Dia do Fico').

In August 1822, Dom Pedro went to São Paulo to pledge loyalty to the Brazilian cause. When he returned to Rio de Janeiro, he addressed his friends and the Guard of Honor and instructed them to remove their blue and white armbands, symbolizing the separation of their ties to their motherland, and said:

“Hail to the independence, to the freedom and to the separation of Brazil. For my blood, my honor, my God, I swear to give Brazil freedom. Independence or death!”

Locals celebrated the stand taken by Dom Pedro. The declaration was made official on September 22, 1822, when Pedro wrote a letter to his father João. Prince Dom Pedro was acclaimed Dom Pedro I, Constitutional Emperor and Perpetual Defender of Brazil.