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Transfer of the Portuguese Court to Brazil (1808-1821) |
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In 1808, as Napoleon's armies began the invasion of Portugal, the decision was made to transfer the monarch and his court to Rio de Janeiro, where he would remain until 1821. The British government was involved in this process, providing the necessary ships for the Royal Family and taking advantage of Portuguese difficulties to obtain further commercial privileges.
The opening of Brazilian ports to Friendly Nations in 1808, soon after the arrival of King João VI, reinforced English dominance. The agreement gave England a virtual monopoly in new markets, with guaranteed rights and commercial preferences. The establishment of the royal administration in the colony for a period of 14 years would accelerate the march towards independence, but from now on with a unique undertone. The Portuguese Crown, consciously or not, took some measures that eased the transition toward independence.
The elevation of Brazil, in 1815, from the status of a colony to that of a United Kingdom with Portugal may be seen as an example. Another lies in the fact that, although Napoleon's dominance ended in 1815, King João VI preferred to remain in Rio de Janeiro. Six years later, in 1821, King João VI had to yield to unrelenting pressures from the politicians back home. He returned to Lisbon, but left the Crown Prince in Rio with the title of Viceroy Regent. Furthermore, in the presence of members of colonial society, the King supposedly advised him: "Pedro, my son, when the time comes, place the crown on your head before an adventurer puts it on his.".
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