Thread by @Arby_K

Emperor at the age of 5, virtually abandoned by his parents on a different continent, but growing up and ruling one of the world's largest nations for over 50 years and resigning after a coup despite popular support.

Story in the evening ...

https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1341209556169310209

Pedro de Alcântara was born in 1825 to Emperor Pedro of Brazil and Maria Leopoldina. Since 1807, the multi continental Portuguese Empire had been on the brink of collapse. As Napoleon's armies invaded, Queen Maria and the royal family had sought refuge in Brazil. 1/10

With the increasing importance of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was elevated to a Kingdom and Queen Maria's son, João, was crowned King of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves, after Queen Maria's death in 1816. But Portugal would soon revolt in 1820, forcing King João back to Europe. 2/10

With a new Constitution for Portugal and his heir, Pedro, as the regent for Brazil, King João, would stabilize things. But soon Brazil would proclaim independence with Pedro as Emperor. The independence would get formalized in 1825, but King João would die the next year. 3/10

King Pedro of Portugal would abdicate the throne in favour of his 7 year old daughter, Maria, returning to Brazil. With his brother, Miguel, trying to usurp Queen Maria, Emperor Pedro would return to Portugal, abdicating in Brazil in favour of his son, Pedro, in 1831. 4/10

Emperor Pedro II would spend his childhood surrounded by regents, advisers & books as he was prepared for rule. Declared of age at 14, he formally shed his regents and was coronated in 1841. His father had already died in 1834 and his brother in law was King of Portugal. 5/10

Emperor Pedro oversaw a period of stability and progress in Brazil, encouraging coffee production instead of sugar and adding railway and telegraph infrastructure. It was also a time for competition as the rest of Americas had also freed themselves, from Spanish hegemony. 6/10

The Napoleonic wars had also brought about the demise of Spanish colonial possessions in South America. With unclear boundaries, border disputes were increasingly common. In 1864, with Brazil engaged elsewhere, Paraguay attempted to seize territory, with disastrous results. 7/10

The resultant victory made Brazil the strongest power in the Americas. The debt of the war though would have grave consequences for the Empire. But it was another act, among others, that would bring about the coup in 1889. 8/10

Early in his reign, Emperor Pedro had to put down a rebellion led by Antônio de Sousa Neto, who fought, among other things, for abolition of slavery. Pedro had also sought the same but a bit slower. In 1888, his daughter, Isabel, had abolished slavery on her father's behalf. 9/10

Without an economic compensation, many would rise up against him. Though still enormously popular in Brazil, he would let go off the throne, ushering in the Republic of Portugal, and disappear into Europe with his family, dying in Paris, his "ancestral homeland", in 1891. 10/10