The Battle of the Braganzas Volume I: Brazil - Chapter 10 Independence or Death

Pedro rode into São Paolo on his beloved bay mare, wearing his customary blue and white armband and accompanied by a guard of honour comprised of local horsemen who had joined him on the journey from Rio. He was cheered as he arrived. He soon discovered that the military rebellion he had heard of was nothing of the kind: all that had happened was that Martim Francisco de Andrada e Silva had been expelled from the provincial junta. Pedro swiftly organised new elections to the junta: his choice for president was accepted, but some opponents of the Andrada brothers were also elected. Pedro accepted these results and set about enjoying himself in São Paolo. And there was certainly plenty to enjoy: lots of wonderful hospitality from the great and the good, lots of fine horses to purchase, lots of beautiful women to kiss.

One evening, Lieutenant Francisco de Castro, the Paulista officer who had accompanied Pedro on his journey, invited the Prince Regent to his father's house to meet his family. He had them all stand in a line while he introduced Pedro to them.

"This is my sister, Domitilia", said Francisco, pointing to a tall and well-built young woman with light skin; chestnut-coloured hair; dark green eyes; a delicate, slightly hooked nose, straight, pearly white teeth; an ample figure; delicate arms and neck; and a graceful bearing. She also wore plenty of make-up and a beautiful dress, something Leopoldina always refused to do. Pedro visibly gasped when he saw her, and his gaze lingered on her as he moved down the line.

At the meal that followed, Pedro made sure to sit next to Domitilia, who looked almost as excited as he did.

"And how are you, my lady?", Pedro asked her.

"Fine, Dom Pedro", said Domitilia, an eager look on her face. "Is Your Royal Highness enjoying your visit?"

"Enjoying it?", said Pedro, as the food was placed on the table. "I most certainly am. But now I am hungry, and I have an appetite."

He helped himself to a large slice of the beef: Domitilia gave a knowing giggle and also began to eat.

"Are you married?", asked Pedro, his mouth full.

"I am married in the eyes of the law", replied Domitilia.

"In the eyes of the law?", repeated Pedro, as he stuffed his mouth with more meat.

"I am married to a militia officer", she explained, "but I left him three years ago after he attacked me with a knife, leaving me with two wounds."

She carefully lifted up her dress to show Pedro the scars her husband had given her. Pedro banged his fork on the table in outrage: how dare her husband do this to such a beautiful woman?

"Where do you live now?", he eventually asked.

"I live with my father", replied Domitilia. "But I still live in fear of my husband."

"I'll help you", said Pedro.

"How?", asked Domitilia eagerly.

"I'll get you an annulment", said Pedro. "Would you like that?"

"Yes", said Domitilia at once.

Pedro leaned in close and whispered:

"Will you go to bed with me tonight?"

"I will, Dom Pedro", said Domitilia breathlessly, her body quivering. Wow, she thought, what an opportunity this is! Rescued from the fear of my husband and from a boring provincial life by the Prince Regent!

Pedro laughed.

"You don't have to call me 'Dom',", he said. "Not like everybody else."

"All right, Pedro", she said, with an enticing smile, "and you can call me Titília."

"Very, well, Titília", said Pedro: he kissed her passionately, and she kissed him back with equal passion. 

When the meal had finished, they made an excuse and went up to the bedroom where they were soon all over each other. How amazingly passionate she is, Pedro thought, how unlike Leopoldina, who, for all her wonderful qualities, can be rather dry and intellectual. I can have the best of both worlds - the intelligence of Leopoldina, and the passion of Domitilia.

When both had no more to give, they lay naked in bed in a tight embrace.

"Will you be with me tomorrow night as well?", asked Domitilia.

Pedro sighed.

"Unfortunately, not", he said. "I have to go to Santos tomorrow. I need to inspect the forts, and visit some of the chief minister's relatives. But don't worry", he added, caressing her hair, "when I have finished there, I will come back and see you again."

Leopoldina had just received a letter addressed to the Prince Regent. She opened it, and saw instantly that it was from the Cortes. Her jaw dropped when she read its contents, and at the next Cabinet meeting, she showed it to José Bonifácio, who frowned deeply when he read it.

"What should I do?", asked Leopoldina.

"My advice to you, Dona Leopoldina", replied José Bonifácio, "is to convene the Council of State and write a Decree of Independence."

At the Council of State meeting, Leopoldina sat down at the table and quickly wrote a Decree of Independence, while José Bonifácio and the other ministers stood watching her. She then wrote a letter to Pedro, and José Bonifácio wrote his own letter. The two letters, the Decree of Independence and the letter from the Cortes were bundled together. José Bonifácio handed the bundle to a messenger.

"Ride to São Paolo and find Dom Pedro", he instructed the messenger. "If you don't founder a dozen horses on the road, don't expect to be a messenger again."

The messenger galloped away with all speed.

Pedro was riding back from Santos to São Paolo, tingling with excitement over the thought of being reunited with Domitilia. When he reached a hill above a stream called the Ipiranga Brook, he felt the need to answer a call of nature, so he made his way down to the stream, while his guard of honour remained on the hill. He had just finished, and was buttoning up and straightening his uniform, when he heard a voice call:

"Dom Pedro!"

He looked up: a messenger was galloping towards him. The messenger dismounted and bowed, handing over a bundle of documents.

"Sent by Her Royal Highness the Acting Princess Regent and the chief minister", the messenger explained. "I couldn't find you in São Paolo, so I travelled down the Santos trail to find you."

Pedro first opened the letter from the Cortes. It read:

"Your Royal Highness,

"We, the General and Extraordinary Cortes of the Portuguese Nation, in the name of His Majesty the King, have grave concerns about the recent events that have taken place in the Kingdom of Brazil. We feel compelled to remind Your Royal Highness that your regency is purely honorific and exists solely with our permission. The Cabinet led by José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva is hereby dismissed: it shall be replaced by men that we have chosen. All the acts of the previous Cabinet are null and void. As for José Bonifácio himself, he shall stand trial for treason, for encouraging Your Royal Highness to act against the wishes of the Portuguese nation. We are currently preparing 14 battalions, composed of 7100 men, to be shipped to Bahia to crush the treasonous rebellion that has broken out in that province. We sincerely hope that Your Royal Highness will carefully consider the contents of this letter, and realise how badly you have been misled by José Bonifácio, and come round to the correct course of action."

"Shit!", thought Pedro, as he discarded the letter. Then he began to read the letter from José Bonifácio:

"Your Royal Highness,

"The Portuguese Cortes has made clear its maniacal determination to crush any form of self-government in this kingdom. It has no respect for Your Royal Highness's position or for the Cabinet that you have chosen, and is sending more troops to enforce its will on us. Sire, the die is cast and from Portugal we have nothing to expect but slavery and horrors. Your Royal Highness should come to your decision as soon as possible and make up your mind, because speeches and half measures, in the face of this enemy that does not spare us, are of no use and each moment lost is a disgrace.

"With respect,

"José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva."

Then the letter from Leopoldina:

"My dearest Pedro,

"Those anti-Brazil fanatics in Lisbon have made what amounts to nothing less than a declaration of war against this great country. They will accept nothing but total surrender to their demands, and the complete breaking of Brazil. I sincerely plead with you to return immediately to Rio de Janeiro to save our beloved Brazil from ruin. The fruit is ripe, pick it up, otherwise it will rot.

"Your ever loving,

"Leopoldina."

Finally, Pedro took a look at Leopoldina's Decree of Independence:

"I Dom Pedro, Prince Regent and Perpetual Defender of Brazil, do hereby decree that Brazil is now and forever, separated and independent from the Kingdoms of Portugal and the Algarves."

At the bottom there was a blank space for his signature.

Pedro reflected for a moment, before announcing out loud:

"The time has come. Independence or death! We're separated from Portugal!"

He mounted his bay mare, and rode to the top of the hill where his guard of honour was waiting for him.

"Friends", he announced, "the Portuguese Cortes wants to enslave and persecute us. As of today our bonds are ended. No ties can unite us any more."

He then tore off his blue and white armband, shouting "Armbands off, soldiers! Hail to the independence, the freedom, and to the separation of Brazil from Portugal!"

The soldiers ripped off their own armbands, shouting as they did so, "Long live independence!" and Long live Dom Pedro!".

Pedro unsheathed his sword.

"By my honour, by my blood, by my God, I swear to give Brazil freedom," he said.

The soldiers all took the same oath. Pedro then stood up in his stirrups, looked in all directions and announced:

"Brazilians, let our motto from this from this day forth be 'Independence or Death'!"

As the soldiers repeated the chant of "Independence or Death", Pedro signed the Decree of Independence. He then galloped back to São Paolo, the soldiers trailing in his wake. Swiftly he made his way to the house where Domitilia lived with her father.

"You look very excited", said Domitilia, once they had found a room where they were alone together.

"I've just declared Brazil independent from Portugal", said Pedro.

"Congratulations", said Domitilia. "What a brave thing to do."

"And there's more", said Pedro breathlessly. "If you come to the opera this evening, you will get a most wonderful surprise."

Domitilia eagerly asked what the surprise was, but Pedro refused to say, though as compensation he kissed and made love to her.

That evening, Pedro and Domitilia went to the opera, though, to her disappointment, Pedro would not let her sit in the royal box with him. The small theatre was packed, with the audience members excitedly telling each other the news that Dom Pedro had just declared Brazil independent. Just before the performance began, Pedro stood up in the royal box and gave a speech:

"Brazilians, this afternoon I received word of an attempt by the Portuguese Cortes to reduce Brazil to a state of miserable slavery. In order to thwart this wicked design, I have declared Brazil to be independent of Portugal, taking the oath, 'By my blood, by my honour, by my God, I swear to give Brazil freedom.'"

The audience cheered, and all in the theatre repeated the oath.

"Independence or Death!", shouted Pedro: the audience echoed the chant. Then the orchestra began playing a new song that Pedro had just composed to celebrate Brazil's new-found independence: Pedro sang the lyrics and the audience joined in with the chorus. When the song finished, Pedro was once more cheered: many hailed him as "King of Brazil", while a local poet recited a poem he had written calling Pedro Brazil's "first Emperor". This was followed by more cries of "Independence or Death!" and "Long live Dom Pedro!".

When the opera had finished, Pedro met up with Domitilia outside the theatre.

"You have done very well, Pedro", she said, leaning her body against his.

"Thank you very much, Titília", blushed Pedro, embracing her.

"Will you take me back to Rio with you?", asked Domitilia.

"I can't do so just yet", replied Pedro, "but I will find a house for you there."

The Battle of the Braganzas Volume I: Brazil - Chapter 9 The Parting of the Ways

Leopoldina was cradling their newborn daughter in her arms as the little girl slept peacefully. Her parents had named her Januária, after Rio de Janeiro. Pedro and Leopoldina both smiled indulgently at her, while Maria gently stroked her baby sister's head. Her birth had gone some way towards easing the pain they all felt over the loss of João Carlos, though Pedro was disappointed not to have a male heir.

"Things are moving pretty fast, aren't they?", remarked Pedro.

"What do you mean?", asked Leopoldina.

"Well . . . our new daughter", said Pedro, "the rebellion in Bahia . . ."

"Yes", said Leopoldina. "The people do seem to be turning against the Cortes. Which is a good thing."

"You're right", said Pedro, "and I shall be sending troops to help the rebels in Bahia."

"Have you thought about independence?", asked Leopoldina.

"I'm still hoping that some resolution can be found", Pedro replied. "Maybe after the Avilez fiasco, the Cortes will realise that they need to treat Brazil as an equal."

"I'm not sure they will", said Leopoldina.

"José Bonifácio thinks that, as well", Pedro admitted.

"I think he's right", said Leopoldina. "He is usually right about these things."

"I agree", said Pedro, "he is a very able man, and, like a good father, gives us very sound guidance."

Leopoldina nodded.

Pedro rode on his bay mare into Minas Gerais. He had few companions, and he had given orders that there be no pomp or ceremony. He was unsure of what to expect: Minas Gerais had few Portuguese troops, and the junta in charge had not recognised his authority, so he had heard that the population here held some doubts about him. But he needn't have worried: as soon as the people saw who it was cries of "All hail Dom Pedro!" went up. He got off his horse to meet with people: all those he greeted pledged their allegiance to him. Finally he made his way to the city hall, where the junta met.

"Good sirs", he said, "I commend you for the efficient work that you are doing. I come to praise you, but also to command you to submit to the authority of me, the Prince Regent."

"We agree to this", the junta members replied, bowing as one.

Back in Rio, one day Pedro received a petition from the city council.

"Dom Pedro", announced the leader of the council, "we are most appreciative of your courageous and valiant defence of this country against our would-be enslavers in Lisbon. To properly honour you, we humbly request that Your Royal Highness assume the title of Perpetual Protector and Defender of Brazil."

"I thank you for your kind request", replied Pedro. "I shall not assume the title of Protector, as I do not think that the kingdom needs a protector." In truth, the word "Protector" sounded rather too republican for his liking.

The petitioners looked disappointed.

"However", Pedro continued, "I am most pleased to accept the title Perpetual Defender of Brazil."

They cheered.

"And also", asked the leader of the council, "would Your Royal Highness consent to summoning a constituent assembly?"

"We do not need a constituent assembly", asserted José Bonifácio. "Dom Pedro is perfectly capable of writing a constitution himself, with my expert advice."

"I see no harm in a constituent assembly", said Pedro. "I consent to the request."

José Bonifácio looked rather alarmed, but quickly regained his composure.

"As you wish, sire", he said. "But may I request that the elections to it be indirect?"

Pedro agreed. Soon a proclamation went round the city:

"His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, in the name of His Majesty the King, is pleased to announce that elections will be held to choose a constituent assembly. The purpose of this assembly shall be the maintenance of the integrity of the Portuguese monarchy, and to define the bases on which Brazil's independence should be established. It shall insist on a just equality of rights between Brazil and Portugal."

"Have you finished composing it?", asked Pedro.

"Yes, sire", replied José Bonifácio, and he handed Pedro the Manifesto to Friendly Nations.

"Very well done", said Pedro. "This shall be published immediately."

The Manifesto demanded that all Brazilian representatives in the Cortes should immediately return to Brazil, called on all friendly countries to deal with Brazil directly rather than via the Cortes, and declared war on the Portuguese army in Brazil. It also contained a fierce denunciation of 300 years of Portuguese oppression of Brazil. However, it also asserted that Pedro had no "desire to cut the ties of unity and fraternity which ought to make the Portuguese Nation a single well-organised polity."

"Why not declare independence?", asked Leopoldina.

Pedro shuffled up and down the room, struggling to think of an answer.

"Because", he said, "it would be an act of disloyalty."

"Disloyalty?", repeated Leopoldina.

"To my father", said Pedro. "I thought you would understand that, after all, you always got on well with him."

"But your father barely has any control over Portugal any more", replied Leopoldina. "It is the Cortes that governs the country, and which seems to hate Brazil. And you saw what Avilez did, to this city and to us", she added, with a hardened edge to her voice. "You would be rebelling against the Cortes, not your father: I'm sure he would understand your reasons."

"Maybe", said Pedro, his voice wavering, "but I just don't want to do it."

"It is outrageous!", shouted Costa. "Dom Pedro has defied our instructions, expelled His Majesty's troops from his Kingdom of Brazil, and chosen as chief minister his brother." He pointed an accusing finger at Antônio Carlos, who was smirking at him. "A man who hates us", Costa continued. "If you harbour any doubts about it, just listen to this."

He indignantly brandished a copy of the letter that José Bonifácio had written to convince Pedro to remain in Brazil: Antônio Carlos's smirk grew even wider.

"Apparently", declaimed Costa, "we want to impose 'a system of anarchy and slavery' on Brazil, we are 'enemies of order' who have 'robbed Brazil of the beneficent founder of the kingdom'."

There were angry shouts from the other deputies and from the public gallery.

"Wait", continued Costa, "there's more. José Bonifácio says we are guilty of 'absurdities and despotisms', we are 'a small number of disorganisers', and we are guilty of 'a new Constitutional Machiavellianism."

Angry shouts filled the Necessidades Palace: cries of "Treason!" and "Down with José Bonifácio!" could be heard. Antônio Carlos kept on smirking, while the other Brazilian deputies sat stony faced.

"Why", said Antônio Carlos, jumping purposefully to his feet "what kind of men are you? The worst kind, the ignorant kind. Are you so foolish as to think that this puny little kingdom can subdue the great and vast Kingdom of Brazil? Is there any of you who matches up to Dom Pedro, or to my distinguished brother? What? You think you can strip us of our rights? Can a tiny ant take away from the lion the title of King of the Beasts? What blockheads you are to even think it!"

He sat down: throughout his speech, he had been loudly booed by the gallery, but he just kept on smirking.

Costa's face was a perfect shade of purple as he stood up to respond, but before he could speak, the Marquis of Palmela got to his feet.

"Senhor Costa", he said, "I pray you, do not react rashly to these insults. Cool heads are what is required now."

"Does not Your Lordship see that Brazil is in open revolt against the King?", demanded Costa. "The rebels must be crushed."

"I beg of you", said Palmela, "think hard before you consider your next move. I speak as a man who loves His Majesty and Portugal as much as you do, and has both his and the kingdom's best interests at heart. If you do not tread carefully with Dom Pedro, you are at grave risk of unleashing forces beyond your control. I call upon the Cortes to step back from the brink. I propose that Dom Pedro's recall to Portugal be postponed until the Constitution has been ratified, and that the governors of arms in Brazil be subordinated to the provincial juntas. If we take these steps, we might be able to find a settlement acceptable both to us and to the Brazilians."

These words were met by a disapproving silence. Costa shook his head firmly.

"The time for talking to the Brazilians is past", he said. "You heard what Dom Pedro's chief minister, and his brother, think of us. I propose that we send more troops to Brazil, and we bring a prosecution against José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva for high treason."

The vote was carried overwhelmingly, despite loud shouts of "Shame!", "Down with the Cortes!" and "Long live Dom Pedro!" from Antônio Carlos and the other Brazilians present. The result of the vote prompted loud cheers from both the deputies and the spectators. 

"Good", said Costa. "A letter shall be sent to Dom Pedro informing him of the steps we have taken."

"Alas", sighed Palmela, "it seems that all semblance of reason has gone. Passions are flying high on both sides, and no one seems to want to pull back from this."

"Well, maybe", replied the Duke of Terceira, "the fault lies with those Andrada brothers. It's obvious they hold Portugal and the Cortes in contempt."

"I won't defend what they have said", answered Palmela, "but the Cortes is foolish in the extreme in reacting like this. The Andradas may not have helped matters, but there is clearly a lot of anti-Brazil feeling in the Cortes. Remember, from the very start of the Revolution, they said that Brazil should be reduced to a principality. No good can come of this, I am certain. The English, the French and the Spaniards - far larger and more powerful than we - could not defeat their American rebels: what makes them think that we could?"

"Do you think there is a chance of a peaceful resolution?", asked Terceira.

Palmela shook his head sadly.

"The Cortes clearly won't back down, and Dom Pedro will certainly not accept their demands", he said. "I dread what is to come."

"You see?", said Carlota Joaquina eagerly, "just how foolish the traitors are proving to be? Even I didn't think they would be so quick to cause disaster."

"Should we start making our preparations?", asked Miguel.

"Not yet", his mother replied. "The Brazilian catastrophe that they will provoke has not yet happened. But it soon will."

"Let's hope it does", said the Duke of Oliveira.

Pedro once again mounted his bay mare. He had considered whether or not to wear his blue and white armband, but had eventually decided he would, partly out of filial loyalty and partly out of habit.

"Good luck", said Leopoldina.

They had heard that a rebellion had broken out against the São Paolo junta: Pedro was setting off to deal with it.

Pedro leaned down to kiss Leopoldina.

"Goodbye, until we meet again", he said. "I know you will do a fine job as Acting Princess Regent."

And off he rode: Leopoldina continued to watch him until he disappeared from view.