After passionately kissing Domitilia goodbye, Pedro left São
Paolo and set off back to Rio de Janeiro, feeling very happy. He and his Guard of Honour were now wearing armbands engraved with the legend "Independence or Death". After a week's riding, he arrived back in the capital: he was greeted by jubilant crowds, dancing in the streets and greeting each other with the words, "I am a Brazilian." News travels fast, thought Pedro, with some amusement.
He alighted at the gates of Boa Vista Palace: Leopoldina stood waiting for him holding Januária in her arms, with Maria standing on one side and José
Bonifácio on the other. When they saw Pedro, Leopoldina's face broke out into a broad smile, and Maria ran over to her father, who scooped her up and hugged her tightly. When he reached Leopoldina, Pedro let Maria down and embraced his wife, while Januária played with her father's hair.
"Well done", said Leopoldina. "I am so proud of you."
"Congratulations, sire", said José Bonifácio, offering his hand. "You have done the right thing for Brazil, and torn off the Portuguese yoke. I hereby decree that the privileges of Portuguese living in Brazil are abolished, and the property of all who support our oppressor is confiscated, if you would be so gracious as to approve."
"I approve", said Pedro.
A month later, on Pedro's 24th birthday, he was in the Campo do Santana, standing on a balcony in a house that had once been the royal box overlooking the now destroyed bullring. It was raining heavily, but there was still a large and enthusiastic crowd gathered below. Numerous resolutions from municipal councils were presented to him, asking him to agree to become constitutional emperor.
"I accept the title of constitutional emperor", said Pedro, "because I have heard from my Council of State and General Procurators, and have examined the petitions of the municipal councils of the various provinces. I have not heard from all municipalities, but I am sure that the petitions I have received represent the general will of all the others, which only because of lack of time have not yet arrived."
A herald then stepped forward to proclaim:
"All hail Dom Pedro I, Constitutional Emperor and Perpetual Defender of Brazil!"
This was met by applause from the dignitaries on the balcony, and cheers from the crowd below. Cries of "Long live the Emperor!" went up. Pedro turned and looked at Leopoldina, whose eyes were shining with pride.
After another three weeks had passed, Pedro was crowned at the Old Cathedral. Before the crown was put on his head, he knelt in front of the altar, where the crown had been placed, where, speaking in Latin, he took the oath:
"I Pedro I, by the grace of God, Constitutional Emperor and Perpetual Defender of Brazil, swear to observe and maintain the Apostolic Roman Catholic religion. I swear to constitutionally observe and enforce the laws of the Empire. I swear to preserve and defend its integrity with all my strength."
Then he placed his hand on a Bible and said, "So help me God, and these Holy Gospels."
After the ceremony was complete, Pedro left the church and rode in a carriage to Boa Vista Palace. There, he and Leopoldina stood on the balcony, taking in the acclaim of the crowds.
"Good people", said Pedro. "I thank you for your support. So we move into a new era for this country: no longer tied to Portugal, but fully independent, under a constitutional emperor. I swear to defend the constitution that is going to be made, if it turns out to be worthy of Brazil and of me."
This was mostly met by cheers, but there were a few who, troubled by that last phrase, either kept silent or cheered only half-heartedly.
Loud applause ripped through the Necessidades Palace: the Cortes had finally finished its work on the Constitution of the Portuguese Monarchy.
"Gentlemen", said Costa, "we have done well, and have finally and irrevocably restored the liberties of the Portuguese nation. In this new and free Portugal, all men will have the right to property, individual liberty and equality under the law. Sovereignty shall reside in the Portuguese nation, exercised through this Cortes. The territory of the Portuguese nation shall consist of the Kingdom of Portugal, the Kingdom of the Algarves, the Adjacent Islands of Madeira and the Azores, the Kingdom of Brazil, and the colonies in Africa and Asia. All clerical and noble privileges are abolished. The legislative power shall be vested in this Cortes, which shall be elected by men over the age of 25 who are able to read and write. Women, servants and members of religious orders shall not vote. The legislature shall be the supreme power of the nation. The executive power resides with the King: he shall be the head of the government and will have a suspensive veto power over legislation, but cannot suspend or dissolve the Cortes. The Cortes shall elect a State Council to advise His Majesty, along with his ministers. The three kingdoms of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves shall form a united monarchy. The Holy Catholic Church shall be the sole religion of the Portuguese nation."
Cheers followed: then the doors of the palace swung open and, with much fanfare, João entered, with Isabel by his side. In stately fashion and with much fanfare he proceeded to the centre of the chamber, where a copy of the constitution was presented to him. The King placed his hand on the constitution and declared:
"I Dom João VI, do solemnly swear to protect and uphold the Constitution of the Portuguese Monarchy and I do command all my subjects of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves to abide by it."
The Cortes once again broke out into applause, which was soon cut off by a shout of "Your Majesty!".
Everyone turned to locate the source of the noise. A messenger came striding into the room with a grave expression.
"What's the matter?", asked João.
"Sire", said the messenger, bowing, "I have terrible news. Brazil is in open revolt against Your Majesty."
"Well", replied João, "I expect that my trusted son Dom Pedro will deal strongly and firmly with any disturbance."
The messenger shook his head.
"No, sire", he said. "Dom Pedro has put himself at the head of the revolt. He has declared Brazil to be independent of Portugal. They say that he will make himself Emperor."
There were furious shouts and denunciations from both the deputies and the public gallery. João looked stunned: yes he had told Pedro to make himself Brazil's ruler should it become independent, but for him to actually do it . . . that was another thing entirely. Isabel was open mouthed: how can Pedro have done this, she thought.
"Dom Pedro is a traitor!", shouted Costa.
"This is all because of you", Palmela proclaimed. "Because you would not listen, because you persisted with measures that neither the Brazilians nor Dom Pedro could accept. You have cost this country its most valuable colony."
His speech was met with angry boos and shouts of "Traitor!".
"Are you defending Dom Pedro, sir?", demanded Costa, his voice shaking.
"I hold no brief for Dom Pedro", replied Palmela, struggling to make himself heard above heckling. "But is is you who have driven him to this lamentable action. What in God's name were you thinking? That Dom Pedro and the Brazilians would happily accept a diminution in their status? That they would be pleased to go back to being a mere colony? Brazil is no longer the weak, backward society, dependent on us, that she once was: she is now a strong, prosperous, populous country. You should have trodden carefully with her, but instead you tried to trample on her: you should not be surprised that she has bitten you."
More boos followed, but Costa just sat in stony silence.
"So it has come to pass", said Carlota Joaquina with a grim smile. "The traitors have brought the ruin that I always knew they would. Pedro has shown them up for the fools they are."
"I thought you didn't like Pedro, Mama", said Miguel. "He holds all sorts of dangerous beliefs, and now he has rebelled against his own country, his own father."
"True", replied Carlota Joaquina, "but it is because of the traitors that he has rebelled. Now everyone can see just how disastrous that awful revolution was. We have the perfect justification for what we plan to do."
"So can we start planning immediately?", asked Oliveira.
"Yes we shall", said Carlota Joaquina. "You, my beloved son", she said to Miguel, "shall have the honour of leading the revolt."
