One year before proclaiming Brazil’s independence in the outskirts of Sao Paulo, Dom Pedro I was still loyal to his father, Dom João VI, King of Portugal. Proof of this is found in the oath of loyalty he made to the king on February 21, 1821, right here in the Imperial Square.
On that same day, Portuguese troops mutinied in Rio de Janeiro. João and his government did nothing to stop the rebellious units. Pedro I decided to act on his own and went to meet with the rebels, negotiating with them and convincing his father to accept their demands, which included the nomination of a new cabinet and an oath of obedience to the future Portuguese constitution.
The voters of the Rio de Janeiro parish met on April 21 to elect their representatives in the Court. A small group of agitators invaded the congress and established a revolutionary government. João and his ministers once again did nothing, the King ready to accept the demands of the revolutionaries, until Pedro took the initiative and sent army troops to re-establish order.
Just one year later, under enormous pressure from the Brazilian elite and the Portuguese court, who wanted Brazil to again become a mere “annex” of Portugal after having been the imperial headquarters for more than a century, Dom Pedro declared Brazil’s independence – and stated that he would be deemed Emperor rather than Kind.
His father, before leaving for Portugal, said: “Pedro, if Brazil secedes from Portugal, let it be you who leads the secession, as someone who respect me, rather than one of those adventurers.”