Editing Pedro II of Brazil (section)

== Early life ==
{{main|Early life of Pedro II of Brazil}}

=== Birth ===
[[File:Pedro II 1826 frame removed.png|thumb|left|upright=0.7|alt=Framed oval head and shoulders portrait of an infant boy|Pedro at 10 months old, 1826]]
Pedro was born at 02:30 on 2 December 1825 in the [[Palace of São Cristóvão]], in [[Rio de Janeiro]], [[Empire of Brazil|Brazil]].<ref>See:
* {{harvnb|Besouchet|1993|p=39}},
* {{harvnb|Carvalho|2007|pp=11–12}},
* {{harvnb|Olivieri|1999|p=5}}.</ref> Named after [[St. Peter of Alcantara]], his name in full was Pedro de Alcântara João Carlos Leopoldo Salvador Bibiano Francisco Xavier de Paula Leocádio Miguel Gabriel Rafael Gonzaga.<ref>See:
* {{harvnb|Vainfas|2002|p=198}},
* {{harvnb|Calmon|1975|pp=3–4}},
* {{harvnb|Schwarcz|1998|p=45}}.</ref> Through his father, Emperor [[Dom (title)|Dom]] [[Pedro I of Brazil|Pedro&nbsp;I]], he was a member of the Brazilian branch of the [[House of Braganza]] ({{langx|pt|Bragança}}) and was referred to using the honorific ''Dom'' ([[Lord]]) from birth.{{sfn|Barman|1999|p=424}} He was the grandson of King Dom [[João&nbsp;VI of Portugal]] and nephew of Dom [[Miguel&nbsp;I]].{{sfn|Besouchet|1993|p=40}}{{sfn|Schwarcz|1998|p=47}} His mother was the Archduchess [[Maria Leopoldina of Austria]], daughter of [[Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor|Franz&nbsp;II]], the last [[Holy Roman Emperor]]. Through his mother, Pedro was a nephew of [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] and first cousin of Emperors [[Napoleon&nbsp;II]] of [[First French Empire|France]], [[Franz Joseph I of Austria|Franz&nbsp;Joseph&nbsp;I]] of [[Austria-Hungary]] and [[Don (honorific)|Don]] [[Maximilian I of Mexico|Maximiliano&nbsp;I]] of [[Second Mexican Empire|Mexico]].<ref>See:
* {{harvnb|Schwarcz|1998|p=47}},
* {{harvnb|Barman|1999|p=1}},
* {{harvnb|Besouchet|1993|p=41}}.</ref>

The only legitimate male child of Pedro&nbsp;I to survive infancy, he was officially recognized as heir apparent to the Brazilian throne with the title Prince Imperial on 6 August 1826.{{sfn|Vainfas|2002|p=198}}{{sfn|Calmon|1975|p=5}} Empress Maria Leopoldina died on 11 December 1826, a few days after a stillbirth, when Pedro was a year old.{{sfn|Calmon|1975|p=15}}{{sfn|Besouchet|1993|p=41}} Two and a half years later, his father married Princess [[Amélie of Leuchtenberg]]. Prince Pedro developed an affectionate relationship with her, whom he came to regard as his mother.<ref>See:
* {{harvnb|Carvalho|2007|p=16}},
* {{harvnb|Besouchet|1993|p=46}},
* {{harvnb|Barman|1999|pp=26–27}}.</ref> Pedro&nbsp;I's desire to restore his daughter [[Maria II of Portugal|Maria&nbsp;II]] to her Portuguese throne, which had been usurped by his brother Miguel&nbsp;I, as well as his declining political position at home led to his abrupt abdication on 7 April 1831.{{sfn|Carvalho|2007|p=21}}{{sfn|Lira 1977, Vol 1|p=15}} He and Amélie immediately departed for Europe, leaving behind the Prince Imperial, who became Emperor Dom Pedro&nbsp;II.{{sfn|Olivieri|1999|p=5}}{{sfn|Barman|1999|p=29}}

=== Early coronation ===
[[File:RetratodompedroIIcrianca.JPG|thumb|upright=1|alt=Three-quarters length painted portrait of the pre-adolescent Pedro in gold-embroidered tunic with a sash of office and hat tucked under his right arm and left hand resting on the pommel of his sword|Pedro&nbsp;II at age 12 wearing court dress and the [[Order of the Golden Fleece]], 1838]]
Upon leaving the country, Emperor Pedro&nbsp;I selected three people to take charge of his son and remaining daughters. The first was [[José Bonifácio de Andrada]], his friend and an influential leader during [[Brazilian independence]], who was named guardian.{{sfn|Lira 1977, Vol 1|p=17}}{{sfn|Schwarcz|1998|p=50}} The second was [[Mariana Carlota de Verna Magalhães Coutinho, Countess of Belmonte|Mariana de Verna]], who had held the post of ''aia'' ([[governess]]) since the birth of Pedro&nbsp;II.{{sfn|Carvalho|2007|p=31}} As a child, the then-Prince Imperial called her "''Dadama''", as he could not pronounce the word ''dama'' ([[Lady]]) correctly.{{sfn|Calmon|1975|p=5}} He regarded her as his surrogate mother and would continue to call her by her nickname well into adulthood out of affection.{{sfn|Barman|1999|p=29}}{{sfn|Besouchet|1993|p=39}} The third person was Rafael, an [[Afro-Brazilian]] veteran of the [[Cisplatine War]].{{sfn|Carvalho|2007|p=31}}{{sfn|Calmon|1975|p=57}} He was an employee in the Palace of São Cristóvão whom Pedro&nbsp;I deeply trusted and asked to look after his son—a charge that he carried out for the rest of his life.{{sfn|Vainfas|2002|p=198}}{{sfn|Calmon|1975|p=57}}

Bonifácio was dismissed from his position in December 1833 and replaced by another guardian.<ref>See:
* {{harvnb|Schwarcz|1998|p=57}},
* {{harvnb|Carvalho|2007|p=25}},
* {{harvnb|Lira 1977, Vol 1|p=33}}.</ref> Pedro&nbsp;II spent his days studying, with only two hours set aside for amusements.{{sfn|Carvalho|2007|p=27}}{{sfn|Olivieri|1999|p=8}} Intelligent, he was able to acquire knowledge with great ease.<ref>See:
* {{harvnb|Olivieri|1999|p=6}},
* {{harvnb|Besouchet|1993|p=14}},
* {{harvnb|Lira 1977, Vol 1|pp=46, 50}}.</ref> However, the hours of study were strenuous and the preparation for his role as monarch was demanding. He had few friends of his age and limited contact with his sisters. All that coupled with the sudden loss of his parents gave Pedro&nbsp;II an unhappy and lonely upbringing.<ref>See:
* {{harvnb|Vainfas|2002|pp=198–199}},
* {{harvnb|Carvalho|2007|pp=27, 30–31}},
* {{harvnb|Barman|1999|p=33}},
* {{harvnb|Besouchet|1993|p=50}},
* {{harvnb|Schwarcz|1998|p=57}}.</ref> The environment in which he was raised turned him into a shy and needy person who saw books as a refuge and retreat from the real world.{{sfn|Carvalho|2007|pp=29, 33}}{{sfn|Barman|1999|p=39}}

The possibility of lowering the young Emperor's age of majority, instead of waiting until he turned 18, had been floated since 1835.<ref>See:
* {{harvnb|Carvalho|2007|p=37}},
* {{harvnb|Schwarcz|1998|p=67}},
* {{harvnb|Olivieri|1999|p=11}}.</ref> His elevation to the throne had led to a troublesome period of endless crises. The [[Regency period (Empire of Brazil)|regency]] created to [[Minority reign|rule on his behalf]] was plagued from the start by disputes between political factions and rebellions across the nation.<ref>See:
* {{harvnb|Lira 1977, Vol 1|p=21}},
* {{harvnb|Schwarcz|1998|p=53}},
* {{harvnb|Carvalho|2007|p=21}}.</ref> Those politicians who had risen to power during the 1830s had by now also become familiar with the pitfalls of rule. Historian Roderick J. Barman stated that by 1840, "they had lost all faith in their ability to rule the country on their own. They accepted Pedro&nbsp;II as an authority figure whose presence was indispensable for the country's survival".{{sfn|Barman|1999|p=317}} When asked by politicians if he would like to assume full powers, Pedro&nbsp;II accepted.<ref>See:
* {{harvnb|Calmon|1975|p=136}},
* {{harvnb|Lira 1977, Vol 1|p=70}},
* {{harvnb|Barman|1999|p=72}},
* {{harvnb|Carvalho|2007|p=39}},
* {{harvnb|Schwarcz|1998|p=68}}.</ref> On the following day, 23 July 1840, the [[General Assembly (Brazil)|General Assembly]] (the Brazilian [[Parliament]]) formally [[Declaration of age of Pedro II|declared the 14-year-old Pedro&nbsp;II of age]].{{sfn|Carvalho|2007|p=40}} He was later [[Coronation of the Emperor of Brazil|acclaimed, crowned, and consecrated]] on 18 July 1841.{{sfn|Schwarcz|1998|p=73}}{{sfn|Lira 1977, Vol 1|p=72}}