Editing Pedro I of Brazil (section)

=== War and widowhood ===
[[File:Celebration for the return of Emperor Pedro&nbsp;I 1826.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|alt=A large crowd of people and mounted horsemen fill a large public square before the steps of a twin-spired baroque church|Celebration in São Francisco de Paula square, [[Rio de Janeiro]] city, for the return of Pedro&nbsp;I from [[Bahia]], 4 April 1826 by [[Debret]]]]
Backed by the [[United Provinces of the Río de la Plata]] (present-day [[Argentina]]), a [[Thirty-Three Orientals|small band]] declared Brazil's southernmost province of [[Cisplatina]] to be independent in April 1825.{{sfn|Barman|1988|p=125}} The Brazilian government at first perceived the secession attempt as a minor uprising. It took months before a greater threat posed by the involvement of the United Provinces, which expected to annex Cisplatina, caused serious concern. In retaliation, the Empire declared war in December, triggering the [[Cisplatine War]].{{sfn|Barman|1988|p=128}} The Emperor traveled to [[Bahia]] province (located in [[northeastern Brazil]]) in February 1826, taking along his wife and daughter Maria. The Emperor was warmly welcomed by the inhabitants of Bahia.{{sfn|Sousa 1972, Vol 2|p=206}} The trip was planned to generate support for the war-effort.{{sfn|Macaulay|1986|p=190}}

The imperial entourage included [[Domitila de Castro, Marchioness of Santos|Domitila de Castro]] (then-Viscountess and later Marchioness of Santos), who had been Pedro&nbsp;I's [[Royal mistress|mistress]] since their first meeting in 1822. Although he had never been faithful to Maria Leopoldina, he had previously been careful to conceal his sexual escapades with other women.{{sfn|Macaulay|1986|pp=168, 190}} However, his infatuation for his new lover "had become both blatant and limitless", while his wife endured slights and became the object of gossip.{{sfn|Barman|1988|p=146}} Pedro&nbsp;I was increasingly rude and mean toward Maria Leopoldina, left her short of funds, prohibited her from leaving the palace and forced her to endure Domitila's presence as her [[lady-in-waiting]].{{sfn|Lustosa|2006|pp=192, 231, 236}}{{sfn|Barman|1999|p=16}} In the meantime, his lover took advantage by advancing her interests, as well as those of her family and friends. Those seeking favors or to promote projects increasingly sought her help, bypassing the normal, legal channels.{{sfn|Barman|1988|p=136}}

On 24 November 1826, Pedro&nbsp;I sailed from Rio de Janeiro to [[São José, Santa Catarina|São José]] in the province of [[Santa Catarina (state)|Santa Catarina]]. From there he rode to [[Porto Alegre]], capital of the province of [[Rio Grande do Sul]], where the main army was stationed.{{sfn|Macaulay|1986|pp=201–202}} Upon his arrival on 7 December, the Emperor found the military conditions to be much worse than previous reports had led him to expect. He "reacted with his customary energy: he passed a flurry of orders, fired reputed grafters and incompetents, fraternized with the troops, and generally shook up military and civilian administration."{{sfn|Macaulay|1986|p=202}} He was already on his way back to Rio de Janeiro when he was told that Maria Leopoldina had died following a miscarriage.<ref>See:
* {{harvnb|Rangel|1928|pp=178–179}},
* {{harvnb|Macaulay|1986|p=202}},
* {{harvnb|Costa|1972|pp=123–124}}.
</ref> Unfounded rumors soon spread that purported that she had died after being physically assaulted by Pedro&nbsp;I.{{efn-ua|Rumors circulated at the time purporting that Pedro&nbsp;I had kicked Maria Leopoldina in the womb during a heated discussion. The quarrel was witnessed by Domitila de Castro and Wenzel Philipp Leopold, Baron von Mareschal. Then serving Maria Leopoldina's father as the Austrian minister in Brazil and thus inclined to reflect her interests, Mareschal was the sole eyewitness who left an account of what actually happened. According to him, the couple had a bitter argument in which they exchanged insults, but there is no mention of physical violence ({{harvnb|Rangel|1928|pp=162–163}}; {{harvnb|Calmon|1975|pp=14–15}}; {{harvnb|Costa|1995|p=86}}). Historians Alberto Rangel {{harv|Rangel|1928|p=163}}, Pedro Calmon ({{harvnb|Calmon|1950|p=137}}; {{harvnb|Calmon|1975|p=14}}), Octávio Tarquínio de Sousa {{harv|Sousa 1972, Vol 2|p=242}}, Sérgio Corrêa da Costa {{harv|Costa|1995|p=86}} and Roderick J. Barman {{harv|Barman|1999|p=17}} have rejected the possibility that Pedro&nbsp;I physically harmed his wife and all affirmed that the altercation was limited to harsh language. A later exhumation confirmed that Maria Leopoldina had died of natural causes.{{harv|Tavares|2013}} As late as 1831, however, aspersions on Pedro's conduct at the time of his wife's death were still being whispered, serving as a lasting reminder of what people actually believed, regardless of the unfounded nature of the allegations {{harv|Sousa 1972, Vol 2|p=242}}. Barman was categorical when he noted that Maria Leopoldina's death stripped Pedro&nbsp;I of "any remaining aura of sanctity, either at home or abroad" {{harv|Barman|1988|p=147}}.}} Meanwhile, the war continued on with no conclusion in sight. Pedro&nbsp;I relinquished Cisplatina in August 1828, and the province became the independent nation of [[Uruguay]].{{sfn|Macaulay|1986|p=211}}{{sfn|Barman|1988|p=151}}