Editing Pedro II of Brazil (section)

=== To Europe and North Africa ===
[[File:Pedro II of Brazil in Egypt 1871.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|alt=A large group of men and women are gathered below the head of the Sphinx with the Great Pyramid looming behind|French archaeologist [[Auguste Mariette]] (seated, far left) and Pedro&nbsp;II (seated, far right) during the Emperor's visit to the [[Giza Necropolis]] at the end of 1871]]
On 25 May 1871, Pedro&nbsp;II and his wife traveled to Europe.{{sfn|Barman|1999|p=236}}{{sfn|Lira 1977, Vol 2|p=175}} He had long desired to vacation abroad. When news arrived that his younger daughter, the 23-year-old Leopoldina, had died in Vienna of [[typhoid fever]] on 7 February, he finally had a pressing reason to venture outside the Empire.<ref>See:
* {{harvnb|Barman|1999|p=236}},
* {{harvnb|Lira 1977, Vol 2|pp=172, 174}},
* {{harvnb|Carvalho|2007|pp=144–145}}.</ref> Upon arriving in [[Lisbon]], Portugal, he immediately went to the [[National Museum of Ancient Art|''Janelas Verdes'' palace]], where he met with his stepmother, Amélie of Leuchtenberg. The two had not seen each other in forty years, and the meeting was emotional. Pedro&nbsp;II remarked in his journal: "I cried from happiness and also from sorrow seeing my Mother so affectionate toward me but so aged and so sick."<ref>See:
* {{harvnb|Barman|1999|p=236}},
* {{harvnb|Lira 1977, Vol 2|p=180}},
* {{harvnb|Carvalho|2007|p=147}}.</ref>

The Emperor proceeded to visit Spain, Great Britain, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, Egypt, Greece, Switzerland, and France. In [[Coburg]], he visited his daughter's tomb.{{sfn|Carvalho|2007|p=147}}{{sfn|Barman|1999|pp=237–238}} He found this to be "a time of release and freedom". He traveled under the assumed name "Dom Pedro de Alcântara", insisting upon being treated informally and staying only in hotels.{{sfn|Barman|1999|p=236}}{{sfn|Carvalho|2007|pp=146–147}} He spent his days sightseeing and conversing with scientists and other intellectuals with whom he shared interests.{{sfn|Barman|1999|p=236}}{{sfn|Carvalho|2007|p=147}} The European sojourn proved to be a success, and his demeanor and curiosity won respectful notices in the nations which he visited. The prestige of both Brazil and Pedro&nbsp;II were further enhanced during the tour when news came from Brazil that the Law of Free Birth, abolishing the last source of enslavement, had been ratified. The imperial party returned to Brazil in triumph on 31 March 1872.{{sfn|Barman|1999|p=240}}