Editing John VI of Portugal (section)

===Colonial Transformation===
[[File:Salvador - BA (Sep 2024) 0149.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Monument to the Prince Regent, erected in 1815 in Salvador]]
On 22 January 1808, the Prince Regent's ship and the two others arrived in [[Baía de Todos os Santos]], Brazil. The streets of Salvador were deserted, because the governor, the Count of Ponte, preferred to await the prince's orders before permitting the people to receive him. Finding this attitude odd, John ordered that all could come as they wished.<ref>Gomes, p. 102</ref> However, to allow the nobility to compose themselves after such an arduous journey, the landing was postponed until the next day, when they were received joyfully amidst a procession, the ringing of bells and a celebration of a ''[[Te Deum]]'' at the [[Cathedral of Salvador]]. In the following days, John received all who wished to give homage, granting the ceremony of the ''beija-mão'' (the kissing of the monarch's hand) and conceding various mercies.<ref name="Pedreira e Costa, pp. 201-210">Pedreira e Costa, pp. 201–210</ref> Among the latter, he decreed the creation of a public lecture series on economics and a school of surgery,<ref>Lobo Neto, Francisco José da Silveira. [http://www.uff.br/trabalhonecessario/TN06%20LOBO%20NETO,%20F.J.S.memoria%20e%20documento.pdf "D. João VI e a educação brasileira: alguns documentos"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119074403/http://www.uff.br/trabalhonecessario/TN06%20LOBO%20NETO%2C%20F.J.S.memoria%20e%20documento.pdf |date=19 January 2012 }}. In: ''Trabalho Necessário'', ano 6, nº 6, 2008, s/p. In Portuguese.</ref> but his most decisive action at this moment was the Decree of Opening the Ports to Friendly Nations (''Decreto de Abertura dos Portos às Nações Amigas''), a measure of vast political and economic importance and the first of many that went to improve conditions in the colony. Britain, however, whose economy depended in great part on maritime commerce, and for whom the Portuguese and Brazilian monarchy was now something of a protectorate, was the most direct beneficiary.<ref>Pedreira e Costa, pp. 208–210</ref>

Salvador spent a month in commemorations of the presence of the court and tried to seduce the court into making it the new seat of the Kingdom. The residents offered to construct a luxurious palace as a home for the royal family, but John declined and continued his voyage, having already announced to various nations his intention to make his capital at Rio de Janeiro. His ship entered [[Guanabara Bay]] on 7 March, where he met his daughters and other members of his entourage whose ships had arrived earlier. On the 8th, the whole court finally disembarked to encounter a city adorned to receive them with nine days of uninterrupted celebrations.<ref>Pedreira e Costa, pp. 210–212</ref> A well-known chronicler of the era, Father Perereca, eyewitness to the arrival, while lamenting the news of the invasion of metropolitan Portugal, also intuited the significance of the arrival of the court on Brazilian soil:
[[File:A Chegada da Família de dom João VI ao Brasil.jpg|thumb|Allegory of the arrival of Prince John and his family in Brazil]]
{{blockquote|If so great were the motives of sorrow and distress, no less were the causes of comfort and pleasure: a new order of things was going to begin this part of the southern hemisphere. The design of the Empire of Brazil could already be considered in place, and eagerly wished the powerful hand of our lord the Prince Regent to cast the first stone of future greatness, prosperity and power of the new empire.<ref>"Se tão grandes eram os motivos de mágoa e aflição, não menores eram as causas de consolo e de prazer: uma nova ordem de coisas ia a principiar nesta parte do hemisfério austral. O império do Brasil já se considerava projetado, e ansiosamente suspirávamos pela poderosa mão do príncipe regente nosso senhor para lançar a primeira pedra da futura grandeza, prosperidade e poder de novo império". Gomes, p. 129</ref>}}

John helped change Brazil from an ordinary colony into a booming society.  This was done, in large part, to the establishment of a new government in the capital, Rio de Janeiro.  With a government, the essential apparatus of a sovereign state became inevitable: the senior civil, religious, and military officials, aristocrats and liberal professionals, skilled artisans, and public servants. For many scholars, the transfer of the court to Rio began the establishment of the modern Brazilian state and constituted Brazil's first step toward true independence.<ref>Mota, Carlos Guilherme. ''Viagem incompleta: a experiência brasileira. A grande transação''. Senac, 2000, pp. 453–454. In Portuguese</ref> While Brazil at this time remained formally and juridically a Portuguese colony, in the words of Caio Prado, Jr.

{{blockquote|"Establishing in Brazil the seat of a monarchy, the regent ''ipso facto'' abolished the [[colony|colonial]] regime under which the country had lived until then. All the characteristics of that [colonial] regime disappeared, the only remaining part of the colonial situation was to be under a foreign government. One after another, the old workings of colonial administration were abolished and replaced by those of a sovereign nation. Economic restrictions fell and thoughts of the country's interests moved to the front of government policy."<ref>''"Estabelecendo no Brasil a sede da monarquia, o regente aboliu ''ipso facto'' o regime de [[colônia]] em que o país até então vivera. Todos os caracteres de tal regime desaparecem, restando apenas a circunstância de continuar à frente de um governo estranho. São abolidas, uma atrás da outra, as velhas engrenagens da administração colonial, e substituídas por outras já de uma nação soberana. Caem as restrições econômicas e passam para um primeiro plano das cogitações políticas do governo os interesses do país."'' Mota, p. 455</ref>}}

But first it was necessary to provide accommodations for the newcomers, a difficult problem to resolve given the cramped proportions of the city of Rio at that time. In particular, there were few homes suitable for the nobility, especially in the case of the royal family, who were installed in the viceregal palace, known today as the [[Paço Imperial]] (Imperial Palace). Though large, it was comfortless and nothing like Portuguese palaces. As large as it was, it was not enough to accommodate everyone, so neighboring buildings were also requisitioned, such as the Carmelite Convent, the town hall, and even the jail. To meet the needs of other nobles, and to install new government offices, innumerable small residences were hastily expropriated, their proprietors arbitrarily ejected, at times violently in the face of resistance. Despite the efforts of Viceroy [[Marcos de Noronha e Brito, 8th Count of Arcos|Marcos de Noronha e Brito]] and of Joaquim José de Azevedo, the regent was still poorly accommodated. Merchant Elias Antônio Lopes offered his country house, the [[Quinta da Boa Vista]], a sumptuous villa in excellent location that immediately met with the prince's satisfaction. Renovations and expansion transformed this into the [[Paço de São Cristóvão]] ("Palace of Saint Christopher"). Carlota Joaquina, for her part, preferred to settle on a farm near the beach of [[Botafogo]], continuing her habit of living apart from her husband.<ref>Pedreira e Costa, pp. 214–216</ref>
[[File:Frühbeck-LargoPaço.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The Largo do Carmo (now the site of Rio's [[Praça XV de Novembro]]) a few years after arrival of the court]]
The city, which at that time had about 70,000 inhabitants, saw itself transformed overnight. The additional populace, full of new requirements, imposed a new organization in the supply of food and other consumer goods, including luxury items. It took years for the Portuguese to settle in, causing years of chaos in the daily life of Rio; rents doubled, taxes rose, and food was in short supply, requisitioned by the imported nobility. This soon dispelled popular enthusiasm over the prince regent's arrival. The very shape of the city began to change, with the construction of innumerable new residences, villas and other buildings, and various improvements to services and infrastructure. Likewise, the presence of the court introduced new standards of etiquette, new fashions and new customs, including a new social stratification.<ref>Fernandes, Cláudia Alves & Fernandes Junior, Ricardo de Oliveira. "Dom João VI: arquiteto da emancipação brasileira". In: ''XXII Simpósio de História do Vale do Paraíba'', Associação Educacional Dom Bosco, Resende, 15–17 August 2008. pp. 36–38. In Portuguese.</ref><ref>Oliveira, Anelise Martinelli Borges. "Dom João VI no Rio de Janeiro: preparando o novo cenário". In: ''Revista História em Reflexão'': Vol. 2 n. 4 – UFGD – Dourados, July/December 2008. In Portuguese.</ref><ref>Lima, Carollina Carvalho Ramos de. "Viajantes estrangeiros na corte de Dom João". In: ''Anais do II Fórum de Artigos Multidisciplinares'', Uni-FACEF Centro Universitário de Franca, 5–9 May 2008, no pagination. In Portuguese.</ref><ref>Gomes, pp. 136–151</ref>

Among the customs, John continued in Brazil the ancient Portuguese ceremony of the ''beija-mão'', which he esteemed greatly and which fascinated the Brazilians and became part of their folklore.<ref>[http://www.historiacolonial.arquivonacional.gov.br/cgi/cgilua.exe/sys/start.htm?infoid=731&sid=95 ''Casa Real: Nascimento do Príncipe da Beira: Beija-mão''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607213702/http://www.historiacolonial.arquivonacional.gov.br/cgi/cgilua.exe/sys/start.htm?infoid=731&sid=95 |date= 7 June 2013 }}. O Arquivo Nacional e a História Brasileira. In Portuguese.</ref> He received his subjects daily, except for Sundays and holidays. The long lines waiting to pay their respects and receive favors were a mix of nobles and commoners. According to painter Henry L'Evêque, "the Prince, accompanied by a Secretary of State, a Chamberlain and some household officials, received all the petitions that were presented to him; listened attentively to all the complaints, all the requests of the applicants; consoled one, encouraged others.... The vulgarity of the manners, the familiarity of speech, the insistence of some, the prolixity of others, none of this bored him. He seemed to forget that he was their master, and remember only that he was their father."<ref>''"o Príncipe, acompanhado por um Secretário de Estado, um Camareiro e alguns oficiais de sua Casa, recebe todos os requerimentos que lhe são apresentados; escuta com atenção todas as queixas, todos os pedidos dos requerentes; consola uns, anima outros.... A vulgaridade das maneiras, a familiaridade da linguagem, a insistência de alguns, a prolixidade de outros, nada o enfada. Parece esquecer-se de que é senhor deles para se lembrar apenas de que é o seu pai".'' Carvalho, Marieta Pinheiro de. [http://bndigital.bn.br/redememoria/joaovi.html ''D. João VI: perfil do rei nos trópicos''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522065452/http://bndigital.bn.br/redememoria/joaovi.html |date=22 May 2011 }}. Rede Virtual da Memória Brasileira. Fundação Biblioteca Nacional, 2008.</ref> [[Oliveira Lima]] wrote that he "never confused the faces or the pleas, and the applicants marveled at how well he know their lives, their families, even small incidents that had occurred in the past and which they could not believe had risen to the notice of the King."<ref>''"nunca confundia as fisionomias nem as súplicas, e maravilhava os requerentes com o conhecimento que denotava das suas vidas, das suas famílias, até de pequenos incidentes ocorridos em tempos passados e que eles mal podiam acreditar terem subido à ciência d'el-rei."'' Lima, Oliveira. Vol. II. p. 859</ref>
[[File:Beijamao.jpg|thumb|The ceremony of the ''[[beija-mão]]'' (hand-kissing) in John's Brazilian court, maintaining a custom of the Portuguese monarchs.]]
Throughout his stay in Brazil, John formalized the creation of a huge number of institutions and public services and boosted the economy, culture and other areas of national life. All these measures were taken principally because of the practical needs of administering a large empire in a territory previously lacking of these resources, because the predominant idea continued to be that Brazil would remain a colony, given that it was expected that the court would return to its old metropolis once the European political situation returned to normal. However, these advances became the basis for Brazil's future autonomy.<ref name="Loyola">Loyola, Leandro. [http://revistaepoca.globo.com/Revista/Epoca/0,,EDG81336-6014-506,00.html "A nova história de Dom João VI"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703153349/http://revistaepoca.globo.com/Revista/Epoca/0,,EDG81336-6014-506,00.html |date=3 July 2013 }}. In: ''Revista Época'', nº 506, 30 January 2008. In Portuguese.</ref><ref name="Bandeira"/> This is not to say that all was amenities and progress. A series of political crises began shortly after the Prince Regent's arrival with the [[invasion of Cayenne (1809)|invasion of Cayenne]] in [[French Guiana]] in 1809 in retaliation for the French invasion of Portugal,<ref>[http://www.historiacolonial.arquivonacional.gov.br/cgi/cgilua.exe/sys/start.htm?infoid=248&sid=48&tpl=printerview ''Caiena: mapa do comércio''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203060435/http://www.historiacolonial.arquivonacional.gov.br/cgi/cgilua.exe/sys/start.htm?infoid=248&sid=48&tpl=printerview |date= 3 December 2013 }}. O Arquivo Nacional e a História Luso-Brasileira, 26 November 2004. In Portuguese.</ref> serious economic problems, and an unfavorable trade agreement negotiated in 1810 with the British government, which in practice flooded the small internal market with useless trinkets, disadvantaged exports, and the creation of new national industries.<ref>Lima, Oliveira. [http://www.consciencia.org/relacoes-comerciais-do-brasil.os-tratados-de-1810-d.joao-vi-no-brasil-oliveira-lima ''D. João VI no Brasil – 1808–1821''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807015758/http://www.consciencia.org/relacoes-comerciais-do-brasil.os-tratados-de-1810-d.joao-vi-no-brasil-oliveira-lima |date=7 August 2011 }}. Vol. I. Rio de Janeiro: Typ. do Jornal do Commercio, de Rodrigues, 1908. Edição online</ref><ref>Gomes, pp. 186–190</ref> Laurentino Gomes writes that John granted more hereditary titles in his first eight years in Brazil than had been granted in the previous three hundred years of the Portuguese monarchy, not even counting more than five thousand insignia and commendations of the [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Portugal|honorific orders of Portugal]].<ref>Gomes, pp. 169–177</ref><ref name="Lima, cap. XVIII"/>

When Napoleon was defeated in 1815, the European powers held the [[Congress of Vienna]] to reorganize the political map of the continent. Portugal participated in these negotiations, but given British overtures contrary to the interests of the [[House of Braganza]], Portugal's ambassador to the Congress, the [[Dukes of Palmela|Count of Palmela]], counseled the regent to remain in Brazil, as did the powerful [[Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord|Prince Talleyrand]], in order to strengthen the ties between metropolis and colony, including the suggestion to elevate Brazil to the condition of a kingdom united to Portugal. The British representative to the Congress also ended up supporting the idea, which resulted in the effective foundation of the [[United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves]] on 16 December 1815, a juridical institution rapidly recognized by other nations.<ref name="Bandeira">Bandeira, Moniz. ''Casa da Torre de Garcia d'Avila''. Editora Record, 2000, pp. 423–425</ref>