King of Portugal Brazil And The Algarves VI Jodao ^2,3

  General Notes:

[Europe_New.FTW] [royalfam.ged] Fearing Napoleon's onslaught the Portuguese royal family left Lisbon and moved their court t o Brazil, the crown's most prized possession. Dom Joao of Braganza, Regent of Portugal, packe d his family and his demented mother, Queen Maria I, and headed for the sunny coasts of Brazi l. As the Portuguese royal family left Lisbon, Napoleon's troops led by the anti-monarchist G eneral Junot overran the Portuguese border. On a cold November morning in 1807, the royal exo dus started its long voyage into exile. Along with the royal family came an entourage estimat ed to include almost fifteen thousand people. The people of Lisbon watched in dismay as thei r ruler abandoned the country to the fate of the invading Napoleonic legions. But he had mad e the decision to escape the invasion, nothing would deter Dom Joao who believed that movin g to Brazil would save his family from becoming Napoleon's puppets just as some of his roya l cousins throughout Europe had Done. The Portuguese royal contingent arrived on the coasts o f Brazil on January 21, 1808. Brazilians who witnessed this most unexpected arrival went wil d with ovations for the exiled royals. Two months later the royal party arrived at their fina l destination, the beautiful port of Rio de Janeiro. It was at Rio that Dom Joao decided to s ettle his court in exile, and it was from there that he vigorously rebuild the fortunes of hi s shattered kingdom. Dom Joao opened Brazilian ports to foreign trade and basically constitut ed the colony into an independent, self-reliant kingdom under the rule of the House of Bragan za. In due time, Dom Joao would acquire properties in the countryside to where the royal fami ly would retire to lead a quiet life away from the exigencies of court life. The fall of Napo leon in 1814 restored the Portuguese royal family to their throne in Lisbon. Despite this eve nt, Dom Joao refused to return to Europe until the political situation there settled. He wa s also faced with an uncertain future in Brazil if he departed.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Record Change, 23 Aug 2003. ^2,3

VI married Princess Of Spain Carlota, daughter of IV Carlos and Princess Of Parma Luigia, on 9 Jan 1790 in Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal ².^,3 (Princess Of Spain Carlota was born on 25 Apr 1775 in Aranjuez, Madrid, Madrid, Spain,^2,3 died on 7 Jan 1830 in Lisboa, Portugal ^2,3 and was buried in Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal ^2,3.)