Isabel was the last Crown Princess of Brazil until 1889 when the monarchy was overthrown. When her father was away she became his regent and acted on his behalf. She became very popular in her country when she heavily supported and pushed a law through parliament outlawing Slavery in the country. Although this made her popular with her people she was also heavily disliked because of her gender, her marriage to a foreigner, and her strong catholic faith. She also shared her father's pessimism and had no drive to become empress or see the monarchy continue after her lifetime.
That makes me wonder if the monarchy could've survived if Isabel took an interest in ruling and wanted to be an empress. She seemed to have the intelligence to do it. There were other factors but I don't see why they were such a big deal
1) Gender - Although female monarchs were uncommon in that time period, at the same time the most powerful empire in the world was run by a woman who was doing a pretty good job (Queen Victoria). Being a woman ruler would've been difficult in Brazil but not impossible
2) Marriage to a foreigner - European Royals had been marrying foreign nobles and royals for years and Isabel was no exception as she was married to a French nobleman. Why was this seen as such a bad thing by the people of Brazil? And who would they've considered a suitable husband? A nobility member? Did Brazil have a Nobility? A commoner?
3) Strong Catholic Faith - I thought Brazil was mostly Catholic. Why did they have such a problem with Isabel being a Catholic?
These obstacles don't seem like that big a deal. The Brazilian Empire was a heavily democratic constitutional monarchy that some argued was even better then the following republic. The challenges Isabel faced seemed hard but not impossible. Is it possible that all the Brazilian Empire needed to survive beyond 1889 was a successor who actually gave a crap.
That makes me wonder if the monarchy could've survived if Isabel took an interest in ruling and wanted to be an empress. She seemed to have the intelligence to do it. There were other factors but I don't see why they were such a big deal
1) Gender - Although female monarchs were uncommon in that time period, at the same time the most powerful empire in the world was run by a woman who was doing a pretty good job (Queen Victoria). Being a woman ruler would've been difficult in Brazil but not impossible
2) Marriage to a foreigner - European Royals had been marrying foreign nobles and royals for years and Isabel was no exception as she was married to a French nobleman. Why was this seen as such a bad thing by the people of Brazil? And who would they've considered a suitable husband? A nobility member? Did Brazil have a Nobility? A commoner?
3) Strong Catholic Faith - I thought Brazil was mostly Catholic. Why did they have such a problem with Isabel being a Catholic?
These obstacles don't seem like that big a deal. The Brazilian Empire was a heavily democratic constitutional monarchy that some argued was even better then the following republic. The challenges Isabel faced seemed hard but not impossible. Is it possible that all the Brazilian Empire needed to survive beyond 1889 was a successor who actually gave a crap.