Empire of Freedom: The History of the American Empire
- Thread starter Kaiser of Brazil
- Start date
I would never say no to more Iskander and how he gets his new empire into the current century, but I may be a bit biased...
XLVII: EMBRACING THE EXILE
EMBRACING THE EXILE
Flag of the short-lived Kingdom of Portugal-Brazil
Flag of the Empire of Brazil
In the year of 1807, the port of Lisbon was seemingly calm one morning, and as the people woke up they saw it completely had changed. A flurry of activity took over the place as the Portuguese fleet evacuated thousands of people, from lawyers to merchants, to the Royal Family themselves. Prince D. João took the most important decision of his life: For a year, Portugal was playing a dangerous game of balancing between Napoleon’s new order and their old ally Britain. Napoleon demanded that the Prince-Regent (ruling the Kingdom as his mother, Queen D. Maria I, fell into insanity similarly to George III) cut ties with Britain, but that would not only risk retaliation like the British did in Copenhagen, but also would break 500 years of friendship and trade. Instead of fighting the invincible French Army or lose its colonies to the British like the Dutch, D. João took the coward way out and escaped, protected by the mighty Royal Navy. Napoleon would later write in his memoirs “He is the only man who ever tricked me.”Flag of the short-lived Kingdom of Portugal-Brazil
Flag of the Empire of Brazil
The voyage was long, in crowded old ships, low on supplies, infested with tropical diseases, and a storm in Madeira almost sunk the ship carrying the Prince and his two sons. The storm would divide the fleet in two (although modern historians believe that was planned by the Prince), with D. João heading to Salvador, in Bahia. He would be received and make the typical “Beija-mão” ceremony, while later he would make his part of the deal with the British: In return of escorting the Royal family and court to Brazil and protecting them from French Corsair attacks, D. Pedro would end the colonial monopoly on trade and open the Brazilian ports to foreign commerce (while also giving the British a below average tariff). He would later head south to Rio de Janeiro, the colonial Capital of Brazil and the new Capital of the Portuguese Empire.
Between 1808 and 1812, the Prince would enact several changes in the city, creating the first industries, banks, press, and libraries of the colony, essentially bringing in a revolution for the country and centralizing the once autonomous provinces of Brazil into one decision center. The Portuguese army would also be restructured, sent in to occupy French Guiana and Spanish Cisplatina while the Portuguese mainland was divided by the French and Spanish, only for the French turn against their ally and start the Peninsula War. One important part of Portugal that was latter brought in to Brazil was the Royal Library, one of the oldest and most prestigious in Europe, and it was barely able to be transported from Lisbon in 1812 while Bellegarde launched relentless attacks against the city. The books were evacuated together with Wellesley’s army, while the only building of the library was razed by French forces.
The news of the destruction of Lisbon shock the Braganças to the core, and with Napoleon invading Britain itself and the Spanish expedition sunk in Trafalgar, D. João VI (Now crowned King after his mother’s death in 1817) knew there would be no turning back, at least not while Napoleon and Bellegarde were still alive to ensure that. Besides, D. João had started to like Brazil personally, he enjoyed Rio de Janeiro, differently from his wife. Carlota Joaquina and D. João hated one another, living in different palaces and even fleeing in different ships, his Spanish wife hated Brazil, and that was a trait shared by D. Miguel, her favorite son. The throne of Portugal was to be passed to the second born D. Pedro, a 17th century curse made to the Duke of Bragança made sure that no first-born of the house would ever live to seat on the throne of his father, so far it has been working.
D. João would modernize Brazil, making it the centerpiece of the Lusitanian Empire with the loss of Portugal. The colonies answered to Rio, the Provinces answered to Rio, except for one: Pernambuco. In the early colonial era, Pernambuco was the richest province of Brazil and one of the most in the world, being the lead producer of sugarcane thanks to its fertile terrain and climate, but the Dutch invasion in 1630 changed that. The Dutch would be expelled in 1654, but stole the sugarcane to its Caribbean colonies, outcompeting the “pernambucanos” and bankrupting the province that saw its importance falling as gold was discovered in the south in the Province of Minas Gerais (literally General Mines in Portuguese). In 1817, 10 years since the exile, taxes have been increasing, with foreign products bankrupting the locals, and a severe drought being completely mishandled by the Governor, that was enough. The Province of Pernambuco declared independence, joined by Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte. The result was a months-long war, with troops from Rio de Janeiro advancing from the south and the Capital, Recife, being bombarded by the Portuguese fleet, the rebels were defeated and order restored, with the province being cut in half of its size as a punishment.
D. João VI knew there was no turning back to Portugal, and so he would start embracing his new nation. A new flag was adopted, with the Kingdom of Portugal-Brazil being its name, the citizens started calling themselves “brasileiros”, and no one was more enthusiastic than the young and adventurous Prince D. Pedro, beloved by the people (except for those who discovered their wives in bed with him), he was charismatic and energetic, being married with the Habsburg Princess Leopoldina. And as the nation continued to grow, with the richness of the Empire flowing to Rio, a new product started to be the basis of the agrarian cash crops of the nation: Coffee. While it was not a new plant in Brazil, the recent expansion westwards caused by the discovery of gold also discovered a very fertile terrain for it in the Southeastern part of the country, especially in São Paulo. By the middle of the century, Brazil would be producing over 50% of the world’s supply of coffee, with that only increasing until it reached almost 80% in the 1870s.
In 1826, after a dinner eating his usual Chicken wings (the King’s favorite food), D. João would start choking, and he would die in his sleep. Some suspect he was poisoned by his hated wife Carlota Joaquina, who wanted a chance to place D. Miguel on the throne, but instead D. Pedro I would rise, thanks for the support of José Bonifácio, the chief advisor of the court, and his politically savvy wife. His first act was to deny the crown of Portugal-Brazil, proclaiming himself Emperor of Brazil, fully embracing the Brazilian identity of the nation and rejecting the long-forgotten homeland of the Bragança, and that was an outrage for D. Miguel, he would form the “Portuguese Party” a reactionary alliance of Portuguese citizens who wished to return to the old roots. Meanwhile, José Bonifácio would form the “Brazilian Party” to counter it, and it not only supported a more Brazilian-centric Empire, but also supported several liberal reforms enacted by D. Pedro, like freedom of Press and speech (so long as it didn’t attack the monarchy itself), and the formation of the Brazilian Parliament, elected by limites suffrage based on wealth (Yet, it was considered one of the most liberal of the time, with a greater percentage of the population voting even compared to the American Empire Pre-Jackson). The “Constitution of 1828” would be enacted to the anger of the Portuguese Party, but for now D. Miguel was isolated, with the army and the provinces (even the African colonies thanks to the slave trade) loyal, he couldn’t do much other than angry speeches, and that would change with the start of the GEW.
Further south, the Directorate of La Plata achieved its independence from Spain, and rebels in Cisplatina would be inspired to do the same. Between 1829 and 1831, Brazil and La Plata would fight the first Platinean War over the control of Uruguay. La Plata had the initial advantage with an experienced army and local support, but after the Republican navy was destroyed near Montevideo, the nation was cut from foreign trade, and Brazil had a more professional army and economy, using that to turn the tide against the Argentines. Defeating them in the Battle of Corrientes in January 1831, putting Buenos Aires under siege. The Directorate would be forced to give up claims over Uruguay, cede disputed territories in the North of Entre Rios, and pay a heavy sum to cover the costs of war. D. Pedro (Who personally led the army) would come back victorious and hailed as a hero upon his return, increasing his popularity greatly. A certain woman called Domitila the Castro Melo would meet the emperor in Santos that night, only to leave the hotel room crying. D. Pedro started giving more value to his wife, treating her much better than before, standing by her side as their first born, D. Antônio, died, as the curse of the Bragança dictated. His second born D. Pedro II would soon grow up to be one of the most intellectual monarchs in history, tutored by an equally intellectual man, José Bonifácio, who remained a close advisor and even Prime Minister for some time (even if he failed to end slavery in Brazil, he would still play an important part in Brazilian history).
With the war reigniting in Europe, what was only an inconvenience became a loud cry. The reconquest of Portugal after almost 3 decades of exile became just a distant dream from some fanatical Portuguese, but now it was much more since it had the chance of becoming true. The Portuguese party rallied its members, signing a declaration demanding the “Right to Return”, and D. Pedro considered it opportune, willingly to finally get rid of his brother (Hopefully he would die at the hands of Bellegarde) he gave him a few ships, carried with veterans of the recent war with the Directorade of La Plata, to head to Portugal in 1837. Surprisingly he actually took back Lisbon, being hailed as D. Miguel I “O Libertador”, to the anger of his Brother, who started considering him a genuine threat. Once the war was over, D. Miguel would control the southern half of Portugal, including Lisbon, and now claimed the Portuguese throne and Empire. The Brazilian Imperial navy acted immediately blockading Lisbon, only to receive a British ultimatum ordering them to retreat from the occupation zone. Eventually, both sides agreed to having a neutral party mediation in Morocco at the Tangier conference. It was agreed that D. Miguel would hold the Portuguese throne and reject the claims over the colonies, while D. Pedro rejected the claims over Portugal and promised to not interfere on his brother’s domains.
There was never a clear date of Brazilian independence, some claim it was when Rio de Janeiro became capital and the ports were opened, others claim it was when D. João declared the short-lived Kingdom of Portugal-Brazil, most claim it was at the rise of D. Pedro I on the 7th of September of 1826, when he declared the Brazilian Empire. Maybe it would be more appropriate to call the independence of Portugal, as it is celebrated on the date of the arrival of D. Miguel and his declaration as Monarch on the 5th of August, others claim it was at the end of the Tangier conference on the 8th of March. The History of Portugal and Brazil during this troubled era is only as confusing as the Spanish-Mexican one, except that the Spanish had the opposite of D. João VI on the throne, because Carlos V hated Mexico and loved Spain.
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Well, didn’t think my biggest chapter would be about Brazil, well that’s expected since I’m Brazilian. Anyways, what do you think ?
I loved it! I suspect Carlos will find himself in bed with less than likely allies. He will have to ally with the American empire in order to reclaim cuba, the Brazilian empire to retake the royalist strong holds scattered in the south, and once he's finally marched on Madrid him and Miguel will rule with an iron fist over all of Iberia.
In otl Napoleons empire brought many liberal ideas to challenge absolutists ideals. But with the increasingly violent and repressive nature of ttl french empire I suspect the opposite will happen, with absolutist monarchs such as Miguel and Carlos finding themselves unchallenged as every peasant sees them as god like protectors, not daring question there authority and drive the nations into chaos once again.
The Iberians will take generations to ever trust liberalism again, and even then it will be with suspicion. Liberal ideas are associated with the French, what else is associated with the French ? Razing of cities, mass rapes of biblical proportions, and crimes not even the Mongols would be cruel enough to inflict. The Catalans are an exception and are probably forever thankful of being annexed directly and spared from Bellegarde’s reign of terror. But the man is also growing old, the Spanish ulcer will hurt again soon, chaos and anarchy will rule, some extremists based on Darwinism will attempt the first genocide of Modern Europe, others will try to redeem France. On the middle of that, the Iberian exiled monarchies will use their bases to attack, and that might cause the next European war a generation after the last ended.
Meanwhile, a radical Americanist priest will declare war on the incarnation of Satan itself and plunge the whole UAR on fire.
God have mercy of them all, the 50s will be bloody.
Oooh, call me in with the majority in-universe who consider the independence of Brazil to be with the Brazilian Empire's proclamation. That said, it looks like this Brazilian Empire and Brazil-in-general will be stronger off from the get-go. It's managed to secure Cisplatina and Cayenne alike without any need to get rid of them and there wasn't even a perfunctory independence war for Brazil as there was in OTL.
Poor UAR's common whites and blacks though. But if the area is taken and annexed, hopefully rebuilt.
I'd be fascinated by a friendly American Empire in North America and Brazilian Empire in South America, happily divvying the western hemisphere up between them with Central America and Gran Colombia a neutral buffer zone.
Poor UAR's common whites and blacks though. But if the area is taken and annexed, hopefully rebuilt.
I'd be fascinated by a friendly American Empire in North America and Brazilian Empire in South America, happily divvying the western hemisphere up between them with Central America and Gran Colombia a neutral buffer zone.
So Brazil has all of the Portuguese colonies like New Guinea, Angola, Mozambique, etc while Portugal proper has only it's European holdings correct? Interesting change, curious to see how this goes.
Also, the paragraph about the Portuguese Party and Right to Return is duplicated.
last admiral
Banned
A clusterfuck of fight between royalist/loyalist, Crowellist, The Company, and the local princes/kings to name a few?
I'm interested to see what happened to my country(Malaysia)now. Probably make some deal with some Britain loyalist to modernise the country(and rebuild Malacca Sultanate) and defeating the Siam in return, supporting their faction in India.
Spain, to wrap up the Iberia theme you had going with Portugal/Brazil last.
I would like to see Spain too, really want to know what hell you got Bellegarde raising in there...
Still Spain then, finish the whole Exiled Iberian Kingdoms part before moving onto America.