Portuguese royal family arrives to Brazil before 1808

In march of 1808, the royal family of Portugal arrived in Brazil and established their court in Rio de Janeiro. They ran to Brazil because of the Napoleonic Wars.

Thing is, the idea of change the portuguese capital to Brazil is really old, being originally conceived by Antonio Vieira (a priest who was important to brazilian and portuguese history because of his opinions about slavery and politics) and defended by Luis da Cunha (a estrangeirado diplomat). Some people even say that Marquis of Pombal also proposed this idea (and it's comfirmed that he defended the construction of Brasilia). So, how could the portuguese capital be transferred earlier than in OTL?
 
The best options are a Franco-Spanish invasion of Portugal in the War of Spanish Succession or the immediate aftermath of the 1755 earthquake. Either would result in a much stabler union of Brazil and Portugal.
 
I believe the idea got some serious thought during the War of Oranges (1801). Spain didn't really want to destroy Portugal and had been forced into it by the French. They did the minimum, declared victory, and went home. This pissed off the French. Portugal made plans for the transfer, and made good use during the actual evacuation a few years later. Had WoO gotten real, you could see the transfer, and Portugal ripped apart.

The move is never going to happen peacefully. Portugal power figures are not giving up power unless forced to. So,create a crisis and destroy Portugal so they won't be able to demand return of the Crown.
 
The best options are a Franco-Spanish invasion of Portugal in the War of Spanish Succession or the immediate aftermath of the 1755 earthquake. Either would result in a much stabler union of Brazil and Portugal.

I believe the idea got some serious thought during the War of Oranges (1801). Spain didn't really want to destroy Portugal and had been forced into it by the French. They did the minimum, declared victory, and went home. This pissed off the French. Portugal made plans for the transfer, and made good use during the actual evacuation a few years later. Had WoO gotten real, you could see the transfer, and Portugal ripped apart.

The move is never going to happen peacefully. Portugal power figures are not giving up power unless forced to. So,create a crisis and destroy Portugal so they won't be able to demand return of the Crown.

Interesting. I am now thinking about something like this...

The earthquake, which was of Lisbon was devastating for Portugal, but even more for it's king and his mind. 20 days after the disaster, Dom Jose I decided to stay in a tent with a group of priests. The king wanted to know why that disaster had come to his country. He was scared (or crazy, say some people) and only the Lord could help him.
During the period of self-confinement of the king, the country was de facto ruled by Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, appointed by the king to be Secretary of State of Internal Affairs of the Kingdom before the king isolated himself (being originally Secretary of Foreign affairs) His first action as Secretary was to begin the reconstruction of Lisbon and secure the stability of the country.
After seven weeks, Dom Jose left the tent, saying that God had revealed the truth to him.
"As Abraham guided the people chosen by God, i need to guide the people of this christian country to a holy land , fertile and far away from the dangers that will come in the future."
And, so, the king proposed officially to move the capital of the kingdom to the colony of Brazil.
Some people said that Dom Jose was crazy, and many of the nobles opposed to the idea, as this could interfere in the reconstruction of Lisbon. Others supported the king (even if not for his religious poproses, but for having interests in Brazil and it's resources), as well as the church. Sebastiao, as Secretary of Internal Affairs, had to be a intermediary figury between the king and the opposition to keep the stability, (some historians say that this was the first great demonstration of political ability by the Marquis of Pombal). The Brazilian Question was only resolved in 1757, when the transference of the capital to Brazil was made.


I am thinking about something like this. What do you think?
 
Something like that. I also like to think that Pombal would be excited to make the move. He sought to give himself absolute power over the Portuguese government and state, and that would be easier in Brazil.
 
butterflies?
First one that comes up is 7 years war/ invasion by Spain. Do the people resist so much, feeling abandoned by the King? The move would have sapped resources, so entry would have been easier. Or, France may not have pushed for it, as the coveted fleet would have been in Brazil
 
butterflies?
First one that comes up is 7 years war/ invasion by Spain. Do the people resist so much, feeling abandoned by the King? The move would have sapped resources, so entry would have been easier. Or, France may not have pushed for it, as the coveted fleet would have been in Brazil

The invasion of Portugal by France/Spain , if it happened, would be kind different. Probably the government of Portugal would have a slower reaction, and the beginning of the conflict would be of defensive battles between some portuguese regional army and the invaders. The Royal Army of Portugal would have arrived in Portugal only later, and there would be more serious political repercutions after this war (beginning of a portuguese "return of the king"/separatism movement? The king fears that his fears of insecurity in Portugal were confirmed and is even more decided to remain in Brazil?). But there would be a possibility that this invasion would not have happened and Portugal would try to move away from the european political scenario.
 
The invasion of Portugal by France/Spain , if it happened, would be kind different. Probably the government of Portugal would have a slower reaction, and the beginning of the conflict would be of defensive battles between some portuguese regional army and the invaders. The Royal Army of Portugal would have arrived in Portugal only later, and there would be more serious political repercutions after this war (beginning of a portuguese "return of the king"/separatism movement? The king fears that his fears of insecurity in Portugal were confirmed and is even more decided to remain in Brazil?). But there would be a possibility that this invasion would not have happened and Portugal would try to move away from the european political scenario.

You may not be interested in war, but war is definitely interested in you. The question of the invasion of Portugal by the Napoleonic faction was a question of weather or not they'd be complying with the politcal-commercial order they had in mind or not. Attempting to charter a neutral "third way" would likely just be perceived as another form of resistance and result in France invading anyways, only without as spirited/well coordinated of a British resistance
 
You may not be interested in war, but war is definitely interested in you. The question of the invasion of Portugal by the Napoleonic faction was a question of weather or not they'd be complying with the politcal-commercial order they had in mind or not. Attempting to charter a neutral "third way" would likely just be perceived as another form of resistance and result in France invading anyways, only without as spirited/well coordinated of a British resistance

I was referring to the Seven Years War' invasion of 1761, but probably Portugal would have been invaded anyway.
 
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