fwo_1062876 - BRÉSIL - JEAN VI 20 Réis 1820 Rio de Janeiro

BRAZIL - JOHN VI

(1816-1826)

Jean VI is the son of Marie I and Pierre III. From 1792, due to the mental illness of his mother, he assumed power and then from 1799 he governed the country as regent in the name of his mother. During his regency, he had to deal with diplomatic tensions between France and Spain and the difficulties of the continental blockade decreed by Napoleon in 1806 against the United Kingdom, Portugal's traditional ally. Jean tries to find a compromise with France but his constant hesitations finally push Napoleon to decide the invasion of Portugal by Junot in 1807. The Portuguese royal family then embarks for Brazil and settles in the capital of the vice- royalty, Rio de Janeiro, which becomes the capital of the Portuguese colonial Empire. Jean enjoyed his stay in Brazil to the point of staying there until 1821, well after the departure of Napoleon's troops from Portugal and Napoleon's defeat in 1815. The liberal revolution of 1820 in Portugal forced Jean VI to return to Lisbon, leaving his son Peter I as Prince Regent of Brazil.