John VI of Portugal
John VI of Portugal KG, KGF (
Portuguese João,
pron. IPA //),
the Clement (
Port. o Clemente), 27th (or 28th according to some historians)
King of the
United Kingdom of Portugal,
Brazil and
Algarves (
1769-
1826; later changing to just King of Portugal and Algarves, since Brazil was recognized independent in
1825) was born in
Lisbon on
13 May 1769, and received the title of prince of
Brazil in
1788.
Joao was born as the second son of Maria Francisca of Portugal, the then
Princess of Brazil and her husband, infante Pedro, prince-consort of Brazil. His mother ascended the throne of Portugal in 1777, and in 1788 John's elder brother died, whereby he became the heir apparent of the reigning queen.
In
1792 he assumed the reins of government in name of his mother,
Queen Maria I, who had declined into a mental illness (perhaps due to
porphyria). He had been brought up in an ecclesiastical atmosphere and, being naturally of a somewhat weak and helpless character, was but ill adapted for the responsibilities he was thus called on to undertake. In
1799 he assumed the title of regent, which he retained until his mother's death in
1816. In
1807, Portugal was invaded by the French, and the whole royal family fled to Brazil, accompanied by an escort of British ships (Britain had previously urged them not to yield to Napoleon's demands). His wife,
Charlotte of Spain, dominated him.
In 1816 he was recognized as king of Portugal but he continued to reside in Brazil, which he as regent had raised to the status of a kingdom on
16 December 1815. The consequent spread of dissatisfaction resulted in the peaceful revolution of
24 August 1820, and the proclamation of a constitutional government, to which he swore fidelity on his return to Portugal in
1821. In the same year, and again in
1823, he had to suppress a rebellion led by his son
Dom Miguel, whom he ultimately was compelled to banish in
1824. Meanwhile his elder son,
Dom Pedro, declared Brazilian independence from Portugal on
7 September 1822. He subsequently declared himself Emperor as Pedro I. João VI refused to assent to this devolution until
August 29,
1825, when he restored Pedro to the succession in the belief that Brazil and Portugal would be reunited in a dual monarchy federation after his own death. He died at Lisbon on
26 March 1826, and was succeeded by Pedro (as King
Pedro IV).
John married
Charlotte of Spain (
April 25 1775-
December 7 1830 in
1785 and had several children:
*
Maria Teresa, Princess of Beira (1793-1874). Married first her cousin Pedro Carlos de Borbón y Bragança, Infante of Spain and Portugal and second to
Carlos, Infante of Spain, widower of her sister Maria Francisca.
* Francis Anthony Pius,
Prince of Beira (
March 21 1795-
June 11 1801)
*
Princess Maria Isabel (1797-1818). Married
Ferdinand VII, King of Spain.
*
Pedro IV of Portugal, I of Brazil (1798-1834). Proclaimed the
Independence of Brazil in
1822 and became its first monarch as Emperor Peter I. He was also King of Portugal as Peter IV in
1826.
*
Princess Maria Francisca (1800-1834). Married
Infante Carlos of Spain (his first marriage).
*
Princess Isabel Maria (1801-1876)
*
Prince Michael (1802-1866). Known as
the Usurper, he was
King of Portugal between
1828 and
1834. He was forced to abdicate after the
Liberal Wars.
*
Princess Maria da Assunção (1805-1834)
*
Princess Ana de Jesus (1806-1857). Married
Nuno de Moura Barreto, Marquis and then
Duke of Loulé and had issue.
*
War of the Two Brothers*
History of Portugal*
History of Brazil
