Brazilian Independence Day, Sete de Setembro, is September 7, 1822.
Brazilian Independence Day Starts with Dom Pedro I
King Dom João VI of Portugal had ruled the Portuguese Empire from Brazil since 1808 and had elevated Brazil’s status to a kingdom within the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves in 1815. In 1821 King Dom João VI returned to Portugal leaving his son Dom Pedro I in charge.
When the Portuguese Cortes (congress) tried to once again subjugate Brazil to the Portuguese crown, Dom Pedro I (with the encouragement of his wife, Princess Leopoldina of Habsburg) declared himself for Brazil. This is what is celebrated as Brazilian Independence Day.
One of the interesting facts about it is that the initial declaration was made without a shot being fired. Brazilian politics deserves some respect. Both Brazil and the United States recently had presidents who wanted to be dictators and started running the dictator’s playbook. Brazil is handling this in a way that promotes democracy. Rather inexplicably, the United States isn’t. Good for Brazil!