Exile and death of Pedro II of Brazil

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Pedro II of Brazil

Early life (1825–40)
Consolidation (1840–53)
Growth (1853–64)
Paraguayan War (1864–70)
Apogee (1870–81)
Decline and fall (1881–89)
Exile and death (1889–91)
Legacy

Pedro II in 1891

58-year reign. He was promptly exiled with his family. Despite his deposition, he did not make an attempt to regain power. He died in late 1891 while in Paris, France
, after two years in exile.

Exile

Landing of Dom Pedro on Lisbon: The imperial boat approaching the Navy's Arsenal.
The last photograph of the Brazilian imperial family, 1889

The monarchist reaction after the

Federalist Revolution and the Second Navy Rebellion.[4][5] The last monarchist rebellion occurred in 1904, in what was called the Vaccine Revolt.[5][6] They went into exile in Paris, France
.

Death

On 23 November 1891, Pedro II appeared at the

his son-in-law Gaston and his grandchildren were in attendance.[11][12][13] However, he later received several French and Brazilian visitors who had come to offer birthday congratulations.[11]

Pedro II, dressed with the uniform of Marshal of the Army lying in state, 6 December 1891. Notice the book under his head.

His health suddenly worsened on the morning of 3 December.

Prince of Joinville).[18]

According to the

Baron of Rio Branco, who was also present, later wrote: "The Brazilians, thirty and something, went in line and, one by one, sprinkled holy water on the corpse and kissed his hand. I did the same. They were saying farewell to the great dead."[18] Senator Gaspar da Silveira Martins arrived soon after the Emperor's death and, when he saw the body of his old friend, wept convulsively.[21]

Isabel declined an autopsy, which allowed the body to be embalmed at 9 am on 5 December. Six liters of hydrochloride of zinc and aluminum was injected into his common carotid artery.[22] A death mask was also made.[21] Pedro II was attired in the court dress uniform of a Marshal of the Army to represent his position as commander-in-chief of the Brazilian armed forces.[19][22] On his chest were placed the Order of the Southern Cross, the Order of the Golden Fleece and the Order of the Rose. His hands held a silver crucifix sent by Pope Leo XIII. Two Brazilian flags covered his legs.[13][22][23] While the body was being prepared, the Count of Eu found a sealed package in the room, and next to it a message written by the Emperor himself: "It is soil from my country, I wish it to be placed in my coffin in case I die away from my fatherland."[13][24][25] The package, which contained soil from every Brazilian province, was duly placed inside the coffin.[24][26] Three coffins were used: an inner coffin of lead lined with white satin which contained the body, and two outer coffins (one of varnished oak and the other of oak covered by black velvet).[26]

Funeral

Funeral of Pedro II of Brazil depicted at the cover of the Le Petit Journal (by Hans Meyer).

In the hours following the death of Pedro II, thousands of people came to the Hôtel de Bedford. Among these were the

Légion d'honneur,[19][30] although with the pomp due to a monarch.[13] Requests from Brazil's republican government to deny an official funeral and any public display of the imperial flag were ignored by the French government.[29]

The coffin which contained the body of Pedro II departed the Hôtel de Bedford for

duc de Morny and Adolphe Thiers.[19][32]

Church of Madeleine
, 1891.

On the following day, thousands of mourners attended the ceremony at La Madeleine. Aside from Pedro II's family, these included:

Persia.[35] Notably absent was any delegation from Brazil.[19]

Funeral of Pedro II, Emperor of Brazil, in Paris (by Charles Morel, published at L'Univers illustré: journal hebdomadaire, Levy (Paris), nº 1.917, 19/12/1891).

Following the services, the coffin was taken in procession to the train station, from whence it would travel to

Brazilian black on behalf of his race".[36] The "state funeral granted by the French republic proclaimed the former’s [Pedro II] personal virtues and popularity and, by implication, distinguished the imperial regime from other monarchies."[40]

All along the route, from France, through Spain and finally into Portugal, people paid homage to Pedro II. But still no representative appeared on behalf of Brazil's republican government.[41] The journey continued on to the Church of São Vicente de Fora near Lisbon, where the body of Pedro II was interred in the Braganza Pantheon on 12 December. His tomb rested between that of his stepmother Amélia and that of his wife Teresa Cristina.[41][42]

Death's repercussions

The Brazilian republican government, "fearful of a backlash resulting from the death of the emperor," banned any official reaction.

Brazilian people were far from indifferent to Pedro II's demise, and the "repercussions in Brazil were also immense, despite the government's effort to suppress. There were demonstrations of sorrow throughout the country: shuttered business activity, flags displayed at half-staff, black armbands on clothes, death knells, religious ceremonies."[41][44] An article written by João Mendes de Almeida on 7 December 1891 says that, "The news of the death of His Majesty Emperor Dom Pedro II has revealed the feelings of the Brazilian nation towards the Imperial dynasty. The consternation has been general."[45] Solemn "masses were held all over the country, which were followed by eulogies praising Dom Pedro II and the monarchy".[44] So, the "Republic stood by silently, given the strength and impact of reactions."[43]

Pedro II's coffin arriving in Lisbon, 1891.

Police were sent to suppress public demonstrations of sorrow, "provoking serious incidents", although "the people were in sympathy with these manifestants."

Quintino Bocaiúva, one of the main republican leaders, spoke: "The entire world, it may be said, has paid homage which Mr. Dom Pedro de Alcântara has earned through his virtues as a great citizen."[41] Some "members of republican clubs protested against what they characterized as exaggerated sentimentalism in the tributes, seeing in these monarchist maneuvers. They were lonely voices."[41]

Foreign reaction also revealed sympathy towards the monarch.

The Tribune affirmed that his "reign was serene, peaceable and prosperous."[50] The Times observed, in a long article, "Until November 1889, it was believed that the deceased Emperor and his wife were unanimously beloved in Brazil due to his intellectual and moral qualities and by his affectionate interest for the well-being of his subjects [...] When in Rio de Janeiro he was constantly seen in public; and two times per week he met his subjects, as well as foreign travelers, captivating all with his courtesy."[50]

The Weekly Register wrote, "He looked more like a poet or a scholar than an emperor, but had he had been given the chance to materialize his several projects, without a doubt he would have made Brazil one of the richest countries in the New World."[51] The French periodical Le Jour affirmed that "he was effectively the first sovereign that, following our disaster of 1871, dared to visit us. Our defeat did not move him away from us. France will know how to be grateful."[28] The Globe also wrote that he "was well learned, he was patriotic; he was gentle and indulgent; he had all the private virtues, as well as the public ones, and died in exile."[52]

See also

  • Second Reign

References

Footnotes

  1. ^ Salles 1996, p. 194.
  2. ^ Barman 1999, p. 400.
  3. ^ Mônaco Janotti 1986, p. 117.
  4. ^ Martins 2008, p. 116.
  5. ^ a b Salles 1996, p. 195.
  6. ^ Mônaco Janotti 1986, p. 255.
  7. ^ a b c Carvalho 2007, p. 238.
  8. ^ Besouchet 1993, p. 26.
  9. ^ Besouchet 1993, p. 28.
  10. ^ Besouchet 1993, p. 27.
  11. ^ a b c Besouchet 1993, p. 29.
  12. ^ a b Carvalho 2007, pp. 238–9.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g Schwarcz 1998, p. 489.
  14. ^ a b Besouchet 1993, p. 30.
  15. ^ Calmon 1975, p. 1891.
  16. ^ a b Besouchet 1993, p. 601.
  17. ^ a b Calmon 1975, p. 1892.
  18. ^ a b Lyra 1977, Vol 3, p. 165.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Carvalho 2007, p. 239.
  20. ^ a b Besouchet 1993, p. 602.
  21. ^ a b c Besouchet 1993, p. 605.
  22. ^ a b c Besouchet 1993, p. 603.
  23. ^ a b Calmon 1975, p. 1893.
  24. ^ a b Calmon 1975, p. 1897.
  25. ^ a b Besouchet 1993, p. 604.
  26. ^ a b c Besouchet 1993, p. 606.
  27. ^ Besouchet 1993, p. 607.
  28. ^ a b Besouchet 1993, p. 609.
  29. ^ a b Besouchet 1993, p. 613.
  30. ^ Calmon 1975, p. 1896.
  31. ^ a b c Besouchet 1993, p. 615.
  32. ^ a b c d Calmon 1975, p. 1899.
  33. ^ a b Calmon 1975, p. 1898.
  34. ^ Besouchet 1993, p. 617.
  35. ^ a b Besouchet 1993, p. 618.
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h Calmon 1975, p. 1900.
  37. ^ Besouchet 1993, p. 614.
  38. ^ Besouchet 1993, p. 620.
  39. ^ Besouchet 1993, p. 619.
  40. ^ Barman 1999, p. 401.
  41. ^ a b c d e Carvalho 2007, p. 240.
  42. ^ Calmon 1975, pp. 1900–2.
  43. ^ a b Schwarcz 1998, p. 493.
  44. ^ a b Mônaco Janotti 1986, p. 50.
  45. ^ Schwarcz 1998, p. 495.
  46. ^ Besouchet 1993, p. 610.
  47. ^ Calmon 1975, p. 1907.
  48. ^ Carvalho 2007, p. 241.
  49. ^ Carvalho 2007, pp. 240–1.
  50. ^ a b c Schwarcz 1998, p. 491.
  51. ^ Schwarcz 1998, pp. 491–2.
  52. ^ Schwarcz 1998, p. 492.

Bibliography

Further reading
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