Happy Birthday Brazil!

Not just an excuse for another day off, today is the 183rd anniversary of the day that Brazil became its own country. The story of Brazil's independence is rather unique and bears telling. A Portuguese colony since 1500, Brazil became home to the Portuguese Crown in 1808 when Napoleon's armies descended upon Portugal. Two days before the invasion, the royal family - led by Queen Maria I and Regent João VI - and their entourage (all 15,000 of them) sailed away to govern Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves from the safety of the New World.

The Royal Court settled in Rio de Janeiro and immediately began to modernise the colony and loosen some of the strict trading controls that had been previously established. The Royal Family became thoroughly enchanted with Brazil and decided not to return to Portugal once Napoleon fell in 1815. Maria I died in 1816 and João VI officially became king. He declared Rio the capital of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves, Brazil having been elavated to the status of kingdom a year earlier. Dom João VI continued to rule the Kingdom from Brazil until 1821 when he finally returned to Portugal to rule amid mounting pressure from the mother land.

Upon his departure, Dom João left his eldest son Pedro in Brazil to rule the colony as regent. Following João's return to Portugal, the Portuguese elite tried to revert Brazil to its subordinate position as colony, rather than co-Kingdom and, as a result, on September 7, 1822, Pedro, loyal to the elite of Brazil, declared Brazil to be independent. Pedro then became Dom Pedro I, Emperor of Brazil! If you are wondering what ever happened to the Brazilian monarchy, I'll share the second half of the story in November when Brazil celebrates Republic Day. In the meantime, enjoy your day, Brazil! It's 9:30am and the beach is already packed!