death_date regent signature_alt birth_date alt signature reign father house death_place image_size coronation spouse image name caption predecessor succession birth_place successor mother religion article_title
5 december 1891 '' -rrb- '' '' see list '' see list '' '' -lrb- 1831 -- 1840 cursive signature in ink 2 december 1825 half-length hair and beard dressed in a dark jacket and necktie photographic portrait of an older man with white signature pedro ii.png 7 nbsp ; november 1889 7 april 1831 & nbsp ; april -- 5 & nbsp ; december 1891 1831 & nbsp ; -- 15 & pedro & nbsp ; i of brazil house of braganza paris , france 220px 18 july 1841 teresa cristina of the two sicilies pedro ii circa 1887b transparent.png pedro & nbsp ; ii emperor 61 , 1887 dom pedro & nbsp ; ii around age pedro of brazil & nbsp ; i pedro i , emperor emperor brazil of brazil head of the imperial house of palace empire of brazil of são cristóvão , rio de janeiro , monarchy as president isabel , princess imperial abolished first brazilian republic deodoro da fonseca , maria leopoldina of austria roman catholicism pedro ii of brazil

pedro ii of brazil

dom pedro ii -lrb- english : peter '' `` ii ; 2 december 1825 -- 5 december 1891 -rrb- , nicknamed `` the magnanimous '' , was the second and last ruler of the empire of brazil , reigning for over 58 years .
born in rio de janeiro , he was the seventh child of emperor dom pedro i of brazil and empress dona maria leopoldina and thus a member of the brazilian branch of the house of braganza .
his father 's abrupt abdication and flight to europe in 1831 left a five-year-old pedro ii as emperor and led to a grim and lonely childhood and adolescence .
obliged to spend his time studying in preparation for rule , he knew only brief moments of happiness and encountered few friends of his age .
his experiences with court intrigues and political disputes during this period greatly affected his later character .
pedro ii grew into a man with a strong sense of duty and devotion toward his country and his people .
on the other hand , he increasingly resented his role as monarch .
inheriting an empire on the verge of disintegration , pedro ii turned portuguese-speaking brazil into an emerging power in the international arena .
the nation grew to be distinguished from its hispanic neighbors on account of its political stability , zealously guarded freedom of speech , respect for civil rights , vibrant economic growth and especially for its form of government : a functional , representative parliamentary monarchy .
brazil was also victorious in three international conflicts -lrb- the platine war , the uruguayan war and the paraguayan war -rrb- under his rule , as well as prevailing in several other international disputes and domestic tensions .
pedro ii steadfastly pushed through the abolition of slavery despite opposition from powerful political and economic interests .
a savant in his own right , the emperor established a reputation as a vigorous sponsor of learning , culture and the sciences .
he won the respect and admiration of scholars such as charles darwin , victor hugo and friedrich nietzsche , and was a friend to richard wagner , louis pasteur and henry wadsworth longfellow , among others .
although there was no desire for a change in the form of government among most brazilians , the emperor was overthrown in a sudden coup d'état that had almost no support outside a clique of military leaders who desired a form of republic headed by a dictator .
pedro ii had become weary of emperorship and despaired over the monarchy 's future prospects , despite its overwhelming popular support .
he allowed no prevention of his ouster and did not support any attempt to restore the monarchy .
he spent the last two years of his life in exile in europe , living alone on very little money .
the reign of pedro ii thus came to an unusual end -- he was overthrown while highly regarded by the people and at the pinnacle of his popularity , and some of his accomplishments were soon brought to naught as brazil slipped into a long period of weak governments , dictatorships , and constitutional and economic crises .
the men who had exiled him soon began to see in him a model for the brazilian republic .
a few decades after his death , his reputation was restored and his remains were returned to brazil with celebrations nationwide .
historians have regarded the emperor in an extremely positive light and several have ranked him as the greatest brazilian .
