John VI, King of Portugal, in Portuguese João (1769-1826), was born in Lisbon on May 13, 1769, and received the title of prince of Brazil in 1788.

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 on British ships.

In 1816 he was recognized as king of Portugal but he continued to reside in Brazil, which he raised to the status of a kingdom on December 16, 1815. The consequent spread of dissatisfaction resulted in the peaceful revolution of August 24, 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 September 7, 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 March 26, 1826, and was succeeded by Pedro IV.

Issue

By his wife, Carlota Joaquina de Borbón, Infanta of Spain (1775-1830)

• Maria Teresa de Bragança, Princess of Beira (1793-1874), married Carlos de Borbón, Prince of Spain
• Francisco António de Bragança, Prince of Beira (1795-1801)
• Maria Isabel de Bragança, Princess of Portugal (1797-1818), married King Ferdinand VII of Spain
• Pedro I, Emperor of Brazil 1822-1831 and King of Portugal March-May 1826 (1798-1834)
• Maria Francisca de Bragança (1800-1834), married Carlos de Borbón, Prince of Spain
• Isabel Maria de Bragança, Princess of Portugal (1801-1876)
• Miguel I, King of Portugal (1802-1866), King between 1828-1834
• Maria da Asunção de Bragança (1805-1834)
• Ana de Jesus de Bragança (1806-1857), married Nuno de Moura Barreto, Marquis of Loulé, 1st Duke of Loulé.

See also

• War of the Two Brothers
• History of Portugal
• History of Brazil

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.