Dom Pedro I and the Portuguese succession to Maria II (1828)

In 1826, Pedro I became King of Portugal but abdicated in favor of his daughter Maria II. By March 1828, he finalized this arrangement, seeking to separate Portugal from Brazil. However, his brother Miguel, who had returned as regent, deposed Maria and seized the throne, triggering the Liberal Wars.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. King John VI died in March 1826, making his son Pedro the heir. Pedro briefly became King Pedro IV but quickly abdicated in favor of his seven-year-old daughter, Maria II. This succession crisis involved complex diplomatic arrangements, including Pedro's continued influence as an absentee king and the role of regents in Portugal.

Succession Arrangements. Pedro I finalized his conditional abdication on 3 March 1828, aiming to secure Maria II's position and separate Portuguese interests from his Brazilian empire. Despite this, Miguel, who had returned to Portugal as regent and Maria's fiancé, abrogated the Constitution and was acclaimed King, leading to the deposition of Maria.

Miguel's Seizure. Miguel dissolved the Cortes in March 1828. Nobles invited him to convoke new Cortes to decide the succession. On 11 July 1828, Miguel was proclaimed King, interrupting Maria's first reign. This act sparked the Liberal Wars, which lasted until Maria's restoration in 1834.

People involved

Sources

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