Born in Lisbon on 12th October 1798, the fourth child of John VI King of Portugal. In 1807 his father transferred the royal family to the Colony of Brazil to escape French troops matching on Portugal, but with pressure from The Congress of Vienna, John had to return to Portugal. There, The Portuguese government's threat to revoke the autonomy that Brazil enjoyed since 1808 was met with widespread discontent in Brazil. Pedro would choose Brazil, declaring independence on 7th September 1822, then acclaimed himself as Emperor on 12th October of the same year.