Pedro II of Brazil: Difference between revisions
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| caption = Dom Pedro II around age 61, circa 1887.
| succession = [[Emperor of Brazil]]
| reign = 7 April 1831 – {{nowrap|
| cor-type = Coronation
| coronation = 18 July 1841<br />Imperial Chapel
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| reg-type1 = {{nowrap|Prime ministers}}
| regent1 = [[Prime Minister of Brazil|''See list'']]
| reign2 =
| reign-type2 =
| predecessor2 =
| spouse = {{Marriage|Teresa Cristina of the Two Sicilies|30 May 1843|28 December 1889|end=d.}}
| issue = {{plainlist |
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Pedro II inherited an empire on the verge of disintegration, but he turned 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 form of government—a functional representative parliamentary monarchy. Brazil was also victorious in the Platine War, the Uruguayan War, and the Paraguayan War, 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, and he won the respect and admiration of people such as Charles Darwin, Victor Hugo, and Friedrich Nietzsche, and was a friend to Richard Wagner, Louis Pasteur, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, among others.
After a failed coup d'etat attempt in November 1889, Pedro II, already weary of the crown and disillusioned with the future of the monarchy, abdicated on 5 December 1889, succeeded by his daughter, [[Isabel of Brazil|Isabel]]. He died two years later after a quiet retirement. Historians have regarded the Emperor in an extremely positive light and several have ranked him as the greatest Brazilian, though some have criticized him for inadequately preparing his family to deal with tumultuous times ahead for Brazil.
[[Category:Brazil]]
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