In 1807, amid Napoleon's invasion of Portugal, the Portuguese royal family fled Lisbon and relocated to Rio de Janeiro under British protection. On January 22, 1808, King Dom João VI arrived, making Rio the de facto seat of the Portuguese Empire.
Rio transformed rapidly: it became a bustling port, administrative hub, and cultural center. In 1815, Brazil was elevated to a co-equal kingdom with Portugal, formalizing Rio's status. The city saw infrastructure booms, like the opening of the Botanical Garden (1808) and the Bank of Brazil (1808), fueled by the influx of Portuguese elites and immigrants.
Dom João returned to Lisbon in 1821, but his son Dom Pedro stayed. In 1822, Brazil declared independence, with Rio as its capital under Emperor Dom Pedro I. Throughout the 19th century, Rio remained Brazil's political heart, navigating monarchy until the 1889 republic, while its Portuguese ties faded post-independence.
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Give me a summary of the history of Rio de Janeiro serving as the capital of Portugal in the 19th century.
In 1807, amid Napoleon's invasion of Portugal, the Portuguese royal family fled Lisbon and relocated to Rio de Janeiro under British protection. On January 22, 1808, King Dom João VI arrived, making Rio the de facto seat of the Portuguese Empire.
Rio transformed rapidly: it became a bustling port, administrative hub, and cultural center. In 1815, Brazil was elevated to a co-equal kingdom with Portugal, formalizing Rio's status. The city saw infrastructure booms, like the opening of the Botanical Garden (1808) and the Bank of Brazil (1808), fueled by the influx of Portuguese elites and immigrants.
Dom João returned to Lisbon in 1821, but his son Dom Pedro stayed. In 1822, Brazil declared independence, with Rio as its capital under Emperor Dom Pedro I. Throughout the 19th century, Rio remained Brazil's political heart, navigating monarchy until the 1889 republic, while its Portuguese ties faded post-independence.