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Fine early map of Brail, prepared in the year of its declaration of independence from Portugal.
The map is divided into states and includes excellent topographical detail.
Brazil was one of only three modern states in the Americas to have its own indigenous monarchy (the other two were Mexico and Haiti), which lasted for almost 90 years. In an unusual reversal, Brazil, rather than Portugal itself, was the the centere of the Portuguese Empire from 1808 to 1821.
In 1808, the Portuguese court, fleeing from Napoleon's invasion of Portugal during the Peninsular War in a large fleet escorted by British men-of-war, moved the government apparatus to its then-colony, Brazil, establishing themselves in the city of Rio de Janeiro. From there the Portuguese king ruled his huge empire for 13 years, and there he would have remained for the rest of his life if it were not for the turmoil aroused in Portugal due, among other reasons, to his long stay in Brazil after the end of Napoleon's reign.
In 1815 the King made Brazil part of a united kingdom with Portugal and Algarves. When King João VI of Portugal left Brazil to return to Portugal in 1821, his elder son, Pedro, stayed in his stead as regent of Brazil. One year later, Pedro declared the secession of Brazil from Portugal and led the Independence War, instituted a constitutional monarchy in Brazil assuming its head as Emperor Pedro I of Brazil.
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