In August 1888, the city of Rio de Janeiro welcomed the return of Emperor Dom Pedro II after a year-long trip to Europe for medical treatment. As they sighted Guanabara Bay, they saw the tribute made by the students of the Military School, then located at Praia Vermelha. They had placed a twelve-meter sign on top of Sugarloaf Mountain with the word “Salve” (Hail).
On July 15, 1889 Dom Pedro II suffered an assassination attempt in Rio de Janeiro. Dom Pedro II, accompanied by his wife, daughter, and eldest grandson, went to the Sant’Anna Theater, now known as the Carlos Gomes Theater, in Rio de Janeiro. At the end of the performance, well past midnight, among the crowd, the Imperial Family made their way towards the exit. The imperial princess led the way, followed by the emperor, who had his arm linked with the empress, and behind them was Prince Pedro Augusto. Everything was going well until the emperors and princes reached the vestibule, where a sudden cry of “Long live the Republic!” erupted.
The Emperor’s Beards: D. Pedro II, The Story of a Monarch in Comics is an adaptation of Lilia Schwarcz’s book, simply titled The Emperor’s Beards. The comic book version was released on January 27, 2014, with the return of Lilia and the assistance of illustrator Spacca. Now, Spacca guides the reader on a true journey through the themes of the book, translating the language of the essay and biography into the vibrant and enlightening universe of comics.
Discover the biography of Dom Pedro II! Dom Pedro II was the second and final Emperor of Brazil. He became regent prince at the age of five when his father Dom Pedro I abdicated the throne. At the age of 15, he was declared of age and crowned Emperor of Brazil. His reign, which lasted almost fifty years, began on July 23, 1840, and ended on November 15, 1889, when a Military Coup took place to establish the Republic.
On November 24, 1891, Pedro II made an entry in his diary, stating, “Deodoro has been concluded,” referring to the news of the resignation of the man who helped orchestrate the coup for the republic in Brazil. Following this entry, Pedro II embarked on a lengthy carriage ride along the Seine River, despite the day’s significantly low temperature. Upon returning to Hotel Bedford, where Dom Pedro II was staying, he began to feel chilled during the evening, and in the subsequent days, his illness progressed into pneumonia, deteriorating his condition rapidly.
The War of Paraguay began in December 1864, and it is considered the largest conflict ever to occur in South America to this day. At the time the war started, the Count d’Eu was in Europe and openly expressed his desire to participate in the conflict to Emperor Dom Pedro II. It was expected that upon his return to Brazil, he would immediately head to the front lines, as the emperor himself had appointed him as a general of the Brazilian army.
