Dia do Fico, January 9, 1822. Dom Pedro receives a petition with eight thousand signatures of residents of Rio de Janeiro asking him to stay in Brazil.

Dom Pedro declares independence, September 7, 1822. On this day Dom Pedro receives the final decree from Lisbon, which intends to reduce him to a simple governor of Brazil. In response, Dom Pedro yells "Independence or death!"

Dom Pedro is proclaimed emperor of Brazil, October 12, 1822. Dom Pedro's birthday was chosen by the Senate as the date of the official announcement.

Coronation of Dom Pedro I, December 1, 1822. Dom Pedro I is crowned as emperor of Brazil.

Constitutional Assembly installed, May 3, 1823. Dom Pedro calls together the Assembléia Constituinte, formed of 80 representatives of the provinces, to create the first Brazilian constitution.

Portuguese defeated in Bahia, July 2, 1823. The Portuguese resist for nearly a year after Brazil's declaration of independence, but are finally defeated in Bahia, creating a new hero, Maria Quitéria, who had disguised herself as a man.

Frei Caneca is executed, January 13, 1824. Frei Caneca (Joaquim do Amor Divino Caneca), leader of a popular revolutionary movement in the Northeast is executed by Imperial forces. He was so adored locally that they can not find an executioner willing to hang him. Instead he is shot.

Uruguay declares independence from Brazil, August 25, 1825. Four days before Brazil's independence is recognized by Portugal.

Portugal recognizes Brazil, August 29, 1825. Portugal officially recognizes Brazil as an independent nation.

Battle of Las Piedras ends, May 18, 1828. Brazil is defeated in the Battle of Las Peidras, the final conflict with Uruguay during their struggle for independence.

Uruguay independence is proclaimed, August 27, 1828. Uruguay's independence is announced during talks between Brazil and Argentina.

Noite das Garrafadas, March 13, 1831. Dom Pedro is no longer the hero of independence, and the public's anger regarding the government and the financial crises leads to a riot on this night.

Dom Pedro abdicates, April 7, 1831. Dom Pedro abdicates as Emperor of Brazil and will return to Portugal to assume the throne which he had previously renounced when his father died in 1826.

Slavery of the indiginous people is abolished, October 29, 1831.

War of the Farrapos begins, September 20, 1835. A separatist movement had been gaining popularity in the south, and when Antônio Rodrigues Braga introduces new taxes, Bento Gonçalves and his men enter Porto Alegre on this day and dispose Braga. Their republican state will last ten years before it is dissoved through negotiations with the Brazilian government.

Dom Pedro II becomes Emperor, July 23, 1840. Dom Pedro de Alcântara, son of Dom Pedro I, becomes Emperor of Brazil at age fourteen.

Porto Alegre inaugurates the São Pedro Theater, June 27, 1858. Work on the theater began in 1833, but was interrupted by the War of Farrapos.

The Paraguay War begins, November 13, 1864. Paraguay captures the Brazilian steamer "Marquês de Olinda", cuts diplomatic relations with Brazil, and invades the Mato Grosso province, all out of fear that Brazil will try to cut off Paraguay's access to the Atlantic Ocean. A bloody war ensues leading to 700 thousand deaths, only 33 thousand of which are Brazilian.

Slavery is abolished, May 13, 1888. Princess Isabel signs the "Lei Áurea", freeing the slaves. Isabel asks Baron de Cotegipe (who had previously fostered a law freeing elderly slaves), "Did I or did I not win the stoppage," to which he replied, "Her Majesty won the stoppage, but lost the throne." A prediction which will prove true. (Isabel: Ganhei ou não ganhei a parada? Cotegipe: A Senhora ganhou a parada mas perdeu o trono.)

Last Ball of the Monarchy, November 9, 1889. Brazil's royalty throws one last huge party with 5,000 guests which costs a small fortune of public funds.

Marshall Deodoro initiates a coup, November 14, 1889. After hearing rumors of the imprisonment of fellow republican conspirators, Deodoro da Fonseca (acting president of Mato Grosso) and his troups initiate a military coup in Rio de Janeiro without the least resistance.

The monarchy ends, November 15, 1889. Dom Pedro II returns to Rio de Janeiro from Petrópolis in hopes of saving the monarchy. He arrives only to discover that a republic has already been declared.

The Imperial Family leaves Brazil, November 17, 1889. Dom Pedro II and his family embark for Europe just two days after a republic is proclaimed, for which they are paid by the new republican government.