On September 7, 1822, Dom Pedro I declared Brazil’s independence from Portugal. In particular, Prince Pedro, son of Portugal’s king at the time, stood on the banks of Brazil’s Ipiranga River and pledged his life for the freedom of Brazil from Portugal – his native country.

From the early 1500s Portugal ruled the area of Brazil as a colony. In the early 1800s, French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Portugal and the Portuguese transferred their main courts and king to evade Napoleon from Lisbon, Portugal to Rio de Janeiro, the capital of colonial Brazil. This move elevated Brazil from a simple colony to more of a kingdom.

In the early 1820s, the King João VI of Portugal finally moved back to Portugal. However, he had lost many of his privileges because of how long he had been out of the country. His son, Dom Pedro I, remained in Brazil and took sides with the local Brazilians to create independence for Brazil. The Portuguese nobles demanded that Prince Pedro return to Portugal, but he refused. In return, the Portuguese court demoted him from prince to a mere representative of the Lisbon court in Brazil. The news of this decision reached him on this day, September 7, 1822.

On the same day, in response to the bad news, Dom Pedro I took out his sword on the banks of the Ipiranga River in São Paulo, Brazil and declared independence for Brazil in what has now been labeled as his famous speech, O grito do Ipiranga (i.e. “The Cry of Ipiranga”). One month later Dom Pedro I was proclaimed Emperor of Brazil.

In 1889, Brazil’s monarchy ended and it became a republic. But Brazilians continue to celebrate September 7th as their Independence Day and a national holiday.

Today, in Brasília, Brazil, a military parade takes place at the Ministries Esplanade before the President of Brazil. In New York City, Brazilians celebrate the day with festivities on 46th Street.