Dom João Henrique de Orléans e Bragança said the monarchy of Dom Pedro II was constitutional and that the emperor was hindered by parliamentary forces [1].
This perspective challenges traditional views of imperial power by suggesting that the Brazilian monarchy operated under significant constraints imposed by the ruling class. It highlights the tension between the crown's liberal goals and the economic interests of 19th-century elites.
According to Dom João Henrique, while Dom Pedro II possessed the authority to veto projects, such vetos were not permanent [1]. He said the emperor had been "violentado pelo parlamento" — or violated by the parliament [1]. This dynamic occurred primarily within the National Congress in Rio de Janeiro, where the Senate and Chamber of Deputies operated [1].
Dom João Henrique said that Dom Pedro II was a proponent of ending slavery, but he faced intense opposition from oligarchical parliamentarians [1]. These groups sought to preserve their social and economic privileges by resisting the liberal reforms the emperor promoted [1].
This narrative aligns with other research into the emperor's legacy. In a report from Dec. 2, 2025 [2], João de Orleans e Bragança, an organizer of a book featuring the emperor's texts, said that Dom Pedro II was a defender of liberal and republican values [2].
The friction between the executive and legislative branches during the 19th century, particularly between 1850 and 1888, underscores the struggle to modernize Brazil's social structure [1, 2]. The resistance from land-owning elites eventually contributed to the political instability that preceded the end of the empire [1].
“"foi um Imperador violentado pelo parlamento"”
The assertion that Dom Pedro II was a constrained constitutional monarch suggests that the fall of the Brazilian Empire was not merely a result of a desire for a republic, but a consequence of a deadlock between a reformist crown and a conservative oligarchy. By emphasizing the emperor's role in the fight against slavery, the Orléans e Bragança family seeks to frame the monarchy as a progressive force that was undermined by the very political system it operated within.
