Don Pedro I was the first Emperor of Brazil, reigning from 1822 to 1831. Born on October 12, 1798, in Lisbon, Portugal, he was the son of King John VI of Portugal. He played a crucial role in Brazil's independence from Portugal in 1822, declaring it a separate nation. After his abdication in 1831, Don Pedro I returned to Portugal to claim the throne after the death of his brother, King Miguel I. His reign in Brazil was marked by efforts to establish a constitutional monarchy and promote civil rights, but he faced political challenges that led to his eventual resignation.