Brazil receives embalmed heart of Portuguese king to mark independence

BRASILIA (Reuters) – The embalmed coronary heart of the Portuguese monarch who declared the independence of Brazil from Portugal 200 years in the past was acquired with the army honors of a head of state in Brasilia on Tuesday at the beginning of bicentenary celebrations.

The guts, stored in formaldehyde in a glass jar inside a gold urn, arrived on the presidential palace in an open Rolls Royce flanked by a mounted shade guard and was acquired by President Jair Bolsonaro with a gun salute. Air Pressure planes flew previous.

Dom Pedro I’s coronary heart had been stored in a church within the Portuguese metropolis of Porto since his dying in Portugal in 1834. It’s being loaned for 3 weeks to Brazil, the place it is going to be placed on show as a part of independence anniversary celebrations.

Pedro declared Brazilian independence in 1822 and was topped “emperor” of Brazil after his father King Joao VI returned to Portugal following the restoration of European monarchies after the defeat of Napoleon.

Although Pedro returned to Portugal 9 years later, his declaration of independence on September 7, 1822 is acclaimed by Brazilian nationalists because the start of their nation.

“Two international locations, united by historical past, linked by a coronary heart. 200 years of independence. Forward, an eternity in freedom. God, homeland, household!” Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro mentioned in a short speech.

Critics of Bolsonaro, who’s looking for re-election in October, mentioned he’s utilizing the relic to spice up his political motion round Independence Day, when he plans to carry election rallies.

“Bolsonaro has hijacked our nationwide symbols, the colours of our flag, the shirt of our soccer group, and now the celebration of independence,” historian Lilia Schwarcz mentioned on the O Assunto podcast. “This can be a morbid use of historical past,” she mentioned.

(Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Enhancing by Lincoln Feast)