In 1844, Princess Francisca gave birth to a girl while her husband was bombarding Morocco.
- Letter from Princess Francisca to her older sister, Januária.
- One sheet, 4 pages.
- In Portuguese.
- Approximately 20 cm x 25 cm (the sheet).
- Neuilly, September 1, 1844.
- Excellent condition.
-
Unique piece.
In 1844, Brazil was undergoing a period of consolidation under the young Emperor Dom Pedro II, facing economic and political challenges. The Alves Branco Tariff was implemented to increase revenue and protect national industry, generating tensions with England, which was also pressuring Brazil to end the slave trade, still common in the country. Although Brazil was recovering from regional revolts, such as the Farroupilha Revolution, which was in a phase of pacification, the economy remained centered on agriculture, with coffee gaining prominence. Socially, Brazil remained a stratified society, marked by slavery and the dominance of the landowning elite.
In this letter, Princess Francisca mentions the birth of her daughter, which fills her with joy, and reports on the girl's health, noting her rapid growth. She also speaks of Joinville and her husband, François d'Orléans, who escaped great danger during the bombardment of Mogador (Morocco).
(...) the birth of my dear daughter, which brings me so much joy. She's very familiar with Joinville, she's gaining weight every day. I think in 15 days she'll be a real handful.
(...) Ask Pedro to show you the letter I wrote to him, where I copied the letter from Joinville describing the blockade of Mogador. Fortunately, Joinville didn't suffer any consequences. They landed ahead of the colonists, the armies rained down bullets all around them, and Honorato was astonished that Cahillia, who was beside him, was seen and killed. You see the danger he was in. It was Our Lady who protected him, for it was on the 1st that it took place. The day I was here in such joy, for it was the day of Chiquinha's baptism.
The bombardment of Mogador occurred on August 15, 1844, during the Franco-Moroccan War. This conflict was primarily motivated by the support that the Sultan of Morocco, Abderrahmane, gave to the Algerian leader Abd al-Qadir, who was fighting against the French occupation of Algeria. France, wishing to weaken Moroccan support, initiated a military campaign against Morocco. Mogador (now known as Essaouira), an important Moroccan port city, was bombarded by the French navy under the command of the Prince of Joinville (François d'Orléans, son of King Louis Philippe of France). The French fleet bombarded the city and captured its fortified island, resulting in extensive damage to the port infrastructure and the local garrison.
This letter is interesting because it shows the strong bonds between the three siblings, Francisca, Januária, and Dom Pedro, with a special focus on Francisca, who married François d'Orléans in France. It also draws attention to the event mentioned, the bombardment of Mogador, which was significant in the military career of Francisca's husband and in the French colonial expansion in North Africa.
