Fired by the success of their Spanish comrades, the Portuguese liberals forthwith rose in revolt, demanded the establishment of a limited monarchy, and insisted that the King return to his people.
In similar fashion, also, they drew up a constitution which provided for the representation of Brazil by deputies in a future Cortes.

Beyond this they would concede no special privileges to the colony.

Indeed their idea seems to have been that, with the King once more in Lisbon, their own liberties would be secure and those of Brazil would be reduced to what were befitting a mere dependency.

Yielding to the inevitable, the King decided to return to Portugal, leaving the young Crown Prince to act as Regent in the colony.

A critical moment for the little country and its big dominion oversea had indubitably arrived.