Conflicting memories: the dispute of meanings over the monument to Pedro IV in Lisbon

Abstract

Pedro I of Brazil, and IV of Portugal, is a very controversial historical character. His actions have led to disputes over his memory, on both sides of the Atlantic. An exemplary case is the monument erected in Lisbon in his honor, which was the target of an attempt at symbolic deconstruction. This text presents a reflection on this attempt, that is, it inquires what were the reasons for the rumor that the statue representing the king was originally made to represent Maximilian of Mexico. It attempts to understand the sociopolitical environment that favored its dissemination, as well as the motivations and the goals that were sought to be achieved. It is concluded that different intellectual circles, dissatisfied with the liberal regime in force, would have contributed to this questioning of the memory about Pedro under construction.