136 THE BRAGANZA.
ing
to Mawe it was the Regent's practice to retain for himself all the
large stones, with the result that his treasure-chests contained the
most splendid collection of diamonds known in modern times.
In
1809, Napoleon, by one of those pithy orders of the day which so
delighted his armies, declared that "the house of Braganza had ceased
to reign," and the house of Braganza forthwith proceeded to give truth
to the declaration by withdrawing itself from Portugal. On November 9,
John vi., the former regent, who had become king upon his afflicted
mother's death, sailed for Rio Janeiro. And he remained there until
1821, when the clamors of his European subjects compelled him very
reluctantly to come back to them.
It
is probable that in this not over-valiant flight to safer climes King
John carried the Braganza back to its native land. But whether in
Lisbon or Rio Janeiro the Braganza was more a wonderful legend than an
actual stone,
