John VI (1767-1826), also known as Joao VI, was king of Portugal from 1816 to 1826. He assumed power in 1792, when his mother became unfit to rule due to mental illness. He became king in 1816, when she died. In 1807, Emperor Napoleon I of France invaded Portugal because the Portuguese had supported the United Kingdom in a war between the French and British. John and his family fled to the Portuguese colony of Brazil. In 1815, John made Portugal and Brazil a single kingdom called the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves. He ruled from Brazil until 1821, when he returned to Portugal. He was born on May 13, 1767. He died on March 10, 1826. See also Pedro I.
