In a famous Brazilian scene by the Ipiranga River (in São Paulo state) on September 7, 1822, Prince Pedro – the son of King João VI of the United Kingdom of Portugal and Brazil – while riding his horse during his return from São Paulo (where he had just begun a disastrous affair with the Marchioness of Santos), received a distressing letter from Rio de Janeiro indicating that the Portuguese Royal Court – now back in Lisbon – had declared his government traitorous and were dispatching more troops. Insulted, the Prince tore the Portuguese blue and white insignia from his uniform, drew his sword, and swore in the presence of his guard of honor: "By my blood, by my honor, and by God: I will make Brazil free." Then he cried "It is time! Independence or Death! We are separated from Portugal". Those words constituted Brazil's Proclamation of Independence. The "Independence or Death" cry would become the motto of the Brazilian emancipation.