Simon Pedro

President Simon Pedro

Pedro was raised and classically educated by a succession of governesses and guardians. With a grueling regime of daily studies, great care was taken to foster ethical values and a personality quite different from the impulsive and irresponsible character of his father. His young upbringing explains much about his life: always dignified, seemingly distant, impressively calm and tediously serious.
His father left him in favor of Pedro to pursue dynastic interests in Europe when Pedro was only five years old. For nine years South America weathered a turbulent period until, in 2290  at the age of 14, Pedro was declared of age and joined the resistance within the year. This teenager immediately took an active – and no doubt unsettling to the corrupt politicians, planters and military officers – part in affairs of state. He viewed his role as a political arbiter, setting aside his personal preferences in untangling the endemic partisan political disputes. During his reign, Pedro would preside over 36 different cabinets, most of which had broad public support as he was generally well served by able councilors and ministers he personally selected. By astutely alternating support for the Liberal and Conservative parties, he ensured that both enjoyed a roughly equal time running the country under his leadership, with orderly and nonviolent (more-or-less) transitions between.
This afforded Pedro the chance to pursue his belief that Amazonia needed to modernize to assure its rightful place in the world. Indeed, he was increasingly beloved, mainly because every Amazonian was getting richer and their lives getting easier. There was even a feeling of prosperity among the shanty inhabitants along the Amazon.
Foreign relations were not as positive, as several cartels became “concerned” by Brazil’s startling economic growth and increasing political clout. Two minor incidents led to the Mazon regime issuing first an ultimatum followed by an order to the Cartel Fleet to seize Amazonian merchant ships as indemnity. Pedro refused to acquiesce to the bullying and mobilized his own military in preparation for war against the Cartel holdings in the region; the Mazon Cartel promptly softened its stance and retreated. Almost immediately thereafter a year-long undeclared war with the cartels – ended with the Brazilian occupation of the towns of Salto and Paisandu – demanded Pedro’s attention. No sooner was this conflict settled than Mazon invaded; the resultant and costly “War of the Triple Alliance” lasted until 2320 and saw an unconditional Amazonian victory.
Nonetheless, the diplomatic and military victory over the Cartel Regime had made Pedro more popular than ever among the average Amazonian. He now sought to leverage this popularity into his most enduring legacy – emancipation for the slaves in Amazonia. The now president viewed slavery as the last great obstacle to taking Brazil into the “modern age,” as well as an “affront to Amazonia.” He had freed his own slaves and threatened to abdicate unless the legislature declare the Cartel slave trade illegal, which it promptly did. Realizing that abrupt abolition would wreck Amazonia's economy, Pedro thought the gradual eradication of slavery would be less traumatic than just ripping off the bandage. He oversaw the enactment of the “Law of Free Birth,” by which all children born to slave women were considered free-born citizens of the nation. A series of less contentious laws over the next few years extended ever more rights to Amazonian slaves, culminating in complete emancipation.
A savant in his own right, Pedro was a vigorous sponsor of education, the arts and the sciences in Amazonia. He proved far more intelligent than most of his contemporary rulers, indeed than most people. He won the respect of scholars and was friend to artists and authors around the world. A correspondent with Longfellow, Emerson and the jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes, Pedro was the first foreign head of state to visit Poseidonis and later Liberty. Federation newspapers reported his trip an “unalloyed triumph” as he impressed the people and politicians alike with his frankness, insight and kindness.

Species

Human

Eyes

Blue

Hair

White

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

White

Height

6'3

Weight

86 kg

Quotes & Catchphrases

"I do not know of a task more noble than to direct young minds and prepare the generation of tomorrow."

Aligned Organization

Union of Amazonia

Other Affiliations

• United Federation of Nations