On September 7, 1822, Dom Pedro of Braganza, Prince Royal of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves, member of the House of Braganza, heir apparent to the Portuguese throne and the King's representative in Brazil, declared the country's independence from the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves and proclaimed himself Emperor of Brazil. The imperial title was officially bestowed upon him on October 12, 1822. This resulted in the Brazilian Declaration of Independence. In 1825, signing the treaty of Rio de Janeiro of this date, his father, King Dom João VI, recognized the independence of the new state, the former Portuguese dominion, now Empire of Brazil.