That same day, in a famous scene at the shore of the Ipiranga Brook, he declared the country's independence, ending 322 years of colonial dominance of Portugal over Brazil.[1] According to journalist Laurentino Gomes, who wrote a book about the event, 1822, Prince Pedro "could not wait for his arrival to São Paulo to announce the decision";[2] Pedro "was a reckless man in his decisions but he had the profile of leader that Brazil needed at the time, because there was no time to think".[2]