Revolta da Armada
Encyclopedia
Brazilian Naval Revolts, or the Revoltas da Armada (revolt of the Navy, in Portuguese
), were armed mutinies
promoted mainly by Admiral
s Custodio de Mello and Saldanha da Gama and their fleet of Brazil
ian Navy
ships against unconstitucional attitudes of the then the central government in Rio de Janeiro
.
, who having difficulties in negotiating with the opposition represented mainly by the paulista
elite, in flagrant violation of the Constitution newly enacted in 1891, ordered the closure of Congress. Navy units in the Guanabara Bay
, under the leadership of Admiral Custodio de Melo, rose up and threatened to bombard the town of Rio de Janeiro, then capital of the Republic. To avoid a civil war, Marshal Deodoro resigned the presidency in November 23.
With the resignation of Deodoro, after just nine months from the beginning of his administration, the vice president Floriano Peixoto took office (1892). The 1891 Constitution, however, provided for a new election if the presidency or vice-presidency became vacant sooner than two years in office. The opposition then accused Floriano of staying head of the nation illegally.
Thus, not legally solved, political tensions were just piling up, and in September 1893 the revolt broke out at Rio de Janeiro
, having been suppressed only in March 1894 after a long blockade of the city and a confrontation
with American
warships.
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
), were armed mutinies
Mutiny
Mutiny is a conspiracy among members of a group of similarly situated individuals to openly oppose, change or overthrow an authority to which they are subject...
promoted mainly by Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
s Custodio de Mello and Saldanha da Gama and their fleet of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian Navy
Brazilian Navy
The Brazilian Navy is a branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces responsible for conducting naval operations. It is the largest navy in Latin America...
ships against unconstitucional attitudes of the then the central government in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
.
First revolt
In November 1891, as a reaction against the president Marshal Deodoro da FonsecaDeodoro da Fonseca
Marshal Manuel Deodoro da Fonseca became the first president of the Republic of Brazil after heading a military coup that deposed Emperor Pedro II and proclaimed the Republic in 1889, disestablishing the Empire of Brazil.- Biography :...
, who having difficulties in negotiating with the opposition represented mainly by the paulista
São Paulo (state)
São Paulo is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. Named after Saint Paul, São Paulo has the largest population, industrial complex, and economic production in the country. It is the richest state in Brazil...
elite, in flagrant violation of the Constitution newly enacted in 1891, ordered the closure of Congress. Navy units in the Guanabara Bay
Guanabara Bay
Guanabara Bay is an oceanic bay located in southeastern Brazil in the state of Rio de Janeiro. On its western shore lies the city of Rio de Janeiro, and on its eastern shore the cities of Niterói and São Gonçalo. Four other municipalities surround the bay's shores...
, under the leadership of Admiral Custodio de Melo, rose up and threatened to bombard the town of Rio de Janeiro, then capital of the Republic. To avoid a civil war, Marshal Deodoro resigned the presidency in November 23.
With the resignation of Deodoro, after just nine months from the beginning of his administration, the vice president Floriano Peixoto took office (1892). The 1891 Constitution, however, provided for a new election if the presidency or vice-presidency became vacant sooner than two years in office. The opposition then accused Floriano of staying head of the nation illegally.
Second revolt
Began to emerge in March 1892, when thirteen generals sent a letter-manifesto to the President Marshal Floriano Peixoto. This document required the calling of new elections to fulfilling the constitutional provision should establish internal tranquility in the nation. Floriano harshly suppressed the movement, determining the arrest of their leaders.Thus, not legally solved, political tensions were just piling up, and in September 1893 the revolt broke out at Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, having been suppressed only in March 1894 after a long blockade of the city and a confrontation
Rio de Janeiro Affair
The Rio de Janeiro Affair refers to a series of incidents during the Brazilian Naval Revolt in January 1894. Following three attacks on American merchant ships in the harbour of Rio de Janeiro, a bloodless naval engagement occurred between a United States Navy warship and an ironclad of Rear...
with American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
warships.