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Pernambucan revolt
Separatist movement that took place in the province of Pernambuco in 1817 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Pernambucan revolt of 1817, also known as the Priest's Revolution, occurred in the Captaincy of Pernambuco in the Northeastern region of Brazil, and was sparked mainly by the decline of sugar production rates and the influence of the Freemasonry[1] in the region. Other important reasons for the revolt include: the ongoing struggle for the independence of Spanish colonies all over in South America; the independence of the United States; the generally liberal ideas that came through all of Brazil the century before, including many French Philosophers, such as Charles Montesquieu and Jean-Jacques Rousseau; the actions of secret societies, which insisted on the liberation of the colony; the development of a distinct culture in Pernambuco.[2]
The movement was led by Domingos José Martins, with the support of Antônio Carlos Ribeiro de Andrada and Frei Caneca. The Consulate General of the United States in Recife, America's oldest diplomatic post in the Southern Hemisphere, publicly supported the Pernambucan revolutionaries.[3]
This revolution is also notable for being one of the first attempts to establish an independent government in Brazil, as it was preceded by the Inconfidência Mineira.
Contrasting with the Inconfidência Mineira, that at its demise culminated in the killing of a lower class white man (Tiradentes) or the Revolt of the Tailors, whose leaders that where killed were mostly black young men, the Pernambucan revolt ended up with the killing of white, higher-class ringleaders.[4]
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Background
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The revolt can be traced from the presence of the Portuguese royal family in Brazil, which mostly benefited the plantation owners, merchants and bureaucrats of the Central and Southern regions of the country. The inhabitants of other regions, namely the Northeast, were not satisfied by the monarch's stay, given that southern Brazilians generally had knowledge of the favors and new privileges conceded to them by the Portuguese monarch from which they had received great wealth. The northern Brazilians were generally separated from the monarch, and the benefits thereof, but, at the same time, had the responsibility to support him.[5]
Another group not content with the politics of the King John VI of Portugal and Brazil were military officials of Brazilian descent. In order to protect the cities and provide aid in military actions in French Guiana and in the region of Prata, John brought troops from Portugal in order to organize military forces reserving the highest military ranks for the Portuguese nobility. Because of this, the level of taxes steadily rose as the colony was forced to maintain the expenditures of the military campaigns.[5]
The historical analyst, Maria Odila Silva Dias, remarked that "in order to cover the costs of installing public works and civil servants, taxes on the export of sugar, tobacco and leather were increased, creating a series of troubles that directly affected the capitanias of the North, which the Court did not hesitate to burden with the violence of recruitment and with contributions to cover the expenses of war in the kingdom, in Guiana and in the Prata region. For the governors and functionaries of various capitanias, turning to Lisboa or to Rio was the same thing."[5]
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Troubles in the Northeast
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The Northeastern region had already been affected by a famine causing a blow to cotton and sugar production in 1816, and creating another reason for the fervent desire for independence. In Recife, the capital of Pernambuco, and in the principal ports of the region, this desire and a general feeling of hostility toward the Portuguese was particularly extreme. The general sentiment was described as the "Portuguese of New Lisbon" exploit and oppress the "Pernambucan patriots."[5]
Liberal ideas that entered Brazil by way of foreign travelers, books, and other sources incited the revolutionaries. Also, secret societies had formed from the end of the 18th century, often in the form of Masonic Lodges, several of which, such as Patriotismo, and Restauração, had existed in Pernambuco – all of which served as locations for the spreading and general discussion of the so-called "infamous French ideas", coming from the French Revolution.[5][6] The Northern Lodges, including the ones of Pernambuco, were of English tradition and advocated for the implementation of a republic in Brazil. They had a quarrel of the Fluminense and Portuguese Lodges, of French tradition, that advocated for the implementation of a constitutional monarchy.[7]
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Preparation
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In 1816, The Masonic Lodges intensively spread political propaganda in Pernambuco. The Government made several attempts to stop them.[6] The Freemasons attempted to raise hostility amongst the Portuguese and Pernambucans and to get support from the Clergy, the local elite and the armed forces, that showed support for the conspirators.[7] In total, 43 clergy men took part of the revolution.[8]
Secret meeting were held inside churches, clubs, military facilities, and other private social spaces. There, radical political ideas were debated and forbitten literature was read. The pasquinades written on those meetings were spread on the walls of the city.[8]
Despite the adherence of the elites, their ideals were not nearly as much spread to the population. There were many troops from Dom João VI in the streets, and as consequence the republican ideals were maily discussed in private spaces.[9] Slaves were already organized, waiting for a chance to act.[8]
In 1816, a slave reported the Tenants José Paulino de Almeida e Albuquerque and Antonio Vieira Cavalcante to the authorities. The slave was freed and Albuquerque and Cavalcante were arrested on the Snake Island, being later freed on 14 February.[6] In 1817, the government suspected the Franciscan friar Antônio das Neves was one of the responsible for spreading political propaganda in Pernambuco.[8]
The Revolt
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Beginning
It is believed the revolt was scheduled to 16 March 1817.[9] Shortly before the revolt, Domingos José Martins and the priest João Ribeiro ended relationships with the Tenant Colonel Alexandre Tomás, a fellow Freemason probably from the French rite.[7]
The Governor Caetano Pinto received a report about the conspiracy on 1 March. On 4 March, he made his troops swear obedience to the monarchy and the harmony between Brazilians and Portuguese and on the 5th he made a speech to Recife population, saying that Brazil would be elevated to an United Kingdom and all of them obeyed the same king.[9]
On the 6th, he issued an arrest order to several Freemasons of the English rite. Amongst the accused were three artillery Captains, Domingos Teotônio Pessoa de Melo, José de Barros Lima and Pedro da Silva Pedroso. The Brigadeer Manoel Joaquim Barbosa de Castro went to Forte de São Tiago das Cinco Pontas to fulfill the order, but he was murdered by Lima. Most of the officials unleashed their swords in support of the conspirators and two Portuguese officials fled.[7][9]
After a few hours, the conspirators filled the streets and Caetano Pinto and his family fled to Forte de São João Batista do Brum. He then was obligated to renounce his post as governor and fled to Rio de Janeiro.[9]
During the revolt, many slaves fled to the Catucá woods, near Beberibe River.[8]
Provisional government
Shortly after, Martins organized elections for the Provincial Government of the Republic. Elections were barely unseen in Brazil, as they only happened to choose aldermen to the municipal chambers. Most of the candidates for the new government were tied to the local elites, but there were exceptions, such as Joaquim Ramos de Almeida and Tomás Antônio Ferreira Vila Nova, tied to subordinate groups.[9]
The voting process happened on Casa do Erário, with the electorial college composed of Luiz Francisco de Paula Cavalcanti de Albuquerque, José Inácio Ribeiro de Abreu e Lima, Joaquim Ramos de Almeida, Francisco de Brito Bezerra Cavalcanti de Albuquerque, Joaquim José Vaz Salgado, Antônio Joaquim Ferreira de S. Paio, Francisco de Paula Cavalcanti, Felipe Nery Ferreira, Joaquim d’Anunciação e Siqueira, Tomás Ferreira Vila Nova, José Maria de Vasconcelos Bourbon, Francisco de Paula Cavalcanti Júnior, Tomás José Alves de Siqueira, João de Albuquerque Maranhão and João Marinho Falcão.[9]
João Ribeiro Pessoa de Melo Montenegro, Domingos Teotônio Jorge Martins Pessoa, José Luís de Mendonça and Manoel Correia de Araújo were elected as representants of the new government.[9]
Communication strategies
After the Government was stablished, there were much more effords to spread the republican ideals to the population. The government used communication strategies inherited from the colonial times, such as bando, where a declaration was read on the streets to the sound of battery.[9]
The press was also used. The republicans used the thypography from the English James Pinche to print pro-government proclamations. As there were no typhographers, the work was done by Pinche himself, two priests and one French sailor. One famous declaration was "Preciso", from José Luís Mendonça. The work accused Caetano Pinto of helping the court to oppress the rights of the Pernambucans.[9]
Spread
The revolt extended to Ceará, Paraíba and to Rio Grande.
The Revolt was notified by Hipólito José da Costa on Correio Braziliense. The journal wrongly stated the states of Maranhão, Itamaracá and Pará also joined the republicans, and most of the coverage happened after the end of the Revolt.[10]
The royalists thus began an intense vigil of the Brazilian cost, afraid of support from the Spanish America and the United States.[11]
Fall
Two months later Recife was surrounded by sea and land by troops of the Portuguese monarch. The revolution, soon after, was dismantled.[2]
Moments before the imminent faliure, several of the leaders renaunced their positions, but according to the crown João Ribeiro stood until the very end.[8]
Before the fall of the movement, the revolutionaries sought out the support of the United States, Argentina and England, without success. Known casualties of the conflict include the eventual execution of the rebel leaders: Domingos José Martins, José Luis de Mendonça, Domingos Teotônio Jorge and the Catholic priests Miguelinho and Pedro de Sousa Tenório. The corpses of the condemned were later mutilated by having their hands and heads cut off. Other corpses were dragged by their heads to a burial ground.[12]
On 15 September 1817, Tomás Antônio Vila Nova Portugal revoked the license of James Pinche's press.[9]
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Diplomatic relations
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United States
American suport
On 3 March, President James Madison signed the Neutrality Law of 1817, declaring neutrality over the Spanish American wars of independence. The official Diplomat of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves, José Correia da Serra, was personal friends of James Madison, John Quincy Adams and Thomas Jefferson and supported the creation of the Law, to avoid turmoil on Brazilian soil.[9] At a time, Brazil was also seen by investors, such as Henry Hill, as a promising new market after the end of the War of 1812, and Correia da Serra was sought for investments on machinery and other products. Many of those merchants, including the future President John Quincy Adams, were eager to end the dependency of Brazil to the Portuguese Crown to expand their businesses. Despite that, the American-Portuguese relations grew, and Rio de Janeiro was the only South American city to have an embassy from the United States. Yet another important factor was the location of Pernambuco, that, differently from other South American countries, it was located in the middle of the Portuguese kingdom, making it hard for American supporters to send help.[8]
News about the revolt reached the USA through Charles Bowen, that left Recife on 13 March. He disembarked on the Port of Norfolk and gave the news to the Norfolk Herald. The journal notified the arrival of the diplomat and soon other journals published about the revolt, including the Washington-based National Intelligencer, Georgetown Messenger, The Philadelphia Aurora, Niles Weekly Register and Baltimore Patriot, that published "Preciso" in English. The journals were overall favorable for the republican cause. Despite that, some outlets, such as Georgetown Messenger, expected the revolt not to last much.[8][9] Two other American sailors, Seebohn and one unknown, were supporters of the Revolution and spread the news in US soil, creating certain sympathy within Americans. Bowen then met the Governor and spoke about the revolution. Correia da Serra thus left to Washington D.C. on 31 May to speak against Bowen's audience, but it was considered legit.[11]
Antonio Gonçalves da Cruz, known as Cruz Cabugá, was nominated Diplomat in the United States and, together with Domingos Pires Ferreira, that served as a translator,[11] left Recife on 6 April.[9][10] They brought 60:000$000 to buy ammunition and hiring mercenaries.[11] Cabugá was instructed as not to create fights against Correia da Serra, as he was well regarded in American soil.[8]
Cruz Cabugá reached Boston on 15 May, with journals such as Boston Daily Advertiser and Philadelphia Aurora praising his arrival.[9] There, he bought ammunition and sent it to Pernambuco. Disappointed for not being able to talk with important political figures, Cabugá went to Philadelphia. On 4 June, the President sent Caesar Augustus Rodney, member of a commission for South American matters, and Willian Jones, President of the Federal Reserve, to Philadelphia to speak with Cabugá in private. The conversation happened on 6 June, where it was explained there was little the president could do for several reasons, including that the recognition of Pernambuco was an attribution of the American Congress. Cabugá, then, explained he wasn't looking for recognition of Pernambuco, as probably it would create hostilities with the United Kingdom. As a consequence of the meeting, bilateral agreements were made, where, even though the USA didn't recognized Pernambuco, merchant ships using the revolt's flag were allowed to enter in the USA, that the USA wouldn't consent to a blockage of the Pernambucan ports, Pernambuco was allowed to buy American ammunition and Cabugá wouldn't be recognized as an emissary from Pernambuco due the USA's involvement with European countries.[8]
Two days later, Cabugá received permission to meet Richard Rush. He went to New York City and then to Washington, D.C.. During his travel, Cabugá went to Port of Baltimore, Maryland, where he bought ammunition and, together with the ones he bought in Boston, sent to Pernambuco within two ships. He bought 300 pistols, 300 sabers for light cavalry, 1,000 light hunting shotguns, 2,000 light shotguns similar to the ones used by the French Army, 200 pistols for the cavalry, 2,000 light hunting pistols, and 7,000 infantry shotguns.[8] According to Correia da Serra, the ships were named Hoop Packet and Pinguim. Due the failure of Correia da Serra to stop Cabugá's actions, he advised Dom João VI to maintain vigilance over American ships to stop the ammunition to reach Brazil. Nonetheless, the ships arrived after the end of the Revolution. According to sailors intercepted by the Portuguese government, Pinguim headed to Gibraltar, but sank. The Portuguese authorities suspected the sailors were lying and arrested them, and thus heard about the plans to free Napoleon. Later, it was discovered the information was indeed a lie.[11] The ship Sally Dana was also sent with supplies. It was supposedly commissioned by the American Consul Joseph Ray.[8]
The meeting with Rush happened on 14 June. He sent documents addressed to the President about the revolution. The meeting was the first encounter of a Brazilian diplomat with a Minister of Foreign Affairs.[8][9][11] There, he was spied by the monarchists and suffered heavy resistance from Correia da Serra, that accused the American Government from spreading revolutions for not doing anything against Cabugá. Cabugá's pleadges weren't heard by Joseph Ray and Thomas Jefferson showed interest in signing a trade deal with Brazil, sending the ship Brackenridge in a diplomatic mission.[11]
On 20 August, the revolt showed clear signs of decline, and Cruz Cabugá appealed for the President to send help for the rebels to avoid bloodshed.[9]
After the failure of the revolt, Cruz Cabugá stayed on the United States, and on 21 May 1818, he was part of a dinner with other South-American rebels on Pennsylvania, where they proclaimed revenge against the martyrs of Pernambuco.[9]
Napoleonic plans
Argentine historian Emilio Ocampo investigated the life of Carlos María de Alvear, and found British documents about a Bonapartist plot in Pernambuco to free Napoleón Bonaparte, and take him to some strategic location in South America, in order to create a new Napoleonic Empire. Alvear's plans were never carried out because of the defeat of the revolution.[13]
Cruz Cabugá was also sent to United States to contact Joseph Bonaparte and try to hire French soldires for the Pernambucan cause. Joseph and his allies fled to the USA in search of a job, as they declined to swear allignance to Louis XVIII. Joseph then proposed the republicans to help freeing Napoleon from the Island of Saint Helena using Fernando de Noronha as a scape rout to New Orleans. Despite the inicial Portuguese ressentiment towards Napoleon for the transfer of the Portuguese court to Brazil, the anti-Braganca sentiment was such that many involved with the revolt supposedly suported the conspiracy to release the French monarch.[8][11]
The ship Paragon, left the USA for an unknown destination, and raised Correia da Costa's suspission as it was carrying Colonel Latapie, Louis-Adolphe Le Doulcet, Artong and Raulet, all of which had ties with Napoleon. According to Ferreira da Costa, Colonel Latapie told him that they went to Brazil to inform José Bonaparte about the revolution to cary on the plans to free Napoleon, but on the date of the emissary's arrival, the Pernambuco revolutionaries were already besieged by Portuguese monarchist troops and close to surrender. Le Doulcet stayed on Baía Formosa, Rio Grande do Norte, where José Inácio Borges found him a job as a doctor and botanist, and Latapie, Artong and Raulet carried on to Paraíba.[8][11]
Napoleon's four veterans, Count Pontelécoulant, Colonel Latapie, orderly Artong and soldier Roulet, were arrested in Paraíba by the Governor Tomás de Sousa Mafra and later sent to Recife, where they were interrogated by the Governor Luís do Rego. All of them said that alegedly were looking for a job, and Rego freed them, but sent spies to follow their steps. Le Doulcet came from Rio Grande do Norte and joined his companions, and they were found guilty as all of them were attending Joseph Ray's house, the American Consul, as since his arrival in Brazil he was accused of hiding rebels in his house. Rego ordened their arrest, and during the police operation, the secretary Jorge Fleming Holdt, three men and a mulatta woman and her baby were also arrested. They confessed their real intentions in Brazil, with Latapie being the one who talked the most. Dom João asked for the deposition of Joseph Ray, and his wishes were granted by the American President Quincy Adams.[8][13]
Mozambique
On 10 March, the republicans send a letter through the American ship Sally Dana for the Governor of Mozambique José Francisco de Paula Cavalcante de Albuquerque. He was a Freemason known for trying to approach Grand Orient de France and Grand Orient of Portugal. The royalists speculated the rebels wanted to bring him to Pernambuco. The letter was never answered and it is not known if it arrived to the recipient.[7]
Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
The revolt was notified in journals from the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, such as O Censor and a Gazeta de Buenos-Ayres.[10]
Correio Braziliense reported that Felix José Tavares Lira was named a Diplomat for the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. He was supposedly sent to Buenos Aires to negociate with the rebels in Paraguay. The journal would later retract, saying it was a mistake, but several historians considered the information real.[10]
Pedro de Souza Tenório was asked to be the Diplomat in the region but he declined.[10]
Kingdom of Great Britain
Hipólito José da Costa was asked to be the Diplomat in London, but he refused.[10]
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Ideals
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The conspiracy was inspired by the French Revolution and the American Revolution. It sought to cut ties from the monarchy and stablish a republic controlled by the local elites.[9]
The involved parties considered the revolution to be the second restauration of Pernambuco, as the first was the expulsion of the Dutch in 1654. There was a strong nationalistic sentiment amongst them, besides an antagonism against the Portuguese.[9]
Shortly after the establishment of the Provincial Government of the Republic, all the monarchic symbols were abolished and a new calendar was established, with the starting point at the beginning of the revolution. There were also plans to establish a flag and Constitution similar to the United States[9] and a new Constitution based on the United States Bill of Rights, where Brazil would be transformed into a federation.[8]
In the peak of the revolt, one finds that the strongest Pernambucan patriots marked their identity in several methods – including drinking aguardente instead of wine and host made of wheat.[5]
Further patriotic feelings were expressed with the chants:
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Quando a voz da pátria chama |
When the voice of the fatherland calls
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Flag of the Revolt
The general layout of the flag used by the revolutionaries still endures today, as the flag of the Brazilian state of Pernambuco. The first flag was formed from the requirement for a flag to replace the Portuguese flag that had been hauled down from the Recife fort after the provisional government took control of the city. The government originally considered hoisting the French tricolor, but instead appointed a committee under the chairmanship of Father João Ribeiro Pessoa to develop a design. The design was copied in watercolor by the Rio de Janeiro artist Antônio Álvares—a painting that still existed when Ribeiro was writing in the 1930s—essentially the same as the modern state flag with the field dark blue over white, a single star above the rainbow. The flags were produced by the tailor José Barbosa, who was also a captain in the militia. The first flag was publicly blessed by the dean of the Recife cathedral on 21 March 1817.[14]
In 1917, the same flag became the official banner of the current state.
According to its physical description, the flag's features signify the following: "The blue color in the upper rectangle symbolizes the grandeur of the Pernambuco sky. The color the white area is for peace. The three-colored rainbow represents the union of all the people of Pernambuco. The star indicates the state within the grouping of the Federation. The sun is the force and energy of Pernambuco, and finally, the cross represents our faith in justice and mutual understanding."[15]
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See also
References
External links
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