Imperial Papers - Comments on the Events of November 15th, 1889 in Rio de Janeiro and Consequences
- RICARDO GOMES RODRIGUES
- 17 de fev. de 2021
- 14 min de leitura
Atualizado: 21 de jan. de 2024
Initial Warnings
The greatest sources on the history of Brazil are out of reach for most of Brazilian researchers. These sources are primarily reports from the secretaries of the American and British Embassies of Rio de Janeiro in the 19th century and are found in the archives of the US State Department in Washington or in the Foreign Office in London.
At that time, as Brazil was a monarchy, there was much interest from the Yankees and Britishes to analyze us, which contributed to them striking us on November 15th, 1889. After that, Brazil fell into the irrelevance of this Yankees’ whore yard. In no way, are these documents available for consultation. These documents support American and British governments in the definition of their foreign policies.
Other documents about the Empire of Brazil simply disappeared after November 15th as the Brazilian Generals began a unique work of misrepresentation and the spreading of lies about the history of Brazil. What remains for Brazilian researchers, whose are almost always provincials without any depth and just enthusiastic about the jewelry objects of the monarchical era, are fragments of innocuous official documents and newspaper articles of the time, which results in confusing stories with often meaningless narrative and out of any context such as for Inconfidences From Minas Gerais, the Paraguayan War, the dismemberment of the Portuguese Empire and the birth of Brazil.
Any documents committing to these official versions have been withdrawn from circulation and it is not known where they ended up. You see, even St. Christopher's Imperial Palace in Rio they burned down. So, researching the history of Brazil is as if you read what is published in today's newspapers without understanding what is happening behind the scenes. The results are completely distorted stories to the point of pure and simple lies. For example, “Tiradentes” never existed, it was an effort to make our history to look like just the Tea party revolt in Boston because of the taxes levied.
The result are these stories more appropriated for first-degree children without any depth full of idiocies and cretinices imposed by the Brazilian Generals and the American Embassy. So, the entire history of the Empire of Brazil is for now lost and that will not change until these Brazilian Generals are deposed.
They will continue to insist on these cretinices of "Tiradentes" and "José Bonifácio" exposing us to ridicule... The harm they cause to Brazil is immense treating us like children from stories that if you compare to what I have published on the Internet are untraceable nonsense.
Reports from the American Embassy in Rio de Janeiro in the 19th century
Tea Party at 5 p.m. in the British Embassy
Probably, these diplomatic reports as filed today in Washington, would begin by saying that on such a day and time His Majesty the Emperor of Brazil was present for the tea party at 5 p.m. in the residence of the British Ambassador and that the conversation took place all the time in French, since His Majesty speaks very little of English.
In the course of the reception, in addition to the social trivia about the bad weather, the subject to which His Majesty raised the greatest objections was the fact that the Empire of Brazil did not receive the due attention of the British Government. The U.S. Ambassador, on the other hand, strongly reaffirmed the importance and priority of His Majesty's administration by the US State Department in Washington.
After His Majesty withdrew, matters were brought between the British and American Ambassador, and his British Majesty's Government lodged serious objections to any attempt by the US Government to overthrow the Brazilian monarchy, the Government of his British Majesty was perfectly aware of the conspiracy that was taking place behind the scenes of the Brazilian Army in the attempt not only to overthrow His Majesty the Emperor of Brazil, but also to assassinate his entire family, warning about the evil consequences of such an act by all European courts, recalling that His Majesty Don Pedro The Second was the grandson of the Emperor of Austria.
Further on, the report went into the details of the military coup in pregnancy, noting that it was a contentious point in the imperial court of Rio de Janeiro the social rancor of the Brazilian Generals, almost always coming from the lower middle class with poor formation of origin and extremely negative in relation to the officers of the Navy, who were generally more noble and of higher social origin.
It also reminded the report, for example, that the Government of Washington should better exploit this grudge of the Brazilian militaries of the army against their fellows in the Navy because they were considered as being an irrelevant weapon on a territory without further strategic relevance in the international geopolitics’ arena.
On the other hand, aiming to definitively ending the Brazilian monarchical regime and to incorporate Brazil once and for all into the territory of the "Americans" Republics, (here the word Americans would appear underlined in the report in a sarcastic way), it would be necessary to knock down the Brazilian Imperial Navy as the greatest strategic military firepower in the region.
Going further, the report would recommend also combined actions of the U.S. Navy with the rebellious Brazilian Generals. Everything would be prepared to be detonated when the Chilean naval fleet visited the port of Rio de Janeiro; the Imperial Navy would inspect the disarm of ships anchored in the harbor bar, but not of those anchored in the Bay of Waiting, confusing the Chilean warships with those of the U.S. Navy.
The collaboration of the Chilean Navy as a cover-up to the true military intentions of the U.S. Navy would be critical to the success of the mission. He also recommended that the entire operation should start during the reception that Their Majesties of Brazil would offer to the officers of the Chilean’s Fleet when an act of shooting would wipe out the entire Imperial family, remembering, however, the dangers that Chilean officers would incur due to possible reactions from their Majesties escorts.
As time goes by, and the early hours of the morning approaches, the North American Navy, disguised as Chilean naval fleet and vice versa, would have blocked Guanabara Bay, preparing to assault the Brazilian Admiralty in Niteroi. And so, goes the report of the secretary of the American Embassy to the US State Department in Washington on the eve of November 15th, 1889 in Rio de Janeiro.
Imperial Papers
Top Secret – Just to be read and handled in the presence of a U.S. State Department Official:
The reports of the Secretary of the American Embassy in Rio de Janeiro tell us about the state of extreme seriousness in which the political situation in Brazil was developing in the Court of Rio de Janeiro, during the events of November 15th, 1889.
The telegraphs of the American Embassy in Rio de Janeiro transmit without ceasing from the facilities that still operate in the military complex of the Brazilian Imperial Navy in the city center. The U.S. Ambassador strengthened the security of the US facilities, awaiting instructions from Washington, disbanding all non-essential personnel who sought refuge in the Chilean warships anchored in the harbor bar.
The British Ambassador has pierced the blockade imposed, forcing his entry into the Imperial Palace of Central Rio de Janeiro, using only his personal prestige and the political strength of the British Empire. Some Admirals of the Imperial Squadron, using unknown means joined Their Brazilian Majesties detained and under escort of very well-armed Brazilian Military rebels, awaiting the unfolding of events.
Without ceasing and in an exalted state of mind, The Secretary of the U.S. Consulate transmits lurid accounts about the political situation in the Court of Rio de Janeiro that deteriorates in the eyes seen as the hours pass.
Urgent, urgent: The coup arranged by the U.S. State Department to dethrone Their Brazilian Majesties tends to fail following the overview of all involved. The reactions of the general population and the political class are of astonishment and they were totally ignored by General Floriano Peixoto, leader of the rebels. The participation of General Deodoro da Fonseca is useless since given the state of gravity of the situation he is in a complete state of senility not talking thing with anything.
Army officers refuse to comply with the order of the rioting Brazilian Generals and are being shot in the barracks courtyards. His Majesty's Marines stationed at the center's Naval complex prepare to act. The police chief has banned downtown Rio de Janeiro and all the vicinity of the Imperial Palace. Popular demonstrations are being suppressed by garrisons still loyal to the Revolting Brazilian Generals.
Urgent: The Chilean Navy as combined since dawn opened salvos of gunfire waiting to surrendering the Brazilian Imperial Admiralty from Niteroi. Some Brazilian frigates maneuvered to escape the siege made by surprise and opened fire, but without guidance are not achieving their intention to reach the Chilean warships positioned at the Bay of Waiting of Guanabara.
The U.S. Navy is preparing to land Marines at the Court of Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Recife. The North American Admirals are in doubt about the real location of the ships of the Imperial Brazilian Fleet, according to the plans delivered by the Chief of the Rebellious, General Floriano Peixoto. However, to date it can be said that The Armada of His Brazilian Majesty is at least immobilized and the revolting Brazilian Generals continue with a hard hand shooting those who disobey them.
Urgent: Chilean ship officers stationed at the port bar of Rio de Janeiro are being detained and kept under escort at the Brazilian Imperial Navy Compound, as well as the U.S. citizens who were there. Imperial Navy ships remain immobilized at the Admiralty's base in Niteroi by the Chilean Navy and those who escape cannot articulate organized resistance due to the total failure of organized communication, becoming sporadic acts.
His British Majesty personally intervened and summoned the American Ambassador under escort to Buckingham Palace. In every respect, the coup is a failure and we can only wait for the intervention of the U.S. Navy.
Top Secret – Just to be read and handled in the presence of a U.S. State Department Official:
The reports arriving at the State Department in Washington from Rio de Janeiro on November 15th, 1889 are dismaying and the situation is gradually getting complicated to become a regional crisis. General Floriano Peixoto's actions were considered disastrous, demonstrating that he had not enough support from Brazilian Army officers being just an ambitious administrative officer who lied about almost everything he informed the US State Department. Everything he said, besides the Brazilian Imperial Navy defense plans he delivered, is being severely questioned in Washington.
Urgent; urgent: this is how a report of the American Embassy in Rio de Janeiro follows, warning about the unexpected reaction of the Argentine Republic. From the Imperial Naval Compound, an official report was transmitted as follows:
On this morning of November 15, 1889, a Chilean Naval Fleet in a courtesy visiting of Rio de Janeiro in an unexpected and infamous act of disgusting cowardice opened fire toward The Armada of His Brazilian Majesty that finds itself immobilized at its head office in Niteroi. His Majesty's Government invoking God and the highest and noblest spirits of Christian cooperation convey this request for help to the Friendly Nations.
The reactions in the “De La Plata River” Basin were unexpected. The Government of the Argentine Republic declared its territory under martial law and closed its borders with the Republic of Chile and issued warning to the Navigates, declaring the entire South Atlantic as a war zone, recommending that ships transiting in the region immediately seek shelter in the nearest ports.
The Argentine Navy was ordered to immediately close and occupy militarily the west entrances to the Magellan and Beagle Canals.
In Buenos Aires, the Federal Police surrounded the American and Chilean embassy sits, summoning their ambassadors under escort for explanations at government office.
Argentine and Uruguayan troops join Brazilian military detachments in Rio Grande do Sul, which occupied Porto Alegre militarily declaring themselves in loyalty to His Brazilian Majesty.
An Argentine squadron sails at full speed towards Rio de Janeiro trying to gather remnants of the Brazilian Imperial Armada along the way, activating common marine defense plans defined by military cooperation treaties between the Argentine Republic and the Empire of Brazil.
Urgent; urgent: from the military installations of the Imperial Navy Compound, the secretary of the American Embassy warns about the political complication that is surrounding the military coup against the Brazilian Monarchy, remembering that gradually this operation is resembling the clumsy intervention operation called at the time as the "Paraguayan War", back in 1870.
Unexpectedly, a Triple Alliance against American interests in the region is being rallied, also recalling that General Floriano Peixoto loses control of the situation that becomes extremely critical with the reaction of the Argentine Republic.
Inside the Imperial Palace of Rio de Janeiro, the performance of the British Ambassador and the Brazilian Admirals prevent any act of shooting against the Brazilian Royal family further complicating the situation.
His British Majesty warned that any act of aggression against Their Brazilian Majesties will be considered an act of aggression against the British Royal family itself.
He also recommends the Secretary the immediate intervention of the U.S. Navy Marines, disembarking troops to take military control of the Court of Rio de Janeiro.
Top Secret – Just to be read and handled in the presence of a U.S. State Department Official:
From the facilities of the Brazilian Imperial Navy Compound in downtown Rio de Janeiro, reports arrive from Buenos Aires, telling us about the military situation in the Southern Region of Brazil.
The squadron sent by the Argentine Navy to help the Empire of Brazil was intercepted on the edges of Rio Grande do Sul by an already quite damaged escort Corvette of the Brazilian Navy, but which still kept its Imperial flags proudly.
Admitted aboard, the reports of the Brazilian Navy Officers were very worrying. They said that since this morning of November 15th, facilities of the Navy of His Brazilian Majesty is under attack by the North American Navy that surrounded or destroyed Brazilian Marine Bases of support, according to mutual plans of Argentine-Brazilian naval defenses.
These officers recommended the Argentine fleet reverse march and prioritize the protection of the territory of the Argentine Nation. Continuing, they said that the common defense plans between Brazil and Argentina were compromised and that they would possibly be next on the list subject to an American-Chilean invasion on the region.
Brazilian officials applied for asylum, which was granted to them immediately on behalf of the Argentine Republic. The Imperial Corvette, already quite damaged and without further conditions of sailing, by instructions of her Brazilian Captain whistle, was cannoned and sank near the Brazilian Coast.
Immediately, the Argentine Admiralty in Buenos Aires was informed of the gravity of the situation and put the Argentine nation on highest alert, considering the possibilities of an invasion or attack at any future time by the Chilean or American Navy.
The Argentine Government issued orders to all Ships of the Fleet at its naval military bases to immediately leave their anchorage facilities and seek refuge on the high seas.
The Pilots at Recalada in the River of La Plata began the plans of blocking and mining the Indio waterway channel that led directly to Buenos Aires and Montevideo.
The evacuation of the Argentine Federal Capital is being considered, with free trains towards the provinces. The Argentine government also ordered that any Chilean or U.S. citizen in a suspicious situation be arrested and placed under federal police custody.
Mr. Secretary of the Embassy warns the State Department in Washington of the progressive deterioration of policies adopted against the Empire of Brazil and that the situation could become uncontrollable against U.S. interests in the region with future repercussions of incalculable damage.He recommended the immediate landing of U.S. Marines to take military control of the Court of Rio de Janeiro.
Urgent; Urgent: Since this afternoon of November 15th, 1889, U.S. Marine troops in civilian attire and without any military identification, but heavily armed, have been landing in Rio de Janeiro with the help of Chilean officials who, even speaking Spanish, assist in communications with the local population that speaks Portuguese.
The Police Headquarters of Rio was taken with great losses due to the fierce resistance they presented. Apparently, they did not understand the warnings made in Spanish by Chilean officials to surrender unconditionally.
Popular, remnants of military troops and that of the Imperial Navy raise barricades and are being attacked by militias of General Floriano Peixoto. U.S. Marines have taken refuge in and around the Imperial Palace and are waiting for instructions.
Urgent; Urgently: The Secretary of the U.S. Consulate transmits to Washington saying that the use of Chilean officers in communications with the population of Rio de Janeiro is being counterproductive, causing panic and violent reactions with adverse results, it is recommended the use of militia and troops of General Floriano Peixoto.
The U.S. Marines trapped in the vicinity of the Imperial Palace are being rescued by the militia of General Floriano Peixoto who called for reinforcements. More U.S. troops without any identification are being depleted and Brazilian navy’s troops and installations are being under attack by Floriano Peixoto's forces in joint operations with U.S. and Chilean Marines.
U.S. Navy ships entered Guanabara Bay and joined Chilean forces in their siege to the Imperial Admiralty in Niteroi. Warning shots are being fired at the city demanding the unconditional surrender of His Majesty’s Armada.
At the end of the afternoon of November 15th, 1889, in view of the reality of the facts, the Imperial Navy was surrendered and the last reports from the naval compound at downtown Rio de Janeiro arrived in Buenos Aires, reporting the final events:
In the name of God, we thank the valuable efforts of the Argentine Republic that in this darkest hour of Brazilian nationality came to the aid of the Empire of Brazil and its people. After heavy attack, His Majesty's Armada decided not to return fire and ceased to exist. This is the latest broadcast since the Naval Compound that is currently being occupied by U.S. Marines who don't even dignify to wear American uniforms. The telegraph house ceases transmissions. Greetings to the Argentine people.
The Secretary transmits to Washington saying that the landing of American troops has been carried out successfully. All military installations whether from the Brazilian Army or the Imperial Navy are being occupied in Rio de Janeiro on behalf of the Government of the United States of America. All resistance has ceased and General Floriano Peixoto begins to form an allied government.
At the Imperial Palace, Their Majesties are informed of the outcome of the day's operations. The longest-running naval officer addresses the Emperor of Brazil in these terms, according to the accounts of the British Ambassador present in the room:
Your Majesty was the first of the Brazilians and now the last. The most valuable traditions of the Empire of Brazil begun by your august family in 1808 were defeated by the forces of betrayal, infamy and malignancy. The very name of this country, once called Brazil, following the Royal and Imperial traditions, no longer applies. The name may continue to be in used, but it will be improper because it has no more historical meaning. With Your Majesty, almost 90 years of Brazil's valuable history are over. There is no longer this country called Brazil. May God save and guard Your Imperial Majesty of Brazil Don Pedro de Alcântara João Carlos Leopoldo Salvador Bibiano Francisco Xavier de Paula Leocadio Miguel Gabriel Rafael Gonzaga de Bragança e Bourbon, as well as your august Family. Farewell!
Epilogue
The last years of Don Pedro, the second’s life were lived in Paris with extreme difficulty even to pay the bills of the hotel in which he lived alone.
On a very cold day in Paris, with thermometers marking below -5 degrees Celsius, Don Pedro insisted on leaving, despite the efforts of the hotel owner and his employees, who treated him with great deference and respect, trying to dissuade him otherwise. Claiming an indeferred commitment, he left anyway. It was almost 10 p.m. that day and Don Pedro had not yet returned, which caused the hotel owner to hastily call his daughter Princess Isabel and a doctor.
Soon after a little after ten, arrives the Emperor soaked in sweat, with his coat in dismay and limping. His face was red, highlighting his watery eyes and tripping with cold. An employee exclaimed: by God, where has been your Majesty all this time, we all were very worried about you, Sire?
Immediately, they carried the Emperor into his room filled the bathtub with boiling water, stripped him and when he entered the bath the hotel owner could see his feet in an all-black tone rising through his shins and the fingers of his hands extremely purplish. He reproached him, inquiring: why did you do this, Sire? The emperor did not respond and sat on the bathtub. Then, with his head down and looking aside, he retorted in choked voice: this will pass! Everything passes away!
After the bath, the Emperor began to tiritar of cold and in almost convulsions he was wrapped in blankets, putting the room’s temperature warm-up at the most. The doctor came to examine him and then confided his daughter: His Majesty spent the whole day wandering the streets of Paris with this extremely low temperature. The Princess, crying, replied: Yes, he usually spends his days walking around the city without destination. The doctor shot: Your father has a high degree of hypothermia and probably won’t survive this night.
In a few hours Don Pedro, the Second went into a coma dying just before dawn. The family gathered in the lobby of the hotel issued the following note:
This Imperial house feels sorry to inform that in this early morning of December 5th, 1891, died in this city of Paris His Imperial Majesty of Brazil. May God have him and his Soul! God Save Brazil!
By Professor Ricardo Gomes Rodrigues
São Carlos, SP, Brasil
February 12, 2021
Also see the Imperial Armada Plans in the lin below:
The Geopolitics of Brazil in the 19th Century and the Imperial Navy as a Strategic Weapon
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