Thepolitical movements for the re-adoption ofmonarchy in Brazil has taken place as a series of uprisings and political acts, usually in a fragmented way and peripherally to larger causes. It has been fringe historically and remains a small movement to this day. It advocates restoration of theconstitutional monarchy under theBrazilian imperial family, a cadet branch of theHouse of Braganza, which ruled Brazil for 72 years as thekingdom and laterEmpire of Brazil until the monarchy was abolished in 1889 by amilitary coup d'état that gave rise to theFirst Brazilian Republic.
After the 1889 coup d'état that ended the imperial rule and established a republic in Brazil, the first monarchist nucleus began to form. Under the republican rule, they were a minority and initially even illegal. In 1890, theBrazilian Monarchical Directory was founded byAfonso Celso, the lastPrime Minister of the Empire of Brazil inRio de Janeiro. Its main objective was to organise the country's monarchists and to report directly with the exiledBrazilian Imperial Family. The institution was disestablished in 1921.
TheNavy revolt (1893-1894) was a rebel movement promoted by units of theBrazilian Navy against the dictatorial government ofFloriano Peixoto, supposedly supported by the monarchist opposition to the recent installation of the republic.[1] It was part of theFederalist Revolution, led by the monarchistGaspar da Silveira Martins, one of the last ministers of theEmpire of Brazil, who was disaffected byDeodoro da Fonseca.
TheCanudos War (1896-1897) was the confrontation between theBrazilian Army and the members of a popular movement of socio-religious background led byAntonio Conselheiro that lasted from 1896 to 1897, in the community ofCanudos,Bahia. The great farmers of the region, joining the Church, formed a strong pressure group against the newly installed republic, asking that measures be taken against Antônio Conselheiro and his followers. Rumors were created that Canudos was armed to attack neighbouring towns and leave for the capital to depose the republican government and reinstall the monarchy.[2]
A little known event was theRevolt of Ribeirãzinho [pt] (1902), a conservative movement that occurred in the city of Ribeirãozinho (nowTaquaritinga), inSão Paulo. Its fundamental objective was the restoration of the monarchy and the coronation ofPrince Luiz of Orléans-Braganza, son ofIsabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil. Unhappy with theFirst Brazilian Republic, the São Paulo monarchists had planned an uprising that was supposed to take place on 23 August 1902, and which was to topple then PresidentCampos Sales. In fact, the uprising had only been carried out inRibeirãozinho andEspírito Santo do Pinhal, a neighbouring town. This attempt to restore the monarchy lasted one day.[3]
Monarchist Institution founded in 1890 by the Viscount of Ouro Preto, the last President of the Council of Ministers in Brazil. The institution was dissolved in 1921.
Founded in 1928, the Brazilian Imperial Patrianovist Action, or simplyPatrianovism, was a monarchist organization present in several Brazilian states that expressed the nationalist and authoritarian ideas of the late 1920s and early 1930s. Idealised by Arlindo Veiga dos Santos, it aimed to establish a new monarchy in Brazil, based on a conservative political philosophy. The movement was linked toPrince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza, then Head of the Imperial House of Brazil and heir to the throne, as well asPlínio Salgado, leader and founder of theBrazilian Integralist Action. The organization was dissolved in 1937.
Many famous personalities in Brazil have declared themselves convicted monarchists.
Among the most famous names areMachado de Assis,Joaquim Nabuco,Baron of Rio Branco,André Rebouças,Viscount of Taunay,João Camilo de Oliveira Torres,Carlos de Laet and Count of Mota Maia.
Some monarchists, however, were victims of the republican regime. Among them isJosé da Costa Azevedo, the Baron of Ladario, who was shot by an unknown marksman for resisting an arrest warrant during 15 November, surviving only because a student,Carlos Vieira Ferreira, rescued him.
Another little known case is the murder of ColonelGentil de Castro during theCanudos War. Owner of the monarchist newspapersGazeta da Tarde andGazeta da Liberdade, he was shot by unknown attackers in Rio de Janeiro.[4]
A list of some notable monarchists by date of birth:
According to theLos Angeles Times, the level of support for a return of monarchy has remained fairly steady with 10.2% in the 1993 referendum and 10.7% in a 2017 survey by pollster Paraná Pesquisas.[5]
Luiz Philippe of Orléans-Braganza, nephew of the current Head of the Vasourian pretenders to the Imperial House of Brazil, is known in the Brazilian academical environment.[6] He is an active member of liberal movements in the country.[7] On 28 February, he announced his pre-candidacy to federal deputy for the state of São Paulo by theNew Party.[8]
Politically, the movement is still small. In 2016, journalistPaulo Eduardo Martins, known for his monarchist positions, was elected federal deputy.[9] The movement now hopes to raise public awareness of the issue and discuss the possibility of a newplebiscite similar tothe one of 1993. In early 2017, a legislative idea was launched on the website of theFederal Senate to hold a referendum on the restoration of the monarchy in Brazil. Needing 20,000 votes in favour, it reached the mark of 32,000 votes and was converted into a legislative suggestion, already sent to the Commission of Human Rights of the Brazilian Federal Senate for debate, awaiting a rapporteur. On 10 August 2017, a state deputy fromMinas Gerais sent a motion of support to the legislative suggestion to the President of the Senate through theLegislative Assembly of Minas Gerais, although this motion was not subject to a vote by the full membership of the assembly.[10] On 14 November 2017, the state ofRondônia did the same by sending a motion to support the referendum proposal for the restoration of the monarchy to the federal senate through its legislative assembly.[11]
In 2015, some Brazilian monarchists started appearing with Brazil's imperial flag in military parades and similar events duringIndependence Day, an act known as the National "Bandeiraço" of Independence (bandeiraço may be translated as "great flag demonstration"). In 2016, the act was carried out nationally, in 16 cities. In 2017, 34 cities participated.[12]
The most recognised pretender to the Brazilian throne is PrinceBertrand of Orléans-Braganza. He is the head of the calledVassouras branch of the Imperial Family, since it was divided after the resignation of his great-unclePedro de Alcântara, Prince of Grão-Pará in 1908. The descendants of Prince Pedro de Alcântara did not accept his resignation and maintained an active claim to the throne until the death of his elder son, PrincePedro Gastão of Orléans-Braganza in 2007, whose claim passed to his son, Prince Pedro Carlos of Orléans-Braganza, head of thePetrópolis branch.[13]
There is no official research on public opinion regarding which form of government is preferred in Brazil. However, the emergence and growth of monarchist activity and organisations throughout the country is visible, especially in anti-government protests.[14] Currently, according to an online poll conducted on the Brazilian Senate's website, 92.8% of the participants expressed support for a referendum on the restoration of the monarchy as aconstitutional monarchy. This legislative suggestion has been terminally rejected by the legislative committee responsible for appraising it.[15]
| Date | Polling organisation | Question | Yes | No | No answer | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 June 2018 | "O Tempo" (Newspaper from Minas Gerais) | "Do you support the restoration of the monarchy in Brazil?" | 78% | 22% | — | |
| 23 June 2017 | Paraná Research Institute | "Would you be for or against the return of the Monarchy in Brazil, or rather, going back to having a King/Queen or an Emperor/Empress?" | 10.7% | 84.5% | 4.8% | |
| 22 June 2017 | "Senado Federal" (Official Brazilian senate website) | "Do you support the legislative suggestion to restore constitutional monarchy?" | 92.8% | 7.2% | — | |
| 21 April 2013 | "Portal Terra" (Newspaper) | "From the same ticket used in 1993, you can vote for this virtual plebiscite. Which system of government do you choose?" | 82% | 18% | — | |
| 21 April 1993 | "Federal Government of Brazil" (Federal Law n° 8.624) | "Constitutional Referendum about the Government regime and system" | 10.2% | 66% | 23.8% |
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