Deodoro da Fonseca

His Excellency
Deodoro da Fonseca
Official portrait, 1889
1st President of Brazil
In office
25 February 1891 – 23 November 1891
Vice PresidentFloriano Peixoto (Feb–Nov 1891)
Preceded byPedro II (Emperor)
Succeeded byFloriano Peixoto
President of the Military Club
In office
26 June 1887 – 15 November 1889
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byBenjamin Constant
President of Rio Grande do Sul
In office
8 May 1886 – 9 November 1886
Preceded byBaron of Lucena
Succeeded byMiguel Calmon
Personal details
Born(1827-08-05)5 August 1827
Alagoas da Lagoa do Sul, Alagoas, Empire of Brazil
Died23 August 1892(1892-08-23) (aged 65)
Rio de Janeiro, Federal District, Brazil
PartyIndependent
Spouse
​
(m. 1860)​
RelationsHermes da Fonseca (nephew)
Parent(s)Manuel Mendes da Fonseca Galvão (father)
Rosa Maria Paulina de Barros Cavalcanti (mother)
Alma materMilitary School of Praia Vermelha
Signature
Military service
AllegianceEmpire of Brazil
Brazil
Branch/serviceBrazilian Army
Years of service
1843–1892
RankGeneralíssimo (Army)
Almirantíssimo (Navy)
Commands
See list
    • 1st Foot Artillery Battalion
    • 24th Volunteer Corps of the Fatherland
    • 1st Mounted Artillery Regiment
    • Command of Arms of Bahia
    • Command of Arms of Rio Grande do Sul
    • Army Quartermaster
    • Command of Arms of Mato Grosso
Battles/wars
See list
AwardsOrder of the Southern Cross

Manuel Deodoro da Fonseca[a] (5 August 1827 – 23 August 1892) was a Brazilian politician and military officer who served as the head of provisional government and the first president of Brazil. He was born in Alagoas in a military family, followed a military career, and became a national figure. Fonseca took office as provisional president after heading a military coup that deposed Emperor Pedro II and established the First Brazilian Republic in 1889, disestablishing the Empire. After his election in 1891, he stepped down the same year under great political pressure when he dissolved the National Congress. He died less than a year later.

Early life, 1827–1843

Birth and family

Fonseca was born on 5 August 1827 in the city of Alagoas in the Empire of Brazil. He was the son of Lieutenant Colonel Manuel Mendes da Fonseca and his wife, Rosa Maria Paulina da Fonseca. Simmons notes that the origin of the Fonseca family could possibly dated back to Dutch Brazil.[1]

Mendes Fonseca was military officer in charge of the province of Alagoas in 1831. His career was turbulent, repeatedly losing and regaining the trust of the government over the course of 8 years. In 1839, he participated in a failed provincial revolt which was spurred in opposition to Maceió being made the provincial capital of Alagoas.[2] He was arrested on 20 December 1839 and was held in confinement at the Fortress of Villegaignon until 9 April 1840.[3] Fortunately for him, the rebellion did not leave a high death toll, and politicians lobbied for its perpetrators' penalties to be lessened.[4] His trial was initially to be held in Rio de Janeiro, but it was later decided it would be held in Alagoas. There, he was acquitted by the jury and exonerated of all criminal records.[5] He was elected to public office thereafter. His military career ended in 1846, and he retired to private life, dying in 1859.[6] Júnior believes that the 1839 revolt was a truamatizing event for young Deodoro, influencing his later indecision in the days leading up to the Proclamation of the Republic.[7]

Early military career, 1843–1858

In 1843, Deodoro entered the military school of Rio de Janeiro when he was 16, following in the footsteps of his 7 siblings who had distinguished themselves in military service.[8] On 18 April 1845, he attained the status of first class cadet. and in 1847 he completed his military studies. In the subsequent years, he was posted to Pernambuco.[9]

There, he participated in the quelling of the Praieira revolt (1848–1849) His unit, rather than launching an attack against the rebel forces, waited for the rebels to move south. Their predictions were proven correct when rebellion leader Pedro Ivo launched an attack down Recife from the north on 2 February 1849. He was eventually overwhelmed by imperial forces, and was forced to retreat further into the interior as his forces were continually pursued.[10] Following this, Deodoro participated in two more battles against the rebels before the uprising was entirely crushed.[11] His bravery was greatly commended by his senior commandants.[6] Later that year he also led military forces which repressed an uprising in Rio Formoso. For all these actions he was promoted to a first lieutenant of artillery on 30 April 1852.[12]

However, for various actions of insubordination, he was imprisoned several times between 1852 and 1853, which led to him being transferred to a unit in Rio de Janeiro in 1854.[13] There, he served in the Fortaleza de Santa Cruz for several months. Later, he was designated as adjutant and secretary of the Engineer Battalion in 1855.[14] On 2 December 1856, he was promoted to captain and posted to Sao Paulo where he served as a subordinate to the Minister of War.[15] In 1858, he returned to Rio de Janeiro, and was given command of a batch of students in military school who were training to be part of the Engineer Battalion.[14]

Interlude, 1858–1864

In 1860, Deodoro was transferred to Mato Grosso, where he served as the governor's (Antônio Pedro de Alencastro) aide-de-camp. When he arrived in Cuiabá, he met Mariana Cecília de Sousa Meireles, who became his wife. She was one year older than him at the time. Shortly after they met, the two married on 16 April.[16]

In 1862, however, the couple separated as Deodoro had to return to Rio de Janeiro that year. After taking sick leave for a few months in early 1863 due to an enduring case of Bronchitis, Deodoro was appointed as instructor to the national guards of the Fortaleza de Santa Cruz.[17]

Paraguayan War, 1864–1870

In 1864, Brazilian troops militarily intervened in the Uruguayan political crisis. Paraguay's dictator, Fransisco Antonio Lopez, was alarmed by this as he perceived it as a sign that Brazil was aiming to resolve border problems through military force. Concerned that his country would be next, he declared war on Brazil.[18]

Later career, 1870–1889

As governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Fonseca was courted by republican intellectuals such as Benjamin Constant and Ruy Barbosa in the café society of São Paulo. In 1886, alerted that the imperial government was ordering the arrest of prominent republicans, Fonseca went to Rio de Janeiro and assumed leadership of the army faction that supported the abolition of slavery in Brazil.

Emperor Pedro II had advocated the abolition of slavery for decades, freeing his own slaves in 1840, but he believed slavery should be done away with slowly to avoid damaging the Brazilian economy. The government, nominally headed by his daughter, Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil, abolished slavery entirely in 1888, during her third regency while her father was away from the country. Enraged oligarchs played a role in the subsequent coup d'état. Fonseca's prestige placed him at the head of the military coup that deposed the emperor on 15 November 1889, and he was briefly the head of the provisional government that called a Constituent Congress to draft a new constitution for a republic. Soon, however, he was in conflict with the civilian republican leaders. His election as president on 25 February 1891, by a narrow plurality, was backed with military pressure on Congress.

Presidency, 1889–1891

Internal politics

From 1889–1891, Deodoro led a provisional government. His first cabinet was stuffed with high-ranking republican politicians, who had lofty aspirations but were inexperienced in official service. Some, like Rui Barbosa understood the theoretical workings of the republican system in the United States. Though excluding Quintino Bocaiuva, nobody was acquainted with the practical workings of a republican system in the Americas.[19] Cognizant of the fact that he lacked political and administrative tact, Deodoro gave his ministers free reign over their respective ministries within the first month of the republic. Recognising these sentiments, his contemporaries later suggested that a Council of Ministers be created that would vote on matters of chief importance. Deodoro agreed to this, and the council took on an executive function for the following six months.[20]

A sense of sceptical incertitude remained after the 15 November coup. This was because of long-held fears that a counter revolution would be launched. Deodoro's oldest brother, Hermes Ernesto da Fonseca was believed to be a potential conspirator in the future as he had protested against the coup. But these unrests were eased following the departure of the royal family on 18 November.[21]

The governmental transition went smoothly within its first month. The proclamation of the republic was endorsed by the legislature while many provincial governors ceded control of their states to republican forces. Though many of the empire's politicians were removed, a small number of them thrived under the new regime. In the coup's immediate aftermath, administrative and political organisation was a second priority; the government's chief concern was to avoid anarchy.[22]

The political scene tensed up on December 18, when a minor uprising occurred in Rio de Janeiro. 80 soldiers, the majority of them intoxicated, rose the imperial flag and detained themselves in their barracks. They were quickly overrun by military forces. This alarmed the republican government, which began to fear potential conspiracies and protests.[23] Additionally, Pedro II had refused a large monetary donation granted to him by the government, (which had been intended to help him acclimate to his new life in Europe). The government was unnerved by this, believing this could stoke monarchist morale as they could perceive it as a signal that he was still in opposition to the republic. Alarmed by these fears, a state of siege was declared in the country. Properties of the royal family were sold, and personal enemies of Deodoro were exiled.[24]

On December 23, martial law was declared.[25] On the same day, executive decrees were put into place which created a military tribunal to judge civilians accused of promoting subversive activities against the state.[26] The Tribuna Liberal, the single opposition newspaper of Rio de Janeiro was subsequently forced to close its publications. These decrees were enforced again in March of the next year. Any newspaper deemed to be spreading “false news and alarming reports” would be ordered to cease its publications.[27]

In early 1890, two ministers, Demetrio Ribeiro and Aristides Lobo resigned from Deodoro's ministry, both due to council infighting. The former resigned after Rui Barbosa, Deodoro's Minister of Finance attempted to force the passing of a bill by threatening his resignation if it failed to pass; while the latter later followed suit following a disagreement with Deodoro over some suggested appointees to the cabinet. On February 8, Benjamin Constant proposed to the council that Deodoro assume dictatorial powers and that council members be reassigned as secretaries. The proposal was condemned by the council.[28]

Freedom of the press would be an enduring source of contention between civilians and the military. On 28 November 1890, the offices of La Tribuna we're raided by a group of 40 soldiers. Several people were injured, including one who would later die. The incident led to civilians fearing for the security of their civil rights.[29] They hoped that the constituent assembly, established that month in order to chart a new constitution, would implement civilian rule. Its members were, however, selected by the government, as only approved candidates could run for constituency.[30] Nevertheless, opposition towards military presence in the government showed in the assembly, which passed a motion indicting the perpetrators of the La Tribuna headquarters attack.[31]

1891 Constitution

Aurélio de Figueiredo, Oath of the Constitution, c. 1891.

Death

He died in Rio de Janeiro on 23 August 1892. He was stricken with perilous bouts of dyspnea, popularly referred to as "shortness of breath", and was buried in a family grave in the Caju Cemetery. However, in 1937, his remains were unearthed and transferred to a monument in Praça Paris, Rio de Janeiro.

Fonseca has been portrayed twice by Brazilian actor and voice actor Castro Gonzaga in the miniseries Abolição (1988) and República (1989) respectively.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ (Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation: [mɐnuˈɛw deoˈdɔɾu da fõˈsekɐ])

References

  1. ↑ Simmons 1966, p. 40.
  2. ↑ Simmons 1966, p. 40–41.
  3. ↑ Amaral 2003, p. 47.
  4. ↑ Júnior 1957, Vol. 1, p. 18–19.
  5. ↑ Lemos, p. 1.
  6. 1 2 Simmons 1966, p. 41.
  7. ↑ Júnior 1957, Vol. 1, p. 20.
  8. ↑ Júnior 1957, Vol. 1, p. 41.
  9. ↑ Simmons 1966, p. 41; Lemos, p. 1.
  10. ↑ Júnior 1957, Vol.1, p. 37.
  11. ↑ Júnior 1957, Vol. 1, p. 38, 41.
  12. ↑ Simmons 1966, p. 41–42.
  13. ↑ Júnior 1957, Vol. 1, p. 42; Lemos, p. 1.
  14. 1 2 Simmons 1966, p. 42.
  15. ↑ Simmons 1966, p. 42; Lemos, p. 1.
  16. ↑ Amaral 2003, p. 54–55.
  17. ↑ Júnior 1957, Vol. 1, p. 46; Lemos, p. 2.
  18. ↑ Júnior 1957, Vol. 1, p. 52.
  19. ↑ Bello 1964, p. 58.
  20. ↑ Simmons 1966, p. 141–142.
  21. ↑ Simmons 1966, p. 138.
  22. ↑ Bello 1964, p. 63.
  23. ↑ Hahner 1966, p. 36.
  24. ↑ Hahner 1966, p. 37.
  25. ↑ Ribeiro 2021, p. 169.
  26. ↑ Simmons 1966, p. 142.
  27. ↑ Hill 1947, p. 65; Hahner 1966.
  28. ↑ Simmons 1966, p. 143.
  29. ↑ Hahner 1966, p. 38.
  30. ↑ Hahner 1966, p. 40.
  31. ↑ Hahner 1966, p. 41.

Bibliography

Biographies

  • Amaral, Marcio Tavares de (2003). Marechal Deodoro (in Brazilian Portuguese) (2nd ed.). Editora Três.
  • Fonseca, Walter (1982). Fonseca, uma família e uma história (in Brazilian Portuguese). Editora Obelisco.
  • Lemos, Renato. "FONSECA, Deodoro da" (PDF). FGV CPDOC. pp. 1–26. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2025.
  • Simmons, Charles Willis (1966). Marshal Deodoro and the fall of Dom Pedro II. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press. LCCN 66028493. OCLC 964150. OL 5996264M.
  • Júnior, Raimundo Magalhães (1957). Deodoro, a espada contra o Império (in Brazilian Portuguese). Vol. 1. Companhia Editora Nacional.
  • Júnior, Raimundo Magalhães (1957). Deodoro, a espada contra o Império (in Brazilian Portuguese). Vol. 2. Companhia Editora Nacional.

Presidential studies

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