Black Guard (Brazil)
The Black Guard of the Redemptress (Portuguese: Guarda Negra da Redentora) was a paramilitary secret society in Rio de Janeiro composed of Brazilian former African slaves freed on May 13, 1888, by the signature of the Golden Law by Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil.
| Black Guard | |
|---|---|
| Guarda Negra | |
| Active | 1888 – 1889 |
| Country | Empire of Brazil |
| Allegiance | Brazilian Imperial Family |
| Type | Paramilitary group |
| Role | Protect the well-being of the Brazilian Imperial Family and to ensure the Princess Imperial's accession to the throne |
The guard included capoeiristas who belonged to the street gangs of Rio de Janeiro.
The group was led by José do Patrocínio, a former republican, and its ostensible purpose was to protect the well-being of the Brazilian Imperial Family and to ensure the Princess Imperial's accession to the throne, in opposition to the rising threat of a republican coup. The group began its activities soon after the abolition of slavery and lasted until shortly around the Proclamation of the Republic in Brazil on November 15, 1889.