Federalist Revolution

The Federalist Revolution (Portuguese: Revolução Federalista) was a civil war that took place in southern Brazil between 1893 and 1895, fought by the federalists, opponents of Rio Grande do Sul state president, Júlio de Castilhos, seeking greater autonomy for the state, decentralization of power by the newly installed First Brazilian Republic and, arguably, the restoration of the monarchy.

Inspired by the monarchist ideologies of Gaspar da Silveira Martins, who had been one of the most prominent politicians by the end of the monarchy and acted as political head of the revolution, the federalists had Gumercindo Saraiva as the military head supported by his brother Aparicio Saraiva, of the Uruguayan National Party, and by the Navy rebels who, after being defeated at the capital following the Rio de Janeiro Affair, moved south to strengthen the federalist forces. Also known as maragatos, the federalists fought the republican forces of the Brazilian Army headed by the Rio Grande do Sul senator and army general Pinheiro Machado.

The conflict was not limited to Rio Grande do Sul, affecting the entire southern region of the country, which was mostly under federalist control. The rebels' objective was to group the forces against the republican government of Floriano Peixoto and march to the capital, Rio de Janeiro, to depose him. The federalists effectively installed a parallel government by deposing the presidents of the states they controlled and holding elections and by adhering to the proclamation by the navy rebels of Prince Pedro de Alcântara as emperor Pedro III. Nonetheless, after the Siege of Lapa, the federalists were unable to advance further, being defeated in the Battle of Campo Osório. The end of the war consolidated the young Brazilian republic, leaving 10,000 dead, many of which were beheaded.