User:Lecen/Emperor of Brazil

Antecessors
Rodrigo de Sousa Coutinho... [in the 1790s] stressed, "to the most essential of our overseas dominions, which are without question the provinces of America, known under the generic name of Brazil."

"...traditional role of supplying the Crown with a constant source of revenue and serving as a tied marketing for exports from Portugal. In the telling phrase of D. João IV, who founded the Bragança dynasty in 1640, the American colonies were "the milch cow" of Portugal."

"The existing Estado do Brasil (State of Brazil) was composed of the fourteen captaincies of southern, central, and northeastern Portuguese America. The state was headed by a viceroy, or royal delegate, who resided first at Salvador and then, from 1763, at Rio de Janeiro."

"The four captaincies of the far north had originally been grouped together as the Estado do Maranhão, which as in 1751 reorganized as the Estado do Grão Pará e Maranhão, with its capital at Belém. Although the Estado was dissolved in 1772, its constituent territories continued totally separate from the Estado do Brasil, being ruled more directly from Lisbon than had previously been the case."

"...there is no evidence...to support claim that the captaincies of the dissolved Estado were after 1774 "integrated into an enlarged Estado do Brasil"

"The vicreoy's high-sounding title and dignities of office could not disguise the fact that he had long been little more than governor of the most important captaincy in the Estado do Brasil. After 1763, when the viceroy moved from Salvador to Rio de Janeiro, he also had real authority over Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, the two frontier captaincies in the far south. Over the remaining captaincies of the Estado the viceroy possessed what is best termed oversight. Although the governors were in theory his subordinates, he could rebuke and cajole but not order and control. Only in time of conflict, as during the war with Spain in 1777, did the viceroy assume a central role in directing military operations and organizing supplies. Even then, his effectiveness was limited by royal orders prohibiting him from being absent from the viceregal capital."

Imperial Guard of Halberdiers
In 1763 Viceroy Antônio Álvares da Cunha, Count of Cunha organized in Rio de Janeiro city the 1st Cavalry Company of the Viceroys Guard (1ª Companhia de Cavalaria da Guarda dos Vice-Reis), with the purpose of serving as his personal guard. His successor António Rolim de Moura Tavares, Count of Azambuja created a 2nd company, which along with the 1st company became the 1st Squadron of the Viceroys Guard (1º Esquadrão da Guarda dos Vice-Reis). The 1st Squadron was renamed Light Cavalry Squadron of the Guard of the Most Illustrious and Most Excellent Viceroy of State (Esquadrão de Cavalaria Ligeira da Guarda do Ilm e Exm Sr. Vice-Rei de Estado). On 13 May 1808 the squadron was renamed by Prince Regent Dom João (later King Dom João VI) 1st Army Cavalry Regiment (1º Regimento de Cavalaria do Exército) and served as his personal guard.

A company of 1st Army Cavalry Regiment was sent to quell the Pernambucan Revolt 1817, but the rebellion was already over when the unit arrived. In January 1822 the regiment remained loyal to Prince Regent Dom Pedro (later Emperor Dom Pedro I) during the crisis when Portuguese troops under lieutenant general Jorge Avilez (later Count of Avilez) mutinied. With the creation of the Imperial Guard of Honor in late December, the 1st Army Cavalry Regiment lost its position as personal guard. The regiment fought against rebels during the Confederation of the Equator in 1824. It later took part in the Cisplatine War, including in the Battle of Ituzaingó. In 1830 the unit was renamed 1st Regiment of Light Cavalry (1º Regimento de Cavalaria Ligeira). It was among the army units that mutinied in April 1831, leading to Pedro I's abdication.

A few years after Dom Pedro II was declared of age in 1840 the 1st Regiment of Light Cavalry became the Emperor's personal guard. Charged of protecting and escorting the monarch, the regiment was not deployed in the Platine War nor in the Paraguayan War. The officers of the regiment were key members of the conspiracy that overthrew Pedro II on 15 November. The soldiers seem to have shared a different view, however, as they were part of the failed rebellion that tried to restore the monarchy on 14 January 1890. The present-day Independence Dragoons (Dragões da Independência) or 1st Cavalry Regiment of Guards (1º Regimento de Cavalaria de Guardas), that serves as the personal guard of the Brazilian president, is a direct descendant of the 1st Regiment of Light Cavalry. However, the uniforms worn by its soldiers and officers are based on the ones worn by the Imperial Guard of Honor, albeit of far poorer quality.

Imperial Guard of Honor
In 1763 Viceroy Antônio Álvares da Cunha, Count of Cunha organized in Rio de Janeiro city the 1st Cavalry Company of the Viceroys Guard (1ª Companhia de Cavalaria da Guarda dos Vice-Reis), with the purpose of serving as his personal guard. His successor António Rolim de Moura Tavares, Count of Azambuja created a 2nd company, which along with the 1st company became the 1st Squadron of the Viceroys Guard (1º Esquadrão da Guarda dos Vice-Reis). The 1st Squadron was renamed Light Cavalry Squadron of the Guard of the Most Illustrious and Most Excellent Viceroy of State (Esquadrão de Cavalaria Ligeira da Guarda do Ilm e Exm Sr. Vice-Rei de Estado). On 13 May 1808 the squadron was renamed by Prince Regent Dom João (later King Dom João VI) 1st Army Cavalry Regiment (1º Regimento de Cavalaria do Exército) and served as his personal guard.

A company of 1st Army Cavalry Regiment was sent to quell the Pernambucan Revolt 1817, but the rebellion was already over when the unit arrived. In January 1822 the regiment remained loyal to Prince Regent Dom Pedro (later Emperor Dom Pedro I) during the crisis when Portuguese troops under lieutenant general Jorge Avilez (later Count of Avilez) mutinied. With the creation of the Imperial Guard of Honor in late December, the 1st Army Cavalry Regiment lost its position as personal guard. The regiment fought against rebels during the Confederation of the Equator in 1824. It later took part in the Cisplatine War, including in the Battle of Ituzaingó. In 1830 the unit was renamed 1st Regiment of Light Cavalry (1º Regimento de Cavalaria Ligeira). It was among the army units that mutinied in April 1831, leading to Pedro I's abdication.

A few years after Dom Pedro II was declared of age in 1840 the 1st Regiment of Light Cavalry became the Emperor's personal guard. Charged of protecting and escorting the monarch, the regiment was not deployed in the Platine War nor in the Paraguayan War. The officers of the regiment were key members of the conspiracy that overthrew Pedro II on 15 November. The soldiers seem to have shared a different view, however, as they were part of the failed rebellion that tried to restore the monarchy on 14 January 1890. The present-day Independence Dragoons (Dragões da Independência) or 1st Cavalry Regiment of Guards (1º Regimento de Cavalaria de Guardas), that serves as the personal guard of the Brazilian president, is a direct descendant of the 1st Regiment of Light Cavalry. However, the uniforms worn by its soldiers and officers are based on the ones worn by the Imperial Guard of Honor, albeit of far poorer quality.

1st Regiment of Light Cavalry
In 1763 Viceroy Antônio Álvares da Cunha, Count of Cunha organized in Rio de Janeiro city the 1st Cavalry Company of the Viceroys Guard (1ª Companhia de Cavalaria da Guarda dos Vice-Reis), with the purpose of serving as his personal guard. His successor António Rolim de Moura Tavares, Count of Azambuja created a 2nd company, which along with the 1st company became the 1st Squadron of the Viceroys Guard (1º Esquadrão da Guarda dos Vice-Reis). The 1st Squadron was renamed Light Cavalry Squadron of the Guard of the Most Illustrious and Most Excellent Viceroy of State (Esquadrão de Cavalaria Ligeira da Guarda do Ilm e Exm Sr. Vice-Rei de Estado). On 13 May 1808 the squadron was renamed by Prince Regent Dom João (later King Dom João VI) 1st Army Cavalry Regiment (1º Regimento de Cavalaria do Exército) and served as his personal guard.

A company of 1st Army Cavalry Regiment was sent to quell the Pernambucan Revolt 1817, but the rebellion was already over when the unit arrived. In January 1822 the regiment remained loyal to Prince Regent Dom Pedro (later Emperor Dom Pedro I) during the crisis when Portuguese troops under lieutenant general Jorge Avilez (later Count of Avilez) mutinied. With the creation of the Imperial Guard of Honor in late December, the 1st Army Cavalry Regiment lost its position as personal guard. The regiment fought against rebels during the Confederation of the Equator in 1824. It later took part in the Cisplatine War, including in the Battle of Ituzaingó. In 1830 the unit was renamed 1st Regiment of Light Cavalry (1º Regimento de Cavalaria Ligeira). It was among the army units that mutinied in April 1831, leading to Pedro I's abdication.

A few years after Dom Pedro II was declared of age in 1840 the 1st Regiment of Light Cavalry became the Emperor's personal guard. Charged of protecting and escorting the monarch, the regiment was not deployed in the Platine War nor in the Paraguayan War. The officers of the regiment were key members of the conspiracy that overthrew Pedro II on 15 November. The soldiers seem to have shared a different view, however, as they were part of the failed rebellion that tried to restore the monarchy on 14 January 1890. The present-day Independence Dragoons (Dragões da Independência) or 1st Cavalry Regiment of Guards (1º Regimento de Cavalaria de Guardas), that serves as the personal guard of the Brazilian president, is a direct descendant of the 1st Regiment of Light Cavalry. However, the uniforms worn by its soldiers and officers are based on the ones worn by the Imperial Guard of Honor, albeit of far poorer quality.