Bento Goncalves da Silva

Bento Gonçalves da Silva was a Brazilian army officer, politician and rebel leader of the Riograndense Republic. He was the first President of the Riograndense Republic and, by all accounts, one of the most prominent figures in the history of Rio Grande do Sul. Although a staunch monarchist, Gonçalves led the rebel forces in the Ragamuffin War. Radicals within the rebel ranks forced the rebellion to become republican, something that Gonçalves opposed. Still, even though he fought against the Empire of Brazil, Gonçalves and his troops celebrated the birthday of the young emperor Pedro II of Brazil. After the conflict ended with the victory of the Empire, Gonçalves paid his respect to Pedro II by kissing his hand during the latter's trip to Rio Grande do Sul in December 1845. His main companions in arms during the rebellion were Antônio de Souza Neto and Giuseppe Garibaldi. Gonçalves was born in Triunfo, Rio Grande do Sul, in 1788. He joined the Portuguese Army in 1811 and fought in the First and Second Banda Oriental Campaigns. He also participated in the Cisplatine War against Argentina and Uruguay. He rose to the rank of colonel and became the commander of the cavalry regiment in Porto Alegre. He was also a member of the Liberal Party and a supporter of the Constitutionalist Revolution of 1822. In 1835, Gonçalves led a revolt against the centralist government of Brazil, which he considered oppressive and neglectful of the interests of Rio Grande do Sul. He declared the independence of the province and established the Riograndense Republic, with himself as president. He faced the resistance of the loyalist forces, led by his brother-in-law Manuel Marques de Sousa, Count of Porto Alegre. He was captured in 1836 and imprisoned in Bahia, but he managed to escape in 1837 and rejoined the rebel army. He fought in several battles, such as the Siege of Porto Alegre, the Battle of Seival, and the Battle of Fanfa. He also tried to negotiate a peaceful settlement with the imperial government, but his efforts were frustrated by the radical republicans, who wanted to continue the war. Gonçalves died in 1847, in Pedras Brancas, Rio Grande do Sul, of pneumonia. He was buried in the same place, where a monument was erected in his honor. He is regarded as a hero and a symbol of the gaúcho culture and identity. He is also the namesake of the city of Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul.