Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, Duke of Caxias

Again breaking with his father and other relatives sympathetic to the rebels, from 1839 to 1845 Caxias commanded loyalist forces suppressing such uprisings as the Balaiada, the Liberal rebellions of 1842 and the Ragamuffin War.[15] Having fought against the Spaniards on Brazil's southern frontiers,[14] he secured a place for himself in Rio de Janeiro's upper class when he married a member of a local and influential family.[17] King Dom João VI embarked upon a series of wars of conquest which resulted in the expansion of Brazil's territory with the annexation of Cisplatina to the south and of French Guiana to the north.[12][22] Historian Adriana Barreto de Souza explained that this did "not mean that he began to serve as a child, the connection to the regiment was simply honorific", his perquisite as the son of a military officer.[27] The subjects he studied in the Royal Military Academy ranged from arithmetic, algebra and geometry to tactics, strategy, camping, fortification in campaign and terrain reconnaissance.[39] On 18 January 1823, Pedro I created the Emperor's Battalion, a handpicked elite infantry unit[40][41] that included Luís Alves, who was named as adjutant to the company's commander, his uncle, Colonel José Joaquim de Lima e Silva.[66][67] The army, "demoralized by the far from exemplary part it had played in the April Revolution [i.e. Pedro I's abdication]," said historian C. H. Haring, "became the ready tool of any popular agitator or demagogue, and often the source of riot and sedition.[78] According to historian Heitor Lira, Luís Alves was "one of the rare, sincere and profoundly convicted monarchists and friends of the King [i.e., the Emperor] and of the Dynasty [the House of Braganza].[76] Meanwhile, Honório Hermeto Carneiro Leão (later Marquis of Paraná, a distant cousin of Caxias's wife[89] and a leader of the Reactionary Party) sent letters to Luís Alves attempting to undermine the influence Francisco de Lima had on him and to dissuade him from supporting the unconstitutional proposal to declare the Emperor of age.With the aid of National Guard units from Rio de Janeiro under its president, Honório Hermeto, Caxias was once again successful, and by late August, the rebellion was crushed.[98] Although his move toward the saquarema camp was not clear at the time he accepted the appointment to put down the rebellion in Maranhão in 1839, his victory over the Liberal rebels in 1842 further solidified his allegiance to the Party of Order.[99] When the republican secessionist rebellion known as the Ragamuffin War began in Rio Grande do Sul in 1835, João Manuel de Lima e Silva, one of Caxias's uncles, joined the rebels."[103] Caxias brought with him a fellow saquarema and a famous poet, Domingos Gonçalves de Magalhães (later Viscount of Araguaia), to serve as his secretary, as he had previously in Maranhão.The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulino Soares de Sousa (later Viscount of Uruguai), forged an anti-Rosas alliance between Brazil, Uruguay and rebel Argentine provinces.[129][130] Caxias spent 17 January aboard the frigate Dom Afonso alongside John Pascoe Grenfell, taking stock of the port area of Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital, selecting the best place to launch an amphibious attack.The Law of the Circles and the controversy surrounding it split the Conservative Party: one faction was the saquarema ultraconservative (or traditionalist) wing, then called the vermelhos (reds) or puritanos (puritans), led by Eusébio de Queirós, Uruguai and Joaquim Rodrigues Torres, Viscount of Itaboraí.During the years following 1857, successive cabinets quickly collapsed, unable to muster a majority in the Chamber of Deputies, as the two Conservative wings undercut each other in a fight for dominance.[144] Among his ministers were José Maria da Silva Paranhos (later Viscount of Rio Branco), whom Caxias had met and befriended during the Platine War while serving as secretary to Paraná.His warnings were ignored, and he complained, with a bit of irony, to his friend João Maurício Vanderlei, Baron of Cotejipe, a former colleague in the Conciliation cabinet: "I am almost mad with the mistakes that I am seeing being made, but since I am a red [ultraconservative or traditional saquarema] I am not listened to, since everything is progress in our country.The Progressive cabinet decided to create a unified command over Brazilian forces operating in Paraguay, and it turned to the 63-year-old Caxias (made permanent army marshal on 13 January)[158] as the new leader on 10 October 1866.[178] Pressing his advantage, the marquis began organizing an assault on the new Paraguayan defenses which López had thrown up along the Pikysyry, south of Asunción (Paraguay's capital).This stream afforded a strong defensive position which was anchored by the Paraguay River and by the swampy jungle of the Chaco region, both considered to be nearly impassable by a large force.Opponents represented the interests of powerful coffee farmers such as Caxias, planters who had long been the main political, social, and economic supporters of the Conservative Party.[196] As Catholicism was the state religion, the Emperor exercised, with the papacy's acquiescence, a great deal of control over church affairs—paying clerical salaries, appointing parish priests, nominating bishops, ratifying papal bulls, and overseeing seminaries.Unlike their predecessors, they had no experience of the regency and the early years of Pedro II's reign, when external and internal dangers threatened the nation's existence; they had only known a stable administration and prosperity."[122] Confined to a wheelchair as his health slowly declined, the Duke of Caxias lived his remaining days at Santa Mônica farm, located near the town of Valença, in the countryside of Rio de Janeiro province.[223] According to Adriana Barreto de Souza,[225] Francisco Doratioto[226] and Celso Castro,[227] Caxias supplanted Osório because he was seen as a loyal and dutiful officer who could serve as a role model in a Brazilian republic plagued since its birth in 1889 by military insubordination, rebellions and coups."His name", said the historian Thomas Whigham, "has become synonymous with the upright officer and citizen who never breaks the law—hence the popular term caxias, which refers to individuals who follow regulations without mistrust, doubt and evasion.Francisco Doratioto said that the duke "in Paraguay had doubts, pride, resentment, and made mistakes; in short, he was a real character ... Caxias, however, was able to rise above his limitations, imposed on himself great personal sacrifices and incorporated the responsibility of accomplishing the objective ..."[232] Roderick J. Barman affirmed that Caxias was not only "extremely powerful in the Conservative party",[233] but also "the country's most distinguished"[152] and "most successful soldier",[234] who had "proved his capacity and his loyalty by defeating revolts against the regime".
Miniature portrait of a young, dark-haired lady wearing a lace-trimmed dress and necklace
María Ángela Furriol, the Hispanic American who may have been Caxias's fiancée
Miniature group portrait depicting six children in formal dress
Ana Luísa de Loreto, wife of Caxias, as a child (bottom right) along with her siblings
Lithograph depicting a dark-haired young man with moustache wearing a heavily embroidered military tunic with epaulettes and several medals and orders at his neck
Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, then-Baron of Caxias, around age 38, c. 1841
Engraving depicting two small boats sailing into a bay backed by high mountains at the foot of which are the buildings of a town
Sabará (pictured) was one of the towns Caxias marched into during the 1842 Liberal rebellion in Minas Gerais province
Lithograph depicting a dark-haired man with moustache wearing a heavily embroidered military tunic with epaulettes, sash of office and several medals and orders at his neck
The then-Count of Caxias, around age 43, c. 1846
Painting depicting a two-masted, side-wheel steamer in full sail plowing through choppy seas with other ships in the distance
The steamship Dom Afonso , aboard which Caxias scouted the port area of Buenos Aires for a later canceled attack
Lithograph of a drawing featuring a three-quarters length portrait of a middle-aged man with moustache wearing a military tunic with embroidered cuffs and decorated with epaulettes, lanyards, a sash of office and several medals and orders at his neck, and holding a feathered bicorne hat in his right hand
Caxias around age 54, c. 1857
Painted three-quarters length portrait of a seated man with gray mustache who is wearing a black frock coat, white shirt with wingtip collar and black cravat, and black gloves
Caxias around age 58, c. 1861
Drawing depicting a group of mounted men in dress uniform who are inspecting lines of troops
Pedro II (raising his hat) follows behind his two aides-de-camp , one of them Caxias (center). This military parade most probably occurred during the siege of Uruguaiana at the beginning of the Paraguayan War .
Drawing depicting a figure in military dress uniform and kepi mounted on a black horse with marching and mounted figures in the background
Caxias in Paraguay, c. 1866. He is portrayed in simple campaign uniform, instead of the court dress shown in other pictures
Drawing depicting a mounted figure in bicorne hat with raised sword leading charging foot soldiers holding rifles with bayonettes fixed
Caxias leads the Brazilian army
Lithograph depicting head and shoulders of a man with gray moustache wearing a military tunic with epaulettes and elaborate lanyards, several medals at his neck and breast, sash of office, and a prominent star on a heavy gold chain suspended from his shoulders
Caxias, around age 66, wearing the collar of the Order of the Rose , c. 1869
Half-length painted portrait depicting a gray-haired man with moustache wearing a military tunic with epaulettes, lanyards, blue sash, and several medals and orders on his breast and at his neck
The Duke of Caxias at age 71, 1875
Full-length photographic portrait depicting an older man with moustache resting his right arm on a pedestal which holds a feathered bicorne hat, and wearing a heavily decorated military dress uniform with his left hand resting on the sword at his side
Caxias around age 74, c. 1877
Photograph of a huge bronze statue atop a multi-story stone plinth depicting a mounted rider with upraised sword
Monument in honor of the Duke of Caxias in the city of São Paulo
Heraldic escutcheon with the coat of arms divided into six pales of varying designs
Arms of the Duke of Caxias
Duque de Caxias, Rio de JaneiroDuque de Caxias (disambiguation)Portuguese namefamily nameHis ExcellencyPrime Minister of BrazilPedro IIViscount of Rio BrancoViscount of SinimbuBaron of UruguaianaZacarias de GóisMarquis of ParanáMarquis of OlindaMinister of WarJosé Antônio SaraivaCount of Porto AlegrePresident of Rio Grande do SulPresident of MaranhãoDuque de CaxiasRio de JaneiroState of BrazilPortuguese AmericaValença, Rio de JaneiroEmpire of BrazilConservativeImperial Brazilian ArmyField MarshalBrazilian War of IndependenceCisplatine WarBalaiadaLiberal rebellions of 1842Ragamuffin WarPlatine WarParaguayan WarBrazilian War for IndependenceCisplatinaPedro IabdicatedPedro IIswordsmanshiphorsemanshipregencyArgentine ConfederationnobilityConservative Partypresident of the Council of MinistersManuel Luís Osório, Marquis of ErvalBrazilFrancisco de Lima e Silvaarrival of the Portuguese Royal FamilyJoão VIFrench GuianaOrder of ChristPedro II SchoolRoyal Military AcademytacticsstrategyIndependence of BraziladjutantPierre LabatutSalvadorMontevideoUnited Provinces of the Río de la PlataArgentinaUruguayFrancisco DoratiotoRegency period (Empire of Brazil)Miguel de Frias e VasconcelosIlha das CobrasHouse of BraganzaEusébio de QueirósBernardo Pereira de VasconcelosMaranhãoSão LuísCaxiasHonório Hermeto Carneiro LeãoSabará1842 Liberal rebellionaide-de-campbrevetRio Grande do SulJoão Manuel de Lima e SilvaDomingos Gonçalves de Magalhãesguerrilla warfarecounterinsurgencyBuenos AiresplantationJuan Manuel de RosasPaulino Soares de SousaManuel Marques de SousaBattle of CaserosDom AfonsoJohn Pascoe Grenfellamphibious attacklieutenant generalSeptember 6, 1853 cabinetpresidentJoaquim Rodrigues Torres, Viscount of ItaboraíJosé Maria da Silva Paranhoslower houseProgressive Leaguearmy marshalaides-de-campFrancisco Solano Lópezintervention in UruguayParaguayan armyMato GrossoMato Grosso do SulArgentineJoão Maurício Vanderlei, Baron of CotejipePorto AlegreUruguaianafortifications at HumaitáParaguay RiverJoaquim Marques LisboaJoaquim José InácioAlfredo d'Escragnolle Taunayobservation balloonssurround HumaitápassagePikysyry maneuverbecame a political crisisAsunciónChaco regionoutflank the Paraguayan linesYtororóLomas ValentinasOrder of the RosePaço de São CristóvãoOrder of Pedro ILaw of Free BirthReligious IssueFreemasonslay brotherhoodsParanáUruguaiValençacarriageMonument in honor of the Duke of CaxiasSão PauloOctávio Tarquínio de SousaGustavo BarrosoGreatnessCouncil of StateBrazilian Historic and Geographic Institutegentleman usherOrder of the Southern CrossOrder of Pedro IOrder of Saint Benedict of AvizOrder of the Immaculate Conception of Vila ViçosaList of generals of the Empire of BrazilcommissionBartolomé MitreBarroso, GustavoNabuco, JoaquimSousa, Octávio Tarquínio deHonório Hermeto Carneiro Leão, Marquis of ParanáPedro de Araújo Lima, Marquis of OlindaÂngelo Moniz da Silva Ferraz, Baron of UruguaianaZacarias de Góis e VasconcelosJosé Paranhos, Viscount of Rio BrancoJoão Lins Cansanção, Viscount of SinimbuManuel Marques de Sousa, Count of Porto AlegreHistoryFirst ReignSecond ReignEconomyProvincesUnits of measurementEmperor of BrazilPedro IBrazilian imperial familyPrince Imperial of BrazilPrince of Grão-ParáPrince of BrazilPoliticsPrime MinisterGeneral AssemblyModerating PowerConstitution of 1824Reverse parliamentarismArmed ForcesMilitary AcademyFatherland VolunteersList of generalsImperial Brazilian NavyNaval SchoolList of shipsMilitary RanksIndependence WarConfederation of the EquatorCabanagemUruguayan WarSlaveryAbolitionistsIsabel, Princess Imperial of BrazilAndré RebouçasJoaquim NabucoJosé do PatrocínioLuís GamaFrancisco José do NascimentoAbolitionism in BrazilNetto QuestionEusébio de Queirós LawRio Branco LawLei ÁureaPrime ministers of BrazilEmpireAlves BrancoAlmeida TorresSousa e MeloAraújo LimaCosta CarvalhoRodrigues TorresCarneiro Leão1853–1856Limpo de AbreuSilva FerrazGóis e VasconcelosJosé FurtadoPimenta BuenoSilva ParanhosCansanção de SinimbuAntônio SaraivaMartinho CamposCunha ParanaguáRodrigues PereiraSousa DantasMaurício VanderleiCorreia de OliveiraAssis FigueiredoRepublicTancredo NevesBrochado da RochaHermes LimaCoup d'étatMonarchismBrazilian Patrianovist Imperial ActionBlack GuardDiretório Monárquico do BrasilImperial Patrianovist GuardLiberal PartyBrazilian PartyModerate Liberal PartyMachado de AssisJoão Lustosa da Cunha Paranaguá, Marquis of ParanaguáJosé de AlencarLuiz Philippe of Orléans-BraganzaArlindo Veiga dos SantosPlinio Corrêa de OliveiraAntônio ConselheiroJosé Bonifácio de AndradaRevolta da ArmadaFederalist RevolutionWar of Canudos1993 Brazilian constitutional referendumPedro HenriqueBertrandPedro GastãoKingdom of BrazilList of monarchs of BrazilMonarchism in BrazilBrazilian nobility