Antônio Conselheiro

Antônio Conselheiro (Anthony the Counselor, real name Antônio Vicente Mendes Maciel, b. March 13, 1830, Quixeramobim, state of Ceará, Brazil; d. September 22, 1897, Bello Monte, a.k.a. Canudos, state of Bahia) was a religious man, preacher, and founder of the village of Canudos, the scenario of the War of Canudos (1896-1897), a civil rebellion against the central government which was brutally stamped out with the loss of more than 15,000 lives.

The abolition of slavery and the proclamation of the Republic

In 1888 and 1889, Brazil went through the most revolutionary and far-reaching social, economic and political changes of its history since the Discovery, in 1500. On May 13, 1888, slavery was abolished by the ruling Emperor, Dom Pedro II, by an act signed by his daugther, Princess Isabel. More than five million black people went suddenly out of work, abandoned the farms and swelled enormously the rural and urban ranks of extremely poor inhabitants. Tens of thousands of farmers went broke and agriculture almost stopped for a while, particularly in the cash crops which required intensive labour, such as coffee, cotton, tobacco and sugarcane, the mainstays of Brazilian economy at the time. Secondly, on November 15, 1889, the Emperor was deposed by a military coup and the Republic was proclaimed, further adding unstability and strife to the already torn-up country.

Related Topics:
1888 - 1889 - 1500 - May 13 - Slavery - Dom Pedro II - Agriculture - Coffee - Cotton - Tobacco - Sugarcane - Brazilian economy - November 15 - Military coup - Republic

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All this was important to the make-up of Canudos. Antônio Conselheiro was strongly against slavery and had preached and written about it, incurring in the wrath of farmers and authorities. The number of his flocks increased dramatically, and it is estimated that more than 80% were constituted by former slaves. In addition, he considered that monarchy was a grant of God, and that the Republic, with its separation between Church and state, was morally wrong and would wreck the country and family; a kind of new antichrist. Again he stepped up public criticisms and rallied the social movement around these flags. General nervousness of farmers, priests and government increased to histerical fear.

Related Topics:
Grant of God - Separation - Antichrist

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Finally, in 1893, violence erupted. Protesting against taxes levied by the new Republican government in Masseté, state of Bahia, "Conselhistas" (as Antônio Conselheiro's organized following was named) were attacked by a small police force and reacted with weapons.

Related Topics:
1893 - Masseté - Bahia

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