In Brazil, on the 25th of august, celebrates the Day Soldier. This commemoration makes reference to the birth date of Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, the DukeinCaxias, born in 1803. The renowned official was considered the patron of the ArmyBrazilian and, in honor of that title, Soldier's Day is a tribute to his birth.
Luís Alves was born on a farm in the then Captaincy of Rio de Janeiro. He was heir to a family of the Portuguese military aristocracy. His father served in the Portuguese army in Brazil, which, at the time of the future duke's birth in 1803, was on the verge of of a clash against Napoleonic forces in Europe, which would result in the move of the Portuguese royal family to the Brazil. The arrival of the royal family to Brazil, the elevation of the country to the status of United Kingdom and the future independence, in 1822, transformed the life of Luís Alves.
When Brazil became independent and adopted the imperial model of government, under the leadership of D. Peter I, the military forces also began to undergo a transformation and joined the figure of the Brazilian emperor and the new institutions created under the aegis of
ConstitutionImperialof 1824. Years later, especially in the Regency Period, when, from the year 1838, several separatist revolts began to break out in the Brazil, the Duque de Caxias was already a respected official and achieved a huge projection for successfully commanding the dissipation of several of these riots.Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
During this period, specifically in the year 1841, Caxias received his first noble title, that of Baron de Caxias, which makes reference to the city of Caxias in Maranhão, where the imperial army achieved one of its most famous victories. During the Second Reign, Caxias had his position of noble elevated to count, marquis and, finally, duke.
Duque de Caxias, national hero of the Paraguayan War, is considered the patron of the Brazilian Army*
In addition, Caxias was a senator of the Empire from Rio Grande do Sul, a province for which he was also appointed by Dom Pedro II commander-in-chief of the Army in operations. On the southern borders of the country, from 1852 onwards, Caxias was at the forefront of reprisals against the attacks of Argentina and Uruguay on Brazil. Along with other famous commanders, such as the generalosorio, the Duke achieved great victories over the Paraguayan dictator's troops Solanolopez between 1866 and 1868, in what was the biggest war ever seen in South America, the WarofParaguay.
Caxias died in 1878 and to this day his memory is remembered not only on Soldier's Day, but also in several rituals and ceremonies of the Brazilian Army, with the use of a replica of its marlin by trained officers at Agulhas Negras Military Academy.
*Image credits: Shutterstock and Georgios Kollides
By Me. Cláudio Fernandes
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
FERNANDES, Claudio. "August 25th – Soldier's Day"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/datas-comemorativas/dia-soldado.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.
