THE sabinada it was an armed uprising that took place in the province of Bahia, between November 1837 and March 1838, with the city of Salvador as its main stage.
The movement is named after its leader, Francisco Sabino Álvares da Rocha Vieira, republican, doctor, journalist and federalist revolutionary.
Main causes
Francisco Sabino, leader of the revolt that ended up being known by his name
We can cite as the main causes of the revolt:
- Dissatisfaction with the province's lack of political and administrative autonomy, because in the eyes of the rebels, the regency government was illegitimate.
- the mandatory recruitment imposed on Bahians due to the Farrapos War.
Main features
Sabinada was another rebellion of the regency period, together with Balaiada in Maranhão, Cabanagem in Pará and Farroupilha in Rio Grande do Sul. However, it differs from the above movements because it had no separatist intent.
The intention of the rebels was just to constitute a "Bahiense Republic" until D. Pedro II reach adulthood. Therefore, their dissatisfaction was strictly directed to the regency government.
Furthermore, it should be noted that the Sabinada did not intend to break with slavery, as it wanted the support of the slave elites, which did not happen.
However, this alienated the slave population, which was not convinced by the promise of granting freedom to those who fought and supported the republican government.
In this way, the uprising had the adhesion of the urban middle classes, mainly military officers, civil servants, liberal professionals, merchants, artisans and a portion of the poorest strata of the population.
The uprising
Flag of the Republic of Bahia used by members of the Sabinada
On November 7, 1837, a group of insurgents led by FranciscoSabino they rose up in Salvador. This group wins the sympathy of the troops of Fort São Pedro, who joined the movement and helped in the conquest of the city.
In turn, the first loyalist force sent to disband the mutineers ended up joining them, swelling their ranks even further.
Thus, with the City Council occupied, Sabino was appointed government secretary of the “Bahia Republic”.
He then named two leaders for his government: Daniel Gomes de Freitas, as Minister of War, and Manoel Pedro de Freitas Guimarães, as Minister of the Navy.
In a period of four months, the rebels conquered several military barracks in the outskirts of Salvador. Meanwhile, the loyalist forces were regrouping in the Recôncavo Baiano for the counterattack.
In fact, on March 16, 1838, the regency offensive began, with the land and sea blockade of the city. As soon as it was besieged, the massive emigration of Salvador's population began; in a short time, there was a shortage of food.
Consequences
With the help of the army and local militias, government forces recaptured the city. The uprising was harshly repressed and left a balance of approximately two thousand deaths and three thousand arrests.
The movement's main leaders were sentenced to death or life imprisonment, and some were actually executed and exiled.
There were still those who managed to escape and join the Farroupilha Revolution.
Read more:
- Governing Period
- Brazil Empire
- War of the Rags
- Balaiada
- cabin
- State of Bahia