July 1873: The Brazilian Revolution and Civil War

What if Brittany had still been independent when America was discovered?

Here is that story!
------------------------
Map 102
PREV - FIRST - NEXT

Dynasties and rulers
----------------------

The death of Conan XII remained hidden until June 1873. His son and successor, Jean IX, was only 16 years old and was completely effaced. Power was seized by Marshal François Martin Rohan (born in 1815), a distant member of the royal family.

Martin Rohan was a bold military man but of a morbidly conservative and very authoritarian nature. He thought victory was still possible.

With the Transamerican completed, he transferred iron production to shipbuilding and planned 43 additional battleships by the end of 1874. This fleet would be directed against the English.

Against the Yankees, it was planned to wear down their troops by mobilizing 2 million soldiers. This should be enough to reduce their army to nothing.

Brazil had already lost 1,700,000 men but these were professional troops who were exhausted.

The government imposes conscription, new taxes and requisitions, and postpones payment of its debt. The population of the cities, both poor and rich, already severely tested by the war economy, manifests itself.

The regime represses the demonstrators which causes a social explosion. The 150,000 soldiers of the Marshal are quickly insufficient to subdue millions of rebels.

On July 12, 1873 the rebels meet in Guanabara and proclaim the General Council of the Bretons and Spain. It demands the departure of Marshal Martin Rohan and that King Jean IX be placed under the protection of a Provisional Government.

The power which retains the support of the army refuses any negotiation, gathers troops and attacks at the beginning of August 1873. The civil war begins.