People's Republic of Brazil (2nd Part to the Kingdom of Brazil Flag)
The years immediate after the Peace of Paraná were not easy. After his ousting, dos Santos fled to British Guiana with his followers. He was still immensely popular among the low working class and the hundreds of thousands of slaves that still lived under subjugation in Brazil, and quickly assembled and trained an army of loyal supporters. He received support from socialist patrons in Argentina, Colombia and Portugal. The vacuum of power generated by the long absence of Pedro II led to the rise of factional militias and leaders, who even after the war continued to fight for power in the new legislative system. The King was forced to relinquish a great deal of his authority, compromising his ability to fight off the growing republican and laborite movements which were becoming increasingly popular among Brazil's urban elite. In Sao Paolo and Recife, for example, a social and artistic movement known as "Afonsonism" arguing the fact that a monarch was not divinely elected but drew power from his people (based closely on the English Enlightenment) was extremely popular and achieved several seats at the legislative assembly. The matter was only aggravated when news arrived that Pedro II would-be wife, Teresa Cristina of the Two Sicilies, had died while on her journey to Brazil from Italy after her boat was shipwrecked; this emotionally crushed Pedro II and forced him into a loveless marriage with Marie Gabriella of France. In 1849, they had a son; Ricardo, Prince Imperial, who was immediately groomed to be the King's successor.
These events led to Pedro II having a severe heart attack just a year later in 1850. This prompted a regency under Marie Gabriella. The deal was, she was romantically attracted to Joao dos Santos: the two had met while dos Santos was studying political sciences in Paris, but refrained from marrying as Marie Gabriella was of noble birth and dos Santos was a commoner. The two kept a secret love correspondence as early as 1848, with the Queen consort signing as "R. Paola". She invited dos Santos to return to Brazil; he and an army of 50,000 marched onto Rio de Janeiro, and declared the "People's Republic of Brazil". He had Pedro II sent to Buenos Aires while still unconscious; upon waking up and realizing he had been dethroned, he subsequently had a mental breakdown. He recovered, however, and immediately set forth to Uruguay. Uniting the leftist factions and consolidating his reign, this time dos Santos kept the elites happy by allowing them a lucrative stake on Brazil's economy, while also expanding the rights of the common class (he couldn't liberate slaves, as this would alienate the wealthy upper class). By 1852, he held a strong grip in Brazil and had married Marie Gabriella, even though she never legally divorced Pedro II. Around this time, the monarch requested and received assistance from liberal entities in Argentina, the United States, Chile, Britain, Portugal and Mexico, who financially supported his exiled regime and sent supplies. In spring 1852, Pedro II met with several influential elites in Montevideo, who agreed to help the King organize a coup against dos Santos. The date was set for one of the most decisive confrontations in history.
13 August, 1852. A group of Mexican, Argentine, Uruguayan and even American volunteers arrive at Sao Paolo, where they meet with Ruben Mateos, a wealthy rancher from Spain, who made his fortune dealing cattle in the southern Brazilian prairies. They had all posed as diplomatic envoys representing their native country; do Santos had organized a summit of countries in order to celebrate his wife's 28th birthday. They kidnapped the real envoys, stole their identification and made their way to the
Casa do Mercado (or "Market House", a late-18th century residence built in Sao Paolo), where the meeting was held. The 14 "representatives", once do Santos and his wife entered the precinct, unfurled their weapons and gunned down the presidential guard. Pedro II then entered the room. However, members of the army caught wind of what was happening and opened fire at the
Casa do Mercado with heavy cannons. The 14 royalist supporters retaliated while the King and do Santos battled it out in a mouse chase. Pedro II was then surrounded, and had since lost his revolver handgun. Just as do Santos was about to shoot him, the President was shot in the back of the head.
Marie Gabriella stood behind him, with a carbine rifle.
She knew that once Pedro II recovered the throne, nothing but death would await her for betraying the monarchy. Acting entirely on self-interest, she shot do Santos, seeking to regain the King's favor. The two kiss, but Pedro II quite literally stabs her in the back as she stood in her arms. Her lifeless body topples down. And, across the hall, a single cry is chanted over and over, stronger each time.
"Long live Pedro II! Long live Pedro II!! LONG LIVE PEDRO II!!"
How's
that for a story! Might even develop it into a fully-fledged timeline. Thoughts?