O Leão do Norte - A Pernambucan Saga

[Antonio the Komnenoi]

O Leão do Norte
Prologue
​

In the history of Brazil, no state can claim a history like Pernambuco. In 1530, the King of Portugal D. João III, decided to split his colony in Americas in 13 "Capitânias Hereditárias", large land areas given to Portuguese Nobles. But due to native raids, economical difficulties, and problems of communications caused the failure of all of them, except for Pernambuco that was given to Duarte Coelho Pereira.

Pernambuco found their golden mine, a sweet powder called sugar. The soil of Pernambuco was perfect to plant sugar cane, soon Pernambuco was the largest producer of sugar of the world. But when Portugal was forced into union with Spain, they were also at war with the Spanish enemy that looked greedily to Pernambuco: The Dutch.

In 1630, a Dutch fleet invaded Pernambuco and took Olinda and Recife. Their dominion soon spread to all the northeastern coast, the Dutch control was secured when the Governor of Pernambuco was killed thanks to a traitor that gave the location of the guerrilla headquarters. In 1637, the Dutch brought "Mauricio de Nassau", to govern the lands, as a Patron of Arts he used the money of sugar to bring civility to the colony, building the first observatory, the first museums, inviting several European Artists to paint the beauty of Pernambuco.

But since he wasn't bringing profit, he was removed in 1643 and the Pernambucan struggle restarted after hardline governors started to bankrupt the farmers with massive quotas. In 1645 the rebellion restarted, the own native Pernambucans allied, from blacks to natives to whites, all allied to push the Dutch out.

And as result of the fierce resistance, the independence of Portugal, and the two battles of Guararapes that crippled the army of the West indias company, the Dutch were finally expelled in 1654. But before leaving, they stole a thousand sugar canes to plan in the Caribbean, selling it for a smaller price and ruining the sugar economy of Pernambuco.

After discovering Gold in Minas Gerais, the Portuguese crown stoped focusing on Pernambuco and started to invest in the southeast. During the entire 18th Century, Pernambuco was abandoned by the Portuguese crown.

In 1808, after the invasion of Napoleon, the Portuguese Royal Family transferred their capital to Rio de Janeiro, while the southeast was growing and prospering, Pernambuco was forced to pay the price, literally, they had to pay massive taxes for the pharaonical public projects of the crown while receiving nothing in return. And adding that to the massive drought in 1816 that ruined the plantations, and Liberal ideas of the French Revolution, Pernambuco was now a gunpowder barrel.

And in 6th of March of 1817, it blew up...

 

[Lenwe]

And in 6th of March of 1817, it blew up...

I know where t his is going and you are crazy I will be waiting

 

[Antonio the Komnenoi]

It all started when Capitain José de Barros Lima refused to follow an order, commander Barbosa de Castro ordered the Capitain to make a prision of leaders of a conspiration against the Crown. José refused and killed Castro with his sword, soon the rest of the military and the people arrested the Governor. The rebels created a provisional government and sent emissaries to call the other provinces to rise. Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, and Paraiba joined Pernambuco and Recife was declared the Capital of Pernambuco.

((Flag of the Republic))​

Meanwhile, the revolutionaries sent Antônio Gonçalves da Cruz with 800,000 dollars to the USA, his mission ? Give Pernambuco a chance to fight. The rebels created a constitution that gave:

1. Freedom of Press,
2. Freedom of Religion, but Catholicism was the state church,
3. Separation of the 3 Powers,
4. Abolition of various taxes made by the Portuguese Crown,
5. Slavery would remain legalized.

In Rio de Janeiro, D. João VI already sent the navy and Army led by Luís do Rego Barreto to crush the revolt, marching following the São Francisco river, the Republic was not going to survive that. They only had one hope, in a small island on the middle of the Atlantic.

 

[Antonio the Komnenoi]

In Washington, Gonçalves met with the US Secretary of State, Richarch Rush. He didn't find much support other than some advisors and instructors.

After this, Gonçalves met with 4 men:
Count Pontelécoulant, Colone Latapie, Galloper Artong, and Soldier Roulet. Bonapartist veterans that conspired with him in a plan, they went on a small Frigate to the Island of St. Helena.

While they were traveling in the sea, the Revolutionaries recruited an army of about 17,000 men from all the places of the state. American Instructors started drilling the Pernambucan Soldiers and set March to the south, where they met 21,000 Portuguese troops at the battle of Ipojuca. In the end, the Pernambucans managed to repeal the Portuguese charges and brought some more time for Gonçalves.

By May, the sloop approached the island in the night, using black sails and camouflage to slip in the Island where the most feared men of Europe was arrested. The 4 men ordered the crew to stay quiet and went in the island. Reaching Longwood house at the midnight, silently dispatching the guards and entering the house. There they entered Napoleon's room and saw him holding a pistol and looking at them.

Napoleon: "Tell me one reason to not call the guards."
Conde Pontelécoulant: "Sire, we are here looking for your help."
Napoleon (confused): "Conde Pontelécoulant ? Help in what ?" (He lowers his pistol)
Gonçalves: "To create an new Empire ? For a new adventure."
Napoleon: "Hmm... it is surely better than this backwater rock, even Elba was better. What adventure ?"
Gonçalves: "Sire, In Brazil, the Capitancy of Pernambuco declared Independence from the Portuguese, but we stand no chance against the Royal Armies, only you have the military knowledge to defeat them."
Napoleon: "So, you came here to ask to lead your little rebellion against Portugal and their British Masters ? I went against Impossible odds many times, the last one put me here. What would I even gain with that ?"
Gonçalves: "Your choice, stay in this island as a pet for the Brits for the remandier of your life, or come with us one last time and conquer your freedom."
Napoleon thought for a second or two and nodded with his head, rising from his bed.: "Very well, time to avenge the Portuguese for the Peninsula War and kick the Perfidious Albion again ! I assume you already dealt with the Guards ?"
Latapie laughed.: "Ha ! What guards ? The ones sleeping with the devil ?"
Napoleon smiled.: "Ha ! That's the spirit, I will just get my uniform and pack my things."
Napoleon went to the mirror and started dressing his old military attire, he felt like the night he escaped Elba, he didn't feel that alive since Waterloo, he was finally going back to adventures and the emotion of the battlefields. He finished packing his clothing and left with the 4, only to find a patrol of British soldiers fighting the crew in the coast.

Lapatie: "Row these boats gentlemen, let's leave this Godforsaken rock !" Yelled Lapatie as the men rowed the 3 boats out of the island under fire from British soldiers, the escape costed the life of 3 men including Roulet. As they entered the frigate, the group left the island and escaped from the heavier and slower British warships. By the rising of the sun, Napoleon, Gonçalves, and the other 3 Frenchmen were setting sail to Recife.

 

[Antonio the Komnenoi]

In June when Napoleon arrived, things were not that good, much of the surroundings of the São Francisco river and the territory of Alagoas was occupied. The morale was low even after the battle of Ipojuca, the army was reduced to 12,500 men and The Provisional government divided between Priests and Freemasons could get nothing done.

Until Napoleon arrived...

In the port, people saw their only hope leaving the frigate. He went to the hall where the provisional government was meeting. When he entered, a deep silence engulfed the room, only the steps of the Corsican going to the center of the room in the podium being heard.

"Gentlemen, Just by seeing your faces and from what your emissary told me, I could see why my help was asked. Your army is small and your politics stagnated, that is why I request the supreme commandership of the Armed Forces, I shall either win this war or *I* am going to exile myself !"

The hall applauded Bonaparte, and gave him what he wanted out of desperation.

Napoleon immediately started putting his plan in motion, recruiting Blacks with promise of Freedom and Natives to scout the land. He immediately recognized the Geography was perfect for a war in the countryside: A hilly terrain and a semi-desert, all covered with a forest of cactuses and dead trees. To keep his identity hidden he asked to be called just as "O General" (The General), he went personally to command the Army, expanding it with conscription to 20,000 men, and training the commanders with modern tactics. He also employed "Vaqueiros" cowboys from the countryside, to harass enemy forces with hit-n-run tactics.

The Portuguese on the other hand, sent another experdition, falling into Napoleon's trap, advancing in the "Sertão" with 24,000 men. By the time they met Napoleon's Army, they lost around 4,000 from heavy attrition in the desert and "Vaqueiro" raids. The Battle of the Caruaru farm had begun.

Caruaru was a small rancho town like many other cities in the countryside, it was located in a valley with a large hill in the middle, where Napoleon placed the little artillery he had. The Portuguese were tired and thirsty, while the Pernambucans were well rested and feed. The battle started when the Vaqueiro cavalry harassed the Portuguese and attracted them into a trap down The Valley, where the Pernambucan forces met the Portuguese with a furious Elan charge. The Artillery pounded the Portuguese forces and the Vaqueiros charged from behind with long knifes called "Peixeira", a knife used to kill bulls and cut bones of fishes. The Portuguese tried to retreat to the top of The Valley but Napoleon wasn't going to let them escape.

As the Portuguese tried to retreat, about 3,000 Pernambucans attacked them from behind, even capturing the artillery and using against the own Portuguese forces. The Portuguese forces routed and scattered, and General Luís do Rego Barreto surrendered his sword to Jackson.

That day, the entire Portuguese army was destroyed and over 8,000 became prisioneers, while the Pernambucans just lost about 3,600 men, most wounded. When the News of the defeat reached Rio de Janeiro, D. João VI passed out, that was about half the army of Portugal in Brazil. He found no other choice but to enter negotiations, Pernambuco became a independent Republic, with the Capitancies of Paraiba, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará and east Maranhão being Given to Pernambuco, as well as reparations of war, but they had to give much of the territory in the West and the return of the Portuguese prisioneers.

Finally Pernambuco was free.

((Post-War Borders))​

 

[Antonio the Komnenoi]

With the end of the war, Representatives from the 4 Republics met in Recife to officially draft a constitution. But there was a rising idea: Napoleon I, Emperor of Pernambuco. But even the most ardent supporters of the Emperor knew he couldn't do that because of Albion.

Since he fled the island, British forces were on a manhunt, but not knowing where the small ship went. He could be anywhere in America, Napoleon was the kind of man that liked Adventures, so logically he would be with Bolivar in Colombia or in Argentina, but he could also be with thousand of exiled Bonapartists in New Orleans. Where was Bonaparte ?

But then some familiar tactics like Mass Bombardment and a Elan charge showed up in Pernambuco, some spies found out someone with French accent called "General", using similar uniforms of the Corsican Emperor that terrorized Europe. But there was no way to know it was him for sure, Pernambuco should know it was suicide to harbor Napoleon in their nation, right ?

That was some hard convincing but Napoleon gave up his ambition, knowing Pernambuco had no resources to fight Britain. He was offered a great area of Land, Caruaru and the surroundings were given as the personal fiefdom of Bonaparte that was now known just as "O Francês". He founded the "Colégio da Guerra" to teach officers and raise a new generation of commanders. He also remained in command of the Army, and that gave him power to save the Republic from Itself.

With that settled, The convention started polarized: Catholics and Freemasons, Conservatives and Liberals, Landowners and Intelectuals, Pernambucans and the others. The influence of Napoleon stopped these issues with a classic coup d'etat under General Antonio Carlos Cavalcante (invented name, I couldn't find other Generals.), his coup saved the Union from collapsing when he declared a constitution to reconcile the ideas of both sides. Modern Historians believe he was being used as a puppet of Napoleon but that was never proven.

Constitution of the "Kingdom of Equator"​

Cavalcante declared a Monarchy, with himself as Antonio I Cavalcante. With no limitations to his power in the Constitution, and just a consultative parliament to take care from daily affairs, elected by the Middle and Upper classes, Pernambuco wasn't the superior province anymore der jure (even if they remained that way Der Facto) and it was demonstrated by the name change. The capital remained in Recife since it was the largest and richest city of the federation. Slavery remained in place, but freedom of Press (unless attacking the King or advocating treason) was allowed and Freedom of religion too, but Catholicism remained as state church.

In General, the constitution was mixed, with the ideas of the provisional government remaining. The Absolutist-like Monarchy was installed by Cavalcante so he could stabilize the Kingdom, but he planned to change it after.

And thus, the Pernambucan saga reached a new chapter.

 

[ByzantineCaesar]

I don’t understand how the transition to the monarchy happened and when it did why Napoleon wasn’t given the crown. I know, Britain, but I don’t see Napoleon selflessly giving up his ambition for a country he does not care about.

 

[Antonio the Komnenoi]

I don’t understand how the transition to the monarchy happened and when it did why Napoleon wasn’t given the crown.

If Napoleon got the crown, the British would destroy Pernambuco to get him. And it was pretty much a General (possibly a puppet of Napoleon himself) did a coup because the conflicts and stagnation of the government. He then declared himself as King.

 

[Antonio the Komnenoi]

You will see that Napoleon is secretly using Cavalcante as a puppet to govern, I just couldn't see a way to put Bonaparte in power without ending in a British Invasion.

 

[Lusitania]

I was enjoying the TL but confused how French troops is Brazil. What happen to the British Navy? it seemed that everything till 1807 was iOTL with the British having destroyed most of the French and Spanish fleet and Portuguese navy surviving and able to transfer Portuguese court to Rio. You then lost me on what happen in Europe and why the British Navy allowed French troops to land in Brazil.

 

[Antonio the Komnenoi]

I don't think you understood then, it was a rescue mission of a bunch of Bonapartists in a small frigate to bring Napoleon to Pernambuco. There was not a single French troop in Pernambuco.

 

[Lusitania]

I don't think you understood then, it was a rescue mission of a bunch of Bonapartists in a small frigate to bring Napoleon to Pernambuco. There was not a single French troop in Pernambuco.

Ok,
But you have introduced Napoleon in South America. Taken him from English prison and then they only battle the Portuguese. While I do not wish to interfere with you objective of creating a independent country but the idea that British would not land thousands of troops in Brazil to deal with Napoleon is not realistic. Following napoleonic wars The European powers were adamant on maintaining stability and Napoleon in Brazil is against that.

It’s your TL but not realistic that Britain not send thousand of troops against the rebels of one its longtime ally. But more importantly the presence of Napoleon would not be tolerated by British.

 

[Antonio the Komnenoi]

Ok,
But you have introduced Napoleon in South America. Taken him from English prison and then they only battle the Portuguese. While I do not wish to interfere with you objective of creating a independent country but the idea that British would not land thousands of troops in Brazil to deal with Napoleon is not realistic. Following napoleonic wars The European powers were adamant on maintaining stability and Napoleon in Brazil is against that.

It’s your TL but not realistic that Britain not send thousand of troops against the rebels of one its longtime ally. But more importantly the presence of Napoleon would not be tolerated by British.

The British don't know where Napoleon went, for now...

 

[Lusitania]

The British don't know where Napoleon went, for now...

Ok it’s your TL but they know he was taken away. He was under British guard on the island of st Hellen. He might of stayed hidden but you put him in charge of the forces of course they know him. Yes be defeated the Portuguese/Brazilian forces now they face the British. Ok then your TL.

 

[Antonio the Komnenoi]

Ok it’s your TL but they know he was taken away. He was under British guard on the island of st Hellen. He might of stayed hidden but you put him in charge of the forces of course they know him. Yes be defeated the Portuguese/Brazilian forces now they face the British. Ok then your TL.

They only know that there is a General with French accent leading the Pernambucan forces, for now.

 

[Lusitania]

They only know that there is a General with French accent leading the Pernambucan forces, for now.

If you say so, 1 month sail to Lisbon, spies in pernambucan area and 2 months for RN to land thousands of troops in the capital. But hey it’s your show.