1894 Scutari Map of Southern Brazil During the Federalist Revolution

This is an 1894 José Scutari map of southern Brazil during the Federalist Revolution (1893 - 1895). Using dashed red lines and arrows, Scutari traces the movements of insurrectionist forces under the command of Gomercindo Saraiva through the Brazilian states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catharina, and Paraná. Twenty locations, battle sites and other important locations within these states, are identified both numerically and symbolically and chronicle Saraiva's participation in the revolution. An index situated in the bottom third of the map provides some details. In addition to the battles, location number twenty marks the site of Gomercindo Saraiva's death just before the Battle of Carovi. In an effort to provide the viewer with greater detail and context, cities, towns, and rivers throughout the region are also labeled.

The Federalist Revolution and Gomercindo Saraiva

The Federalist Revolution, fought between February 1893 and August 1895, was a regional conflict between the Federalists, also known as the Maragatos, against the Republicans, who supported the recently founded Republic of Brazil. Júlio de Castilhos was elected governor of Rio Grande do Sul in July 1891, the same month as the state constitution (which was written by Castilhos) was approved. Gomercindo Saraiva and the other Federalists did not approve of the heavy-handed measures Castilhos had written into the constitution or of the likelihood that he would be continuously reelected because of an easily manipulated election process. Thus, Saraiva and his compatriots began a rebellion. The rebels enjoyed some successes, winning a series of victories in 1893 as they marched north toward Curitiba, the state capital of Paraná. Unfortunately for Saraiva and his men, he elected to fight Republican troops at Lapa, which led to the Siege of Lapa, and allowed Republican troops to end the Federalist march toward Rio de Janeiro. After the Battle of Lapa, Saraiva and his troops returned south, where Saraiva was killed on August 10, 1894, the day before the Battle of Carovi while conducting reconnaissance of the region. Only one battle was fought after Saraiva's death, on June 24, 1895, at Osorio. Peace was signed on August 23, 1895.

Publication History and Census

This map was created by José Scutari and published in 1894, likely soon after the death of Saraiva. We can find no records in the OCLC, and the only other known example is part of the collection at the Instituto Histórico e Geográfico do Rio Grande do Sul.