People of Rio de Janeiro in 1888

[Tutankhamun]

In 1888 Princess Isabel, daughter of Emperor Pedro II, was acclaimed heir to the Brazilian throne and future Empress of Brazil. To commemorate the fact, a public festive ceremony was held at the Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro, at the ceremony people from all social classes were present, through these same images we can see what the people of Rio de Janeiro were like in 1888. Unfortunately, the Princess Isabel was never crowned Empress of Brazil because the following year, in 1889, there was a republican coup that banned the Brazilian royal family from Brazil with the proclamation of the first Brazilian Republic.


Ceremony Images





Princess Isabel



Emperor Pedro II and his wife Dona Teresa Cristina arriving at the Ceremony

[Tooting Carmen]

Big Black presence.

[Tenma de Pegasus]

Its a little scary to see people from the Empire in 1888, they are all dead now.

Anyway very cool images

[Sebastianus Rex]

Big Black presence.

And all well dressed...

[Tutankhamun]

Big Black presence.

Yes, the blacks of the time adored and respected the princess a lot, the royal family was always against slavery, but Princess Isabel was much more, for example she paid the freedom of slaves with her own money, as shown in this painting from 1879, And knowing that this woman would be the future monarch of Brazil was, let's say, something wonderful for Brazilian blacks.




In Rio de Janeiro itself there was a movement called "Guarda Negra" which was a political group of monarchist militants, formed entirely by blacks who violently fought the growing Republican Movement in the Cities of the then Empire of Brazil. This movement, according to them, had an objective of "On behalf of the citizens who, moved by feelings of gratitude and patriotism, dedicated their lives and their honor to the Princess Redeemer, protest against the slanders and attacks of dark-hearted republican men on the honorable men of color, I declare that our purpose is not to create anarchy, the Guarda Negra exists to defend the future reign of the Princess Redeemer and the Honor of the Black Race against the humiliation of those who hate her. Restoring to the Man of Color the right he was robbed of to intervene in political affairs"


And yet about the relationship of blacks with the monarchy, in 1921 when the princess died in exile in France, blacks in the city of Rio de Janeiro, knowing of this fact, held a "symbolic funeral" in honor of the Princess, as shown in this drawing from a newspaper of the time

[Komintasavalta]

Ain't progress great... It has turned humans from this:



To this:

[Tenma de Pegasus]

Yes, the blacks of the time adored and respected the princess a lot, the royal family was always against slavery, but Princess Isabel was much more, for example she paid the freedom of slaves with her own money, as shown in this painting from 1879, And knowing that this woman would be the future monarch of Brazil was, let's say, something wonderful for Brazilian blacks.




In Rio de Janeiro itself there was a movement called "Guarda Negra" which was a political group of monarchist militants, formed entirely by blacks who violently fought the growing Republican Movement in the Cities of the then Empire of Brazil. This movement, according to them, had an objective of "On behalf of the citizens who, moved by feelings of gratitude and patriotism, dedicated their lives and their honor to the Princess Redeemer, protest against the slanders and attacks of dark-hearted republican men on the honorable men of color, I declare that our purpose is not to create anarchy, the Guarda Negra exists to defend the future reign of the Princess Redeemer and the Honor of the Black Race against the humiliation of those who hate her. Restoring to the Man of Color the right he was robbed of to intervene in political affairs"


And yet about the relationship of blacks with the monarchy, in 1921 when the princess died in exile in France, blacks in the city of Rio de Janeiro, knowing of this fact, held a "symbolic funeral" in honor of the Princess, as shown in this drawing from a newspaper of the time

That was the same reason why the white aristocracy hated the Princess and resulted in the fall of the Empire.

The Royal Family was very progressive for its time, but the brazilian elite was too traditional and did not accepted to lost their cheap workforce without a revenge. The Empire had its end and the workforce was replaced by the first waves of european immigrants.

[Latinus]

Muito bom!

[Tutankhamun]

That was the same reason why the white aristocracy hated the Princess and resulted in the fall of the Empire.

The Royal Family was very progressive for its time, but the brazilian elite was too traditional and did not accepted to lost their cheap workforce without a revenge. The Empire had its end and the workforce was replaced by the first waves of european immigrants.

Certainly, the first Brazilian republic was openly anti-black.