Brazilian War of Independence

Brazilian War of Independence
Part of the decolonization of the Americas

The Portuguese Cortes; Portuguese troops in Brazil, Pedro I on board the frigate União; Pedro I declares the Independence of Brazil, Pedro I crowned Emperor of Brazil.
Date1 August 1822[1] – 29 August 1825[2]
(3 years and 4 weeks)
Location
Brazil (including what is now Uruguay)
Result

Brazilian victory

Belligerents
 Empire of Brazil Kingdom of Portugal
Commanders and leaders
Units involved
Imperial Army
Imperial Navy
Brazilian militia		 Portuguese Army
Portuguese Navy
Strength
Army and militia:[3]
  • ~27,000–34,000
Navy:[4]
  • 28 ships (1823)
  • 48 ships (1824)
  • 65 ships (1825)
Marines:[3]
  • 3,000
Army:[3]
  • ~14,200–18,700
Navy:
  • 55 ships
Casualties and losses
3,000–5,000 killed[5]
6,000–10,000 wounded and captured[5]
62 Portuguese ships captured[6]

The Brazilian War of Independence (Portuguese: Guerra de Independência do Brasil) was waged between the newly independent Brazilian Empire and the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves, which had just undergone the Liberal Revolution of 1820.[7] It lasted from 1822, when the first skirmishes took place, to March 1824, with the surrender of the Portuguese garrison in Montevideo, but hostilities only ceased on 29 August 1825, with the signing of the Treaty of Rio de Janeiro, which ended the war. The conflict was fought on land and sea and involved both regular forces and civilian militia. Land and naval battles took place in the territories of Bahia, Cisplatina, Rio de Janeiro, Grão-Pará, Maranhão and Pernambuco, which today are part of Ceará, Piauí and Rio Grande do Norte states.

  1. ^ Franchini 2015, p. 26, "On 1 August 1822, the war formally began, which little by little reached the territories of the Empire. August 1st is mentioned because it was the date of issuance of two decrees, one that declared as enemies all Portuguese troops that entered Brazil without the Regent's consent, and another in which the Regent explained the causes of the 'war waged against Portugal'".
  2. ^ Franchini 2022, p. 115, "Military operations ended with the withdrawal of the Royal Volunteers from Cisplatina, at the beginning of 1824, but hostilities effectively ended only with the recognition agreement of Brazil, in 1825. This agreement, signed on 29 August 1825, concluded the stage of Independence and the war (...)".
  3. ^ a b c Franchini 2015, p. 622.
  4. ^ Franchini 2015, pp. 253–254.
  5. ^ a b Franchini 2015, p. 623.
  6. ^ Franchini 2015, p. 254.
  7. ^ The Napoleonic Wars and Brazilian Independence