A general under Custódio

On December 14th, we were not taken by surprise when we learned of the arrest of retired general Walter de Souza Braga Netto. Four-star general, former national secretary of Institutional Relations of the Liberal Party, former federal intervenor in public security in Rio de Janeiro, former minister of the Civil House, former minister of Defense in the Bolsonaro government and former candidate for vice-president. president on Bolsonaro's ticket. Unfortunately, few things have surprised us recently.
What would have motivated the arrest? Supposedly, Braga Netto would have been one of the masterminds of the coup attempt on the fateful January 8, 2023, in Brasília. In this way, the reserve soldier — who did not command any troops — would be considered the intellectual mentor of a coup that, in practice, did not happen for several reasons. The main beneficiary of the success of the “intentona” — Bolsonaro — did not want it to come to fruition, according to statements taken by the Federal Police. Furthermore, participants in the movement would not have been able to get taxis to travel around Brasília. A large part of the crowd that gathered in front of public buildings and could be used as a "driving force" for the coup entered, in good faith, on buses "invited" by the military itself (in the service of the government), and was subsequently arrested . From the State's point of view, Braga Netto was arrested for planning preparatory acts for a revolt that attacked the democratic rule of law. We do not want to go into the merits of the issue, discussing whether the arrest was morally or legally correct, let us leave this thorny task to Brazil in the future.
As we read on social media, never in the history of Brazil had a four-star general been arrested. But has a soldier of such high rank never been arrested in this tropical Republic? It was not a general, but an admiral with a glorious record of service to Brazil, who was also arrested. Who? Admiral Custódio de Mello. Why? For participating in a revolt that attacked the democratic rule of law. Do we have a historical precedent here? It will be?
Custódio José de Mello was born in Salvador, Bahia, on December 9, 1840. Son of João Custódio de Mello and Rita de Mello, he became an aspiring midshipman on March 1, 1856. From a young age, he demonstrated great aptitude for a naval career, excelling in his studies and in various missions assigned to him.
During his career, Custódio de Mello participated in important naval missions, being quickly promoted for his merits. In 1858, he was appointed midshipman and, already as first lieutenant, he played an active role in the Paraguayan War (1864-1870), standing out in several naval battles. His performances brought him recognition and promotions, reaching the rank of frigate captain in 1874.
After the Proclamation of the Republic and with the resignation of Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca, Custódio de Mello was appointed Minister of the Navy on November 23, 1891, on the first day of Floriano Peixoto's government. He implemented several reforms and modernizations in the Navy, bringing it into line with international standards at the time.
He is best remembered for his participation in the Armada Revolts, two naval rebellions in the early years of the Republic. Custódio de Mello, promoted to rear admiral in the government of Deodoro da Fonseca, initially being a supporter of the government, ended up supporting the rebels and participated in the first rebellion.
The roots of the first Armada Revolt can be traced back to November 1891, when Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca, Brazil's first president, closed the National Congress after failing to negotiate with the benches of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, states coffee producers. Led by Rear Admiral Custódio de Mello, Navy units rose up and threatened to bomb Rio de Janeiro. Deodoro resigned on November 23, 1891, and vice-president Floriano Peixoto assumed the presidency, but did not call presidential elections, as provided for in the Constitution, being accused of illegally occupying the presidency. Thus, Custódio de Mello rebelled alongside his peers to defend the democratic rule of law.
In 1892, a group of 13 general officers released a manifesto demanding that elections be called. President Floriano Peixoto declared a state of siege and ordered the leaders arrested. On September 6, 1893, Custódio de Mello led another rebellion, starting the first Armada Revolt in Guanabara Bay. The revolt included intense fighting, such as the bombing of Rio de Janeiro forts and clashes in Niterói and Ilha do Governador.
In December 1893, Custódio de Mello tried to join the federalists in the south of the country, but faced significant defeats. The São José Fortress was destroyed, and the rebels, with little ammunition and food, were defeated. The capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro was transferred to Petrópolis due to the bombings.
The federal government acquired warships to confront the rebels, and with the support of the Army and the São Paulo Republican Party, the Armada Revolt was put down in March 1894. The rebels took refuge in Portuguese ships, ending the revolt.
The Federalist Revolution continued in the south, where Custódio de Mello joined forces with Gumercindo Saraiva. They took the city of Lapa, but government troops continued to advance. On April 16, 1894, the battleship Aquidabã was torpedoed. Custódio de Mello tried to disembark in Rio Grande, but was defeated, taking refuge in Argentina.
As we know, when you want to analyze historical events, there is nothing better than consulting the primary sources, that is, reading the narrative first hand, directly from the pens of those who participated in it. Well, let's read what Custódio de Melo had to say about the revolt he led. The text follows in its original wording:
“In the manifesto that I addressed to the Nation I allege the unconstitutional conduct of the Vice-President of the Republic and his anti-patriotic and bloodthirsty policy in the States, mainly in Rio Grande do Sul. All ships and naval forces from this port are they placed it alongside the Constitution, which I defend. The only fraction of these forces that had hesitated, the fortress of Vilegaignon has just informed me that it has decided not to harass me and has declared it as such at the armada's headquarters.
The entire population of the Federal Capital is in favor of our cause, which is the national cause. The land garrison itself, which, out of class spirit, seems to support the Vice-President, is tacitly divided, and only those who do not have an exact knowledge of the spirit of the ruling class in the national navy and of patriotic traditions, can doubt that their ideal conduct in the face of the violated Constitution. Your resolution to imitate the noble and patriotic resolution of the fortress of Villegaignon will take away from the Vice-President of the Republic the last pretext to continue to remain illegally in the government of the Nation.
Under these conditions, I decided to invite you to speak out between the Constitution and its violator, between the continued bloodshed of brothers and the pacification of the Brazilian family, reiterating here the declaration I made in my manifesto that I do not want power . I am waiting until this afternoon for your resolution to serve as my government.” (Custodio José de Mello, Gazeta de Notícias – September 8, 1893).
The Armada Revolt ended with the death of Saldanha da Gama in June 1895. Floriano Peixoto governed until November 1894, being succeeded by Prudente de Morais, the first civilian president of Brazil.
Decree No. 310, of October 1895, amnestied those involved in the revolutionary movements, allowing Custódio de Mello to return to Brazil. He arrived in Rio de Janeiro in November 1895. However, this was not yet the definitive solution to Custódio de Mello's problems. During Campos Salles' government, the rear admiral was assigned to take on a military commission in the state of Amazonas. This order, coming from the head of the Armed Forces, could not be disobeyed. However, these were not Custódio's plans. Upon his refusal, his arrest was ordered, and he was taken to Ilha das Cobras (RJ). Although he remained in prison for a short time, his refusal to obey an order from the legally elected president did not go unpunished. So we had a rear admiral arrested in our story. Ah the historical precedents!
Custódio José de Mello is remembered as a dedicated military man and a man of principle, who fought for what he believed to be the best for Brazil, even if his actions led to direct confrontations with the government. His trajectory illustrates the tensions and challenges faced by the young Brazilian Republic in its search for stability and legitimacy.
The trajectories of the two soldiers, Custódio de Mello and Braga Netto, are marked by good services provided to the nation, but they separate due to the reasons for their arrests. Subject to due proportions and events, the actions of one are under the example of the other. Braga is under Custódio, however, while the first was arrested for his actions (refusing a legal and direct order from his superior), the second was arrested for what he supposedly intended to do (but never actually accomplished). In both cases, they sought to defend, not undermine, the democratic rule of law. Here we have in front of us a Brazil of stories worthy of a Salvador Dalí painting: surreal stories.
“Freedom is never more than a generation away from extinction. We do not transmit it to our children through blood. We must fight for it, protect it and hand it over to them to do the same.” (Ronald Reagan, 40th president of the United States).
Article published in Revista Conhecimento & Cidadania Vol. IV No. 49 – December 2024 Edition - ISSN 2764-3867
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