Researcher analyzes the trajectory of Admiral Tamandaré and tells us about the main achievements of the National Hero
By First Lieutenant (T) Taise Oliveira – Rio de Janeiro, RJ
December 13 is Sailor’s Day. But do you know why this date was chosen by the Brazilian Navy (MB) to represent the men and women who make up the Force? It’s the birthday of Joaquim Marques Lisboa, Admiral Tamandaré, who was chosen Patron of the MB because of his great achievements on behalf of the Fatherland and the Force.
Joaquim Marques Lisboa, the Marquis of Tamandaré, was born in Rio Grande (RS) on December 13, 1807. A member of the Brazilian Imperial Navy, he took part in Brazil’s War of Independence, the subsequent internal conflicts during the Regency period and, later, in the Plata and Paraguay wars. For his services to the Homeland, during a career that lasted almost 60 years, he was made a marquis and later chosen as Patron of the Navy.
To talk about this National Hero, Agência Marinha de Notícias (AgMN) interviewed Military History Researcher Aldeir Isael Faxina Barros, who is dedicated to studying the river battles of the War of the Triple Alliance against Paraguay and participates in the Scientific Initiation Program at the State University of Maringá, in Paraná. The researcher has published several articles and chapters on the subject and explains Admiral Tamandaré’s career in the Navy.
AgMN – Admiral Tamandaré dedicated his life to the Navy. How did he act during Brazil’s critical moments?
Aldeir Barros – Almirante Tamandaré’s life trajectory was linked to the Navy, since he was part of the force since the process of consolidating the independence of the territory that we can now call Brazil. Tamandaré was directly involved in several other episodes, such as suppressing rebellions, including some of a separatist nature, thereby guaranteeing the integrity of the national territory. He also took part in international conflicts, in particular the Cisplatine War (1825-1828) and the War against Paraguay (1864-1870).
During the independence process, Tamandaré volunteered at the time, serving aboard the frigate “Niterói”, under the command of John Taylor. The rapid formation of a Navy to confront the Portuguese forces was an extremely important tool for consolidating the process of Independence. After this first experience, Tamandaré played a major role in the Cisplatine War, where he took part in several battles.
Among the internal conflicts, Tamandaré stood out for his presence on several commissions that suppressed revolts in various parts of the territory. The power of the navy proved decisive, both in terms of blockading the uprising regions by sea and by means of land attacks against the insurgents, or even in support of the land forces, for which at certain times he acted in conjunction with Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, the future Duke of Caxias. The suppression of these movements prevented the break-up of the national territory.
Another moment Tamandaré experienced was commanding the military intervention in Uruguay in 1864, where the Fleet provided fire support and landed detachments in the fighting that took place in that country. This conflict was directly linked to the War against Paraguay, in which Tamandaré was in command of the naval forces until the end of 1866. Among the important points of his action in South America’s biggest conflict, Tamandaré sought to control the rivers and create a supply network, vital elements for the continuation of operations to invade Paraguayan territory.
AgMN – One of the many remarkable moments in the history of the Brazilian Navy was the re-equipping of naval resources, which allowed the Force to continue acting in defense of the country’s interests. What were Tamandaré’s main actions during this period?
Aldeir Barros – During the 19th century, a series of technological changes emerged and were implemented in the navies of various countries, creating a veritable revolution in naval resources. In this sense, the use of steam propulsion, the insertion of paddle wheels and their subsequent replacement by propellers, different types of ammunition, the creation of innovative types of ship and the subsequent use of iron armor on wooden vessels greatly changed the way war was waged on the seas and rivers.
In this context, the Brazilian Empire entrusted Tamandaré, who had gone to Europe on leave to treat his wife’s health in 1857, with a series of tasks to be carried out in the Old World, including supervising the construction and acquisition of two gunboats ordered from France and another eight units ordered from two British shipyards. The aim of this naval re-equipment was to make up for the Navy’s deficiencies, which had been observed mainly in the River Plate region.
Here the influence of the mishaps experienced by Pedro Ferreira de Oliveira’s diplomatic expedition to Asunción – Paraguay (1854-1855) becomes clear. In the middle of 1859, Tamandaré arrived on national soil with the last two ships ordered, the “Belmonte” and the “Parnaíba”, ending the commission to which he had been assigned. These new vessels lent themselves to sailing in the region for which they had been designed, taking part in subsequent war events, including the famous Naval Battle of Riachuelo (June 11, 1865), in which some of the units supervised by Tamandaré were present.
AgMN – In the Paraguayan War, the largest military conflict in South America, fought by Paraguay and the Triple Alliance, made up of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, Tamandaré commanded naval forces. What naval strategies did you use during this period?
Aldeir Barros – With the Fleet under Tamandaré’s command, the strategy that first stands out is the blockade of the rivers undertaken against the Paraguayan forces, preventing river communication with the outside world and the consequent entry of armaments and supplies. However, other strategies obviously stood out during this period, such as operations to assist the ground forces, involving gunboat operations and the transportation of personnel and material.
Fire support operations for the ground forces, carried out in a variety of situations, ranged from the surrender of the Paraguayan forces in Uruguaiana, in what is now Rio Grande do Sul, to the fighting around the Itapirú fort, the battle on Redenção Island, the landing at Passo da Pátria, the taking of the Curuzu fort, the defeat at Curupaití, among other cases.
With regard to the transportation of troops and war material, the operation to invade Paraguayan territory in the Passo da Pátria region stands out, marking, so to speak, the start of the Alliance’s offensive campaign against Paraguayan forces. Meanwhile, still under Tamandaré’s command, the landing of troops to take the Curuzu fort, located near the Curupaití fortress, can also be seen.
AgMN – What were the greatest challenges faced by Tamandaré in the service of the Brazilian Navy and the Homeland?
Aldeir Barros – I believe that the greatest challenge faced by Tamandaré occurred when he was Commander-in-Chief of the Empire’s Naval Forces in the War against Paraguay, as he had to deal not only with the issues inherent in the conflict itself, but also with the fierce political disputes between the players involved in the alliance.
The disputes and mistrust between Tamandaré and Argentine General Bartolomé Mitre reached an unsustainable level after the allied defeat at Curupaití (September 22, 1866), in which, among the accusations about the origin of the failure, they focused largely on the ineffectiveness of the naval bombardment. To blame Tamandaré’s navy alone for the failure of the allied attack on the Paraguayan position is inaccurate. But the fact is that, after this event, Tamandaré’s retention in his post proved impossible, and he was begrudgingly relieved of his post.
AgMN – Tamandaré’s recognition by the Brazilian nation began during his lifetime. What honors did he receive?
Aldeir Barros – The recognition and honors received by Tamandaré both during his lifetime and after his death are numerous and varied. While he was still alive, Tamandaré rose through the ranks based on his military career, being awarded various honors and commendations, such as the nobiliary titles of Baron, Viscount, Count and Marquis; he also received the collar of the Imperial Order of the Rose.
While still alive, Tamandaré was able to observe the christening of a battleship built in Rio de Janeiro in his honor: the battleship “Tamandaré”, which operated with the Fleet under his command in the waters of the Paraguay River, from the river surveys that took place prior to the invasion of Paraguayan territory until the end of the conflict, having been one of the ships that forced the passage of Humaitá in February 1868. The Admiral was also able to observe the christening of another ship, a cruiser, in his honor. In addition to the existence of other vessels from the past and present that mention Tamandaré.
For his services to the nation, the name Tamandaré can currently be seen in at least two municipalities; as well as forts, squares, avenues, streets and squares that bear his name as a form of homage. Not to mention the many busts and monuments scattered throughout the country. The Tamandaré Merit Medal was also created in his honor, as well as having his name included in the Book of Heroes and Heroines of the Homeland, as one of the nation’s builders.
In recognition of his achievements, in addition to the aforementioned honors, Tamandaré was elevated to Patron of the Brazilian Navy, and on his birthday, December 13, Sailor’s Day was established.
Source: Agência Marinha de Notícias *** Translated by iDEFCONPress FYI Team ***