"I must necessarily have come under fire," said D. Pedro II about the image of his government after the turbulent week of protests that swept through the streets of Rio de Janeiro, at the turn of 1879 into 1880. The spark that ignited the Vintém Revolt was the approval of a bill that raised the price of tram fares in the capital of the Empire by twenty réis — an amount equivalent to a vintém.
The protests began on December 28, 1879, when a crowd gathered at the São Cristóvão field to hear the republican Lopes Trovão fire off harsh criticism against the new economic measure. From there, a march set out toward Boa Vista Palace, with the purpose of bringing the emperor a petition for the repeal of the law.
In its first edition in 1880, the Revista Illustrada by Angelo Agostini published a narrative in images of the events surrounding the Vintém Revolt – Lopes Trovão's Speech. Ligeiros croquis sobre os acontecimentos nos primeiros dias do anno 1880 na Côrte. Revista Illustrada, Rio de Janeiro, January 7, 1880, Year 5, n. 189. Hemeroteca da Biblioteca Nacional.
Image description: The image is a black-and-white engraving. In the upper part, we see a building with a dome and a lantern. Below it, there is a crowd of people gathered in an open space. To the right, a man is standing, holding a paper with the inscription "Requeiram em termos." He is speaking to the crowd. The scene appears to depict an important public event.But the cavalry platoon blocked access to the "crown gate." D. Pedro II tried, in vain, to backtrack and sent word that he would be willing to receive a delegation of demonstrators. This time, it was Lopes Trovão who did not accept the offer. The crisis had been set in motion.
On January 1, 1880, the date set for the new fare to take effect, about four thousand people refused to use public transportation and gathered at Largo do Paço for another demonstration. The protesters entered Rua Direita, now Primeiro de Março, continued on to Rua do Ouvidor, and took the straight stretch leading to Largo de São Francisco.
Brief sketches on the events of the first days of the year 1880 in the Court. Revista Illustrada, Rio de Janeiro, January 7, 1880, Year 5, no. 189. Hemeroteca da Biblioteca Nacional.
Image description: The image is a black-and-white engraving. It shows a crowd of people gathered in a public place, possibly in front of an important building. On the left, there is a large building with the name "HOTEL DE FRANCE" visible. On the right, there is an architectural structure with domes, likely a monument or church. In the center, the crowd is gathered together, some talking while others look on. There is also a dog walking among the pedestrians. At the bottom of the image, there is a caption that reads: "Forros ao Largo do Paço: Crescido numero de pessoas lá se achava. À espera do meeting anunciado".Along the way, they overturned trams, beat drivers, stabbed animals used as draft power, ripped up rails, and put up barricades. The Army was sent in to control the situation. Amid the clash, the commander, the baron of Rio Apa, was hit by a stone, and the response came with gunfire. By the end of the day, the toll was three dead and fifteen wounded.
Quick sketches of the events in the first days of the year 1880 in the Court. Revista Illustrada, Rio de Janeiro, January 7, 1880, Year 5, no. 189. Newspaper Library of the National Library.
Image description: The image is a black-and-white engraving. It shows a scene of confrontation between soldiers and civilians. On the left, soldiers with rifles are advancing. In the center, a group of people tries to take cover behind a car that is being hit by gunfire. On the right, other civilians run away, some fallen on the ground. The text at the bottom of the image reads: "This order did not take long to come. Around 5 in the afternoon, the troops, after a tremendous bayonet charge, split into platoons and started shooting even at families who were at their windows! And without the slightest hesitation!"The clashes continued until January 4, when the so-called Vintém Law was revoked. But that did not stop the wear on His Majesty's image: born and raised amid acclamations everywhere he went, D. Pedro II had to learn to live with the hostility of a revolted population right under his beard.
