The alcoholic beverage that, even today, sweetens palates and bar tables throughout Rio was once the main ingredient behind one of the most unusual uprisings in Colonial Brazil. From late 1660 to early 1661, sugarcane producers from Rio de Janeiro rebelled against the government in defense of cachaça, in the episode that went down in history as the Cachaça Revolt.
The furdunço began with the strict fiscal policy enforced by the captaincy's governor, Salvador Correia de Sá e Benevides. In one of his decrees, he banned the production of cachaça and restricted its export. The decision outraged local farmers, who relied on distilling the spirit as a way to make use of their sugar – of lower quality compared to that produced by other captaincies.
Salvador Correia de Sá e Benevides (1602-1688) - Portuguese man who held the office of governor of the captaincy of Rio de Janeiro and of Angola. Lithograph by Manuel Luís, 1841. Wikimedia Commons
Image description: The image is a black-and-white lithograph. It shows a man wearing historical clothing, with a cross pendant necklace and a cape over his shoulders. The figure is centered in the image, facing forward. The colors are predominantly black and white, with lighter tones depicting light and shadow.Sá e Benevides was serving his third term as governor when he began to be accused of corruption and tyranny. In November 1660, while he was away from the captaincy, a group of sugar plantation owners rebelled. Led by Jerônimo Barbalho, the farmers took advantage of the political instability in the region and remained in power for five months. To the Portuguese Crown, they claimed to want to establish fair and dignified conditions in order to keep serving the metropolis.
However, on April 6, 1661, the sugar mill owners' short-lived government came to an end. Sá e Benevides – who had been prevented from returning to Rio during the uprising – came back in a surprise attack, catching the rebels off guard. Back in the position of governor, he had Jerônimo Barbalho decapitated to serve as an example to the population.
Even though they had been sentenced to prison in the captaincy, the remaining rebels were taken to Portugal to be tried, where they were guaranteed their freedom. In the understanding of the Overseas Council, there was no crime against the Crown, since the revolt had been against the fiscal policy practiced by the governor - who ended up removed from office by orders from the metropolis.
That same year, the production of cachaça in the colony was allowed.
Map of Guanabara Bay in 1640. João Teixeira Albernaz - Colored manuscript atlas. Description of all the maritime territory of the Land of the Holy Cross, commonly called Brazil.
Image description: The image is an antique illustration, likely an engraving or map, depicting a coastal area with several locations marked. The spatial layout begins on the left, where we see extensive agricultural fields and some densely wooded areas. Moving to the right, we find several islands and peninsulas, each with its own inscribed name. In the center, there is a large main island with various structures and names written in Portuguese. On the right, there are more areas of vegetation and flat terrain. The map features a compass in the center, indicating the cardinal directions. The colors are predominantly beige and brown, with some details in green and blue.
