11. A short-lived rebellion in the northeastern region of Brazil, occurring soon after Brazil’s own successful separatist movement against Portugal, the Confederation of the Equator sought to stand up to the centralizing reforms of Emperor Pedro I
Following the promulgation of the Imperial Constitution in 1824, which imposed greater centralized control over the fledgling nation, leading Liberals felt betrayed by the promises of the monarchy regarding increased autonomy prior to the dissolution of the Brazilian Constituent Assembly in 1823. Removing the provincial governor, Paes Barreto, attempts to compel the Liberals to obey were denied and Pedro I instead appointed a fresh governor in the hopes of avoiding an unnecessary conflict. Rejecting the Emperor of Brazil’s choice once more, on July 2, 1824, Liberal leader Manuel Paes de Andrade proclaimed the independence of Pernambuco.
Inviting other northern provinces to follow suit, Andrade declared a new republican state: The Confederation of the Equator. However, widely rejecting the offer of secession, only the town of Olinda sided with Pernambuco. Responding with a naval division and 1,200 soldiers, faced with such odds the already indifferent population of Pernambuco offered little resistance to the imperial forces. Despite declaring he would fight to the death, Andrade instead abandoned his outnumbered men and fled in secret aboard a British ship. Offering a pardon to all but sixteen of those involved in the rebellion, Pedro quickly reasserted his control over the region.