Barão do Rio Branco
Encyclopedia
José Maria da Silva Paranhos, Jr., 1st Baron of Rio Branco (April 20, 1845 – February 10, 1912) was a Brazil
ian diplomat
, geographer
, historian
, politician
and professor
, considered to be the "father of Brazilian diplomacy
". He was the son of famous statesman José Maria da Silva Paranhos, Sr.. The Baron of Rio Branco was a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters
, occupying its 34th chair from 1898 until his death in 1912.
title Baron of Rio Branco (Barão do Rio Branco), a few days before the Proclamation of the Republic
, when monarchic rule came to an end in Brazil. Rio Branco nonetheless continued to use the title throughout his life, despite governmental prohibition, because of his monarchist beliefs and in respect for his father. Being a monarchist, however, was no impediment for his success as a diplomat: the Baron of Rio Branco reached the heights of his career during the Republic, when he acted as Minister of Foreign Affairs for 10 years and settled all of Brazil's remaining border disputes by peaceful means.
Rio Branco's most important legacy to Brazil was his successful effort, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, in defining the country's borders with all of its neighbours. He was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1902 and retained office until 1912, under four different Presidents, a feat unequalled in Brazilian History.
Before and during his term, he negotiated territorial disputes between Brazil and some of its neighbours and consolidated the borders of modern Brazil. He is considered one of the most prominent Brazilian statesmen ever, as his proverbial work capacity, knowledge and skills were essential for the successful outcome of difficult boundary disputes, some of which submitted to international arbitration – such as with Argentina
and France
–, as well as for incorporating new territory (the state of Acre, originally Bolivian).
As a mediator he negotiated and settled disputes between the United States
and many European countries. On those occasions, he never abandoned his belief in diplomacy as the means to handle international matters, thus helping establish Brazil's reputation as a peace-loving nation.
with Bolivia
, putting an end to the dispute involving the present Brazilian state of Acre
. The region was settled mostly by native Brazilians, but the Bolivian government had come close to lease this rubber-rich area to American private entrepreneurs. Today, the state's capital bears the name Rio Branco in his honor.
As a writer he wrote many books, dealing mostly with the history of Brazil, and was awarded prizes and occupied the 34th seat of the Brazilian Academy of Literature.
Brazil's diplomacy academy (Instituto Rio Branco) is named after the Baron.
Rio Branco is portrayed in the coin of fifty cents of Brazilian real
.
of the Brazilian Empire
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, geographer
Geographer
A geographer is a scholar whose area of study is geography, the study of Earth's natural environment and human society.Although geographers are historically known as people who make maps, map making is actually the field of study of cartography, a subset of geography...
, historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
, considered to be the "father of Brazilian diplomacy
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
". He was the son of famous statesman José Maria da Silva Paranhos, Sr.. The Baron of Rio Branco was a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters
Academia Brasileira de Letras
Academia Brasileira de Letras is a Brazilian literary non-profit society established at the end of the 19th century by a group of 40 writers and poets inspired by the Académie Française. The first president, Machado de Assis, declared its foundation on December 15, 1896, with the statutes being...
, occupying its 34th chair from 1898 until his death in 1912.
A nobleman in a Republic
In 1889, Emperor Dom Pedro II granted him the Brazilian nobilityBrazilian nobility
Brazilian nobility refers to the titled nobles and fidalgo families of Brazil, which began in the early 19th century during Colonial Brazil and lasted until the end of the Empire of Brazil in 1889.-History:...
title Baron of Rio Branco (Barão do Rio Branco), a few days before the Proclamation of the Republic
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, when monarchic rule came to an end in Brazil. Rio Branco nonetheless continued to use the title throughout his life, despite governmental prohibition, because of his monarchist beliefs and in respect for his father. Being a monarchist, however, was no impediment for his success as a diplomat: the Baron of Rio Branco reached the heights of his career during the Republic, when he acted as Minister of Foreign Affairs for 10 years and settled all of Brazil's remaining border disputes by peaceful means.
Career history and legacy
Rio Branco began his political career as a congressman in the House of Commons. From 1876 on, he was the Brazilian Consul General in Liverpool, England. He was also the Brazilian Ambassador in Berlin in the beginning of the 20th century.Rio Branco's most important legacy to Brazil was his successful effort, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, in defining the country's borders with all of its neighbours. He was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1902 and retained office until 1912, under four different Presidents, a feat unequalled in Brazilian History.
Before and during his term, he negotiated territorial disputes between Brazil and some of its neighbours and consolidated the borders of modern Brazil. He is considered one of the most prominent Brazilian statesmen ever, as his proverbial work capacity, knowledge and skills were essential for the successful outcome of difficult boundary disputes, some of which submitted to international arbitration – such as with Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
–, as well as for incorporating new territory (the state of Acre, originally Bolivian).
As a mediator he negotiated and settled disputes between the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and many European countries. On those occasions, he never abandoned his belief in diplomacy as the means to handle international matters, thus helping establish Brazil's reputation as a peace-loving nation.
Treaty of Petrópolis (with Bolivia)
In 1903 Rio Branco signed the Treaty of PetrópolisTreaty of Petrópolis
The Treaty of Petrópolis, signed on November 11, 1903, ended tensions between Bolivia and Brazil over the then-Bolivian territory of Acre , a desirable territory during the contemporary rubber boom....
with Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, putting an end to the dispute involving the present Brazilian state of Acre
Acre (state)
Acre is one of the 27 states of Brazil. It is situated in the southwest of the Northern Region, bordering Amazonas to the north, Rondônia to the east, Bolivia to the southeast and the Ucayali Region of Peru to the south and west. It occupies an area of 152,581.4 km2, being slightly smaller...
. The region was settled mostly by native Brazilians, but the Bolivian government had come close to lease this rubber-rich area to American private entrepreneurs. Today, the state's capital bears the name Rio Branco in his honor.
Popularity
In 1909, Rio Branco was encouraged to run for Presidency, but he declined, as he could not envisage consensus around his name. He was very popular, however, among the people, at the time of his death, to the point of paralysing Carnival – another unparalleled feat in Brazilian history – on the day he died (February 10), when official mourning was declared.As a writer he wrote many books, dealing mostly with the history of Brazil, and was awarded prizes and occupied the 34th seat of the Brazilian Academy of Literature.
Brazil's diplomacy academy (Instituto Rio Branco) is named after the Baron.
Rio Branco is portrayed in the coin of fifty cents of Brazilian real
Brazilian real
The real is the present-day currency of Brazil. Its sign is R$ and its ISO code is BRL. It is subdivided into 100 centavos ....
.
Further reading
LINS, Álvaro. Rio Branco (O Barão do Rio Branco): biografia pessoal e história política. São Paulo: Editora Alfa-Omega, 1996. 516p.External links
See also
- Rio BrancoRio BrancoRio Branco is a Brazilian city, capital of Acre. Located in the Valley of Acre in northern Brazil, it is the most populous county in the state, with 305,954 inhabitants, according to a 2009 estimate - almost half the state population....
, Capital of the state of Acre named after the diplomat. - Río Branco, UruguayRío Branco, UruguayRío Branco is a city in the Cerro Largo Department of northeastern Uruguay. It is located on the border with Brazil, at the east end of Route 26, about east-southeast of the department capital city of Melo...
, Named after the Brazilian diplomat.
of the Brazilian Empire
Brazilian Empire
The Empire of Brazil was a 19th-century state that broadly comprised the territories which form modern Brazil. Its government was a representative parliamentary constitutional monarchy under the rule of Emperors Dom Pedro I and his son Dom Pedro II, both members of the House of Braganza—a...