Brazil Republic Day (November 15): Proclamation of the Republic

Proclamation of the Republic Day (Proclamação da República) is a national holiday in Brazil celebrated on November 15. On this day in 1889, a military movement led by Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca ended the Empire of Brazil and its last emperor, Dom Pedro II, and proclaimed a republic.

Key facts
Date	November 15 every year
Year	1889
Ended	The Empire of Brazil (1822–1889)
Leader	Marshal Manuel Deodoro da Fonseca, first President
Flag Day	November 19 — the republican flag was adopted four days later
Holiday type	National public holiday

Why the Monarchy Fell

• Abolition of slavery — the Lei Áurea of May 13, 1888, signed by Princess Isabel, angered powerful plantation owners who withdrew their support for the monarchy.
• Military discontent after the Paraguayan War (1864–1870).
• Republican and positivist ideas spreading among officers, intellectuals and the urban middle class.
• Tensions with the Catholic Church and questions about who would succeed the ageing emperor.

November 15, 1889

In Rio de Janeiro, then the capital, troops led by Deodoro da Fonseca deposed the cabinet. That evening, the republic was proclaimed. Dom Pedro II, widely respected for his learning and long reign, accepted the change peacefully and left for exile in Europe with his family days later. He died in Paris in 1891.

The Republican Flag: “Ordem e Progresso”

Adopted on November 19, 1889, Brazil’s flag shows a blue globe with the night sky over Rio de Janeiro on the morning of November 15, 1889. Each star represents a state and the Federal District. The motto “Ordem e Progresso” (Order and Progress) comes from the philosophy of Auguste Comte.

Brazil’s National Holidays

Holiday	Date
Tiradentes Day	April 21
Independence Day	September 7
Our Lady of Aparecida	October 12
Proclamation of the Republic	November 15
Black Consciousness Day	November 20

👉 Brazil’s other big day: Brazil Independence Day — September 7

Dom Pedro II: The Last Emperor of Brazil

Dom Pedro II ruled Brazil for 58 years, from 1831 (under a regency until 1840) to 1889. He was known as a scholar-king who spoke many languages, supported science and photography, corresponded with thinkers like Victor Hugo and Charles Darwin, and visited the United States for its 1876 centennial. Even after his removal, many Brazilians respected him; his remains were returned to Brazil in 1921 and rest in the Cathedral of Petrópolis.

The First Brazilian Republic (1889–1930)

Year	Event
1889	Republic proclaimed; Deodoro da Fonseca heads the provisional government
1891	First republican constitution; federal system created
1891	Floriano Peixoto succeeds Deodoro
1894	First civilian president, Prudente de Morais
1930	Revolution brings Getúlio Vargas to power, ending the “Old Republic”

How Brazilians Spend the Holiday

• Official ceremonies in Brasília and Rio de Janeiro, including flag-raising.
• Many families enjoy a long weekend at the beach or in the countryside.
• Some cities combine the holiday with Black Consciousness Day on November 20, which became a national holiday in 2024.
• Schools teach about the transition from empire to republic in the days before.

Brazil’s Symbols

Symbol	Meaning
Green	Forests and the House of Braganza (historically)
Yellow rhombus	Mineral wealth such as gold
Blue globe and stars	The sky over Rio de Janeiro on November 15, 1889, with a star for each state
Motto “Ordem e Progresso”	Order and Progress, from positivist philosophy

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