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The Brazilian Army |
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| The history of the Brazilian Army has much to do with the building of the new South American nation. |
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| When Brazil became independent from Portugal as an empire in 1822 it inherited the most part of the Portuguese officers living in Brazil, while the majority of the common soldiers decided to do their way back to Portugal. The situation was somewhat curious. While having a experienced group of officers (something the neighbor countries would not dispose), there was hardly any army to conduct to battlefield when the War of Cisplatine (1825-1828) broke out. |
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| As the provinces were submitted to central power from 1840 forth the army grew slowly in number and power. Nevertheless, it was almost seen as a secondary force during the XIX century. The National Guard was the main ground force, holding ten times the number of soldiers and officers that the army had. Both forces, however, were faint when compared with the main force of the empire: the navy. The Imperial Navy was reputed as the largest in Latin America and much better equipment than it neighbors' counterpart. While the army relied on conscripts and ill-equiped troops, the Imperial Navy had a well-trained corps of officers and soldiers. |
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| When the war against Paraguay broke out in 1864, the army was far from being suitable for a long-term conflict. Thus, as the war progressed and volunteers became scarce, the army had to rely on slaves or compulsory enrollment. The common soldier presented a great capacity at battlefield as long as he was well instructed. At this point the tradition of a professional body of officers proved to be decisive in many occasions at battlefields. Nevertheless, when the war finished, it became clear that the nation had the need of a modern force of combat. Displeased with slavery and the empire, many officers saw the republic as the way to modernization. The empire´s days were numbered. |
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| Imperial Honor Guard |
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| Ninth Light Infantry (Chasseur) Battalion |
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| First Horse Artillery Regiment |
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| The National Volunteers (Zouaves from Bahia) |
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| Engineers Battalion |
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