AMAPÁ

AMAPÁ 1871 - 1900
In 1637 a Portuguese Capitania da Costa do Cabo do Norte covering present-day Amapá
was established.
In the course of the following years settlers, traders and adventurers from French
Guyana also moved into the territory, which soon was claimed by both nations.
In 1841, pending a final solution, the region was temporarily neutralized.  

REPUBLIC OF INDEPENDENT GUYANE (REPUBLIC OF COUNANI)
In 1886 Trajano Benitez, Chief (Captain) of the village of Counani, with the support
of some French adventurers, proclaimed a pro-French Republic of Independent Guyane,
which formally included the whole contested territory.
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HEADS OF STATE - MINISTER
Chief of the Capitania of Independent Guyana
Chef de la Capitanie indépendente de Guyane

1886          Trajano Benitez

President
Président

1886 - 1887   Jules Gros (1)                                1... - 1891

President of the Council of Ministers
Président du Conseil des Ministres

1886 - 1887   Jean Ferréol Guigues 

In 1887, following Brazilian protest against this intrusion in neutral territory,
French authorities terminated the republic.   

(1) President Gros remained in France in 1886 - 1887, but in 1888 he actually 
    went to South America in an attempt to "reconquer" his state with the help
    of the Guiana Syndicate Ltd. (set up by some British businessmen hoping to
    obtain a land concession in the new state) 
    When the British discovered France was opposed to the establishment of the
    Republic, they withdrew and the attempt failed. Gros continued to consider
    himself as President of Independent Guyane until he died in 1891.
 
INDEPENDENT TERRITORY OF AMAPÁ (REPUBLIC OF CUNNANI)
In 1894, following the discovery of gold, a new group of Brazilian settlers moved
into the contested area. When the French tried to stop them - Trajano Benitez was
appointed "Représentant des intérêts de la France" to do so - they proclaimed the
pro-Brazilian Independent Territory of Amapá
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CHIEF ADMINISTRATORS
Provisional Government 
Governo Provisório 

1894         -Desidério Antônio Coelho (Chairman)
             -Francisco Xavier da Veiga Cabral 
              "O Cabralzino"                                 1861 - 1905
             -Manuel Gonçalves Tocantins

Triumvirate
Triunvirato

1894 - 1895  -Domingos Maltez (Chairman 1894 - 1895), 
              resigned 
             -Francisco Xavier da Veiga Cabral 
              "O Cabralzino" (Chairman 1895)                 s.a.
             -Desidério Antônio Coelho                       s.a.

In 1895, following a major military clash with the French, the government of Amapá
dissolved itself. 


BRAZILIAN TERRITORY OF AMAPÁ
After the bloody conflict of 1895 both Brazil and France admitted the time had come
to settle the matter of the contested territory. 
They agreed to submit the problem to the President of Switzerland, who, in 1900,
decided that it was part of Brazil. (2)
The following year Amapá became part of the State of Pará and in 1943 it became a
Brazilian territory, directly governed by the central government.

(2) After the death of Jules Gros, Albert Franken (189. - 1901) and Adolphe
    Brézet (1901 - 1911) successively considered themselves as Presidents of
    the Republic of Counani.
    In 1902 the later even actually tried to restore the republic, sending 
    some members of his "government" to the region. The attempt ended when
    the Brazilian police arrested the conspirators.
    In 1911 Brézet was succeeded as President by Jules Gros Jr. (until ...)
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CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR
Governor
Governador

1944 - 1955   Capt. Janary Gentil Nunes                      1912 - 1988


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