Riograndense Republic

The Riograndense Republic, often called the Piratini Republic, was the de facto state that seceded from the Empire of Brazil and roughly covered present Rio Grande do Sul. It was proclaimed on 11 September 1836 by General Antonio de Sousa Neto as the direct fruit of the gaucho oligarchy's victory at the Battle of Seival during the Ragamuffin War of 1835 to 1845. The republic adopted a constitution in 1843 and was recognised only by the United Kingdom, France and Uruguay. In 1839 it formed a confederation with the Juliana Republic, proclaimed that same year, but the war turned in November and the Juliana Republic vanished. The Riograndense Republic kept five capitals in its nine years: Piratini, for which it is named, Alegrete and Cacapava do Sul as official seats, Bage for two weeks, and Sao Borja. The Ponche Verde Treaty closed the war between the gauchos and the Empire.