Night of the Bottle Fight
A 1831 riot that helped force Dom Pedro I's abdication.
On the night of March 13, 1831, a riot broke out in the Empire of Brazil between Portuguese backers of Emperor Dom Pedro I and Brazilian opponents. The violence erupted during a party held by the emperor’s Portuguese allies, when Brazilians hurled stones and bottles at the gathering. This clash was a direct result of rising tensions following the 1830 assassination of liberal journalist Líbero Badaró, who had criticized Pedro I’s policies, and a hostile reception the emperor faced in Minas Gerais earlier that March. The incident deepened the political crisis, contributing to Dom Pedro I’s abdication on April 7, 1831.
- incident
- Night of the Bottle Fight
- date
- March 13, 1831
- location
- Empire of Brazil
- type
- Riot
- parties_involved
- Portuguese supporters of Dom Pedro I vs. Brazilian opponents
- significance
- Led to Dom Pedro I's abdication on 7 April 1831
Lore & Background
The Night of the Bottle Fight was preceded by growing opposition to Emperor Dom Pedro I. In 1830, Líbero Badaró, a liberal journalist, was assassinated in São Paulo for denouncing Pedro I's policies, with perpetrators allied to the emperor's politicians. This assassination sparked protests against the government. Opposition continued in March 1831, when Pedro I traveled to Minas Gerais and was met with hostility.
Reader's Guide
The Night of the Bottle Fight is significant as a direct confrontation between Portuguese loyalists and Brazilian liberals that escalated the political crisis surrounding Dom Pedro I. The riot, occurring on March 13, 1831, involved Brazilians attacking a party for the emperor with stones and bottles, highlighting the deep divisions between those who supported the emperor and those who opposed his rule. This incident, along with prior events like the assassination of Líbero Badaró and hostile receptions in Minas Gerais, contributed to the emperor's loss of support. Within weeks, on 7 April 1831, Dom Pedro I abdicated, ending his reign in Brazil. The Night of the Bottle Fight thus stands as a pivotal moment in the collapse of his government.
Did You Know?
- The Night of the Bottle Fight occurred on March 13, 1831.
- It involved Brazilians attacking with stones and bottles during a party for Emperor Dom Pedro I organized by his Portuguese supporters.
- The incident was one of the events leading to Dom Pedro I's abdication on 7 April 1831.
- Prior to the riot, liberal journalist Líbero Badaró was assassinated in 1830 for denouncing Pedro I's policies.
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