Brazil Military Records
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In other languages: Português (Brasil)Military Records at the FamilySearch Library[edit | edit source]
The FamilySearch Library has limited Brazilian military records.
They can be found through a Subjects search in the Family History Catalog for BRAZIL - MILITARY.
To use Brazilian military records you will have to determine the specific unit your ancestor served in. If your family records do not provide this information it may be possible to learn which units were created in the area where he lived. To do this you must know at least the town where the individual was living when he was of age to serve in the military. For military history, consult:
- Barroso, Gustavo. História Militar do Brasil (Military History of Brazil). São Paulo: Campanhia Editora Nacional, 1935. FS Catalog 981 M2b FS Catalog 0962400 item 2.
Military Records in Brazilian Archives[edit | edit source]
The Brazilian Military Archive has about 80,000 records of a biographical nature. The Naval Archives in Rio de Janeiro has records from 1800. Earlier militia records are found in the state archives. Records of pre–1822 Portuguese military units are found in the following Portuguese archives: Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo, Historical Military Archives, and the National Library of Portugal and also in the Spanish archives of Segovia, Madrid, and Seville for the periods when Spain ruled Portugal.
Records of military service in Brazil are kept by Arquivo Histórico do Exército (Military Archives of Rio de Janeiro), the State Archives of São Paulo, and other state archives. The state of Bahia has three volumes of military records from 1691 to 1822 in its historical section. Twenty volumes of personal records of the army for São Paulo are found in the state archive in São Paulo for 1800 to 1830, covering the war with Argentina (over territory of Uruguay). There was also a military census for São Paulo in 1818. See Brazil Census for more information.
Matriculation records from 1889 are found at:
- Colégio Militar do Rio de Janeiro
Rua São Francisco Xavier 267 - Tijuca
20550-010 Rio de Janeiro, RJ
BRASIL
Internet: http://www.cmrj.ensino.eb.br/
Records of military units, biographies, and histories of wars and internal campaigns can be found at:
- Ministério do Exército
Arquivo do Exército
Praça Duque de Caxias - Centro
20221-260 Rio de Janeiro, RJ
BRASIL
Internet: http://www.exercito.gov.br/
The Ministry of the Navy was founded in 1834 and has records dating from 1790. Many of the old records are located in the National Archives of Brazil. The address for the archives for the Ministry of Navy is:
- Ministério da Marinha
Arquivo da Marinha
Praça Barão de Ladário - Centro
Edif. do 1º Distrito Naval-Térreo
20091-000 Rio de Janeiro, RJ
BRASIL
Internet: https://www.mar.mil.br/
Military History[edit | edit source]
Brazil was involved in the following military actions:
1555–1560 The French invaded Guanabara.
1567 Men de Sá expelled the French and occupied Guanabara Bay.
1500s Bandeiras (members of expeditions to the hinterland in conquest of new land, gold, and precious stones) formed their local militia units without royal permission.
1624–1654 The Dutch invaded and occupied parts of Brazil. After a battle in 1641 the Dutch were expelled in 1654. Most battles were fought by local militia.
1710–1711 The War of Mascates, a clash between planters of Olinda and the merchants of Recife, occurred.
1825–1828 The Cisplatina War, between Argentina and Brazil, occurred. Brazil lost Uruguay.
1851–1852 Brazil warred with Argentina.
1864–1870 Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay warred with Paraguay in the War of the Triple Alliance.