Dias Lopes, Isidoro (1865–1949)
Dias Lopes, Isidoro (1865–1949)
Known as the "Rebel General," Isidoro Dias Lopes was one of the most dynamic military leaders in the Brazilian army. Born in Dom Pedrito, Rio Grande do Sul, in 1865, he joined the army in 1883, enlisting in the Thirteenth Infantry Battalion of Porto Alegre. Even though he supported the Republic, he left the army to join the Federalist revolution. Defeated, he went into exile in Paris in 1895. He was granted amnesty and returned to the army to continue his military career.
In 1924, even as a retired general (he had retired in 1923), he played a prominent role in the tenentista movement. Chosen as one of its leaders, he was among those largely responsible for the uprising of July 5th. After a few weeks Isidoro ordered the rebels to withdraw to Paraná, where they would later join Luís Carlos Prestes's group. Even without participating directly in the Prestes Column march, Isidoro still enjoyed great prestige among its leaders. In October 1930 he took command of the Second RM (Military Region). In 1931 he disagreed with the course taken by the Getúlio Vargas administration and began defending a return of the country to constitutional rule. He participated in the controversial Constitutionalist revolution of 1932 and was deported to Portugal after its defeat. He returned to Brazil in 1934, after being pardoned once again. In 1937 he criticized the Vargas coup. He died in Rio de Janeiro in 1949.
See alsoBrazil, Revolutions: Federalist Revolt of 1893; Prestes, Luís Carlos; Prestes Column; Tenentismo; Vargas, Getúlio Dornelles.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Capelato, Maria Helena. O movimento de 1932: A causa paulista. São Paulo: Editora Brasiliense, 1981.
Carvalho, José Murilo de. Forças armadas e política no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: Jorge Zahar Editor, 2005.
Castro, Celso, Vitor Izecksohn, and Hendrik Kraay. Nova história militar brasileira. Rio de Janeiro: FGV/Bom Texto, 2004.
Prestes, Anita Leocádia. A Coluna Prestes. São Paulo: Editora Brasiliense, 1990.
Fernando Vale Castro