The Circular of Teófilo Otoni: The Luzia Democracy of the Washed Necktie

Resumo

He was born on November 27th, 1807 in the old town of Vila do Príncipe (Princeville), now called Serro, in the State of Minas Gerais. (MG). He was brought up in a family with close ties to politics and at the age of 19 was sent to the Court to do a course at the Marine Academy (currently the Naval College). Once in Rio, he joined the Freemasons and moved towards the liberal opposition. Following a request for the termination of his course at the Academy in Marinhaem in 1830, (as a result of his activities in political opposition), Otoni returned to his home town where he began to publish a newspaper with republican tendencies called A Sentinela do Serro [The Sentinel of Serro]. After the abdication of Dom Pedro I, he agreed to reach a compromise with the monarchy provided it became democratic.