The flotilla was established in 1866 by the Brazilian Empire in Itaqui during the Paraguayan War, in order to prevent Paraguayan invasions of Rio Grande do Sul. It included the Pará-class monitors Alagoas and Rio Grande, as well as some smaller wooden ships. The command of the flotilla was briefly abolished in 1871, being combined with that of the Rio Grande do Sul Flotilla. In 1872, however, Estanisláo Przewodowski, a native of Bahia and of Polish origin, was appointed commander of the flotilla.[1]
In 1874, Pamphilo Manoel Freire de Carvalho, a medical lieutenant-captain who had come to the aid of a wounded Brazilian in the nearby Argentine town of Itaqui de Alvear, was assaulted by two healers of Italian origin in front of the local police, who did not react.[2] Przewodowski, in reaction, repeatedly asked the Argentine authorities to hand over the aggressors. Seeing no reaction, he ordered on June 22 that both flotilla monitors execute hourly bombardments against the city's outposts, until, at the fourth firing, a committee of Alvear residents went to Itaqui to negotiate a ceasefire, which Przewodowski granted.[3][4]
"Estanisláo Przewodowski". Revista do Instituto Geographico e Historico da Bahia. 13 (32). Instituto Geográfico e Histórico da Bahia. 1907.
Meira, Antônio Gonçalves (2009). "O Bombardeio de Alvear". Revista Marítima Brasileira. 129 (4/06).
Soares, Eduardo Alvares de Souza (1995). "Oficial da marinha dá nome a Teatro". Revista Marítima Brasileira. 115 (10/12). Rio de Janeiro: Serviço de Documentação da Marinha. ISSN0034-9860.
Gratz, George A. (1999). "The Brazilian Imperial Navy Ironclads, 1865–1874". In Preston, Antony (ed.). Warship 1999–2000. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-724-4.
Empire of Brazil
First Brazilian Republic
Imperial Brazilian Navy
