in the summer of 1922, the republican government of brazil was bracing for a revolt, and the forte of copacabana would earn its place in history in that year. the citizens were not revolting, it was the army - to thwart the rebellious plan, the government closed many of its army bases.

the forte de copacabana, however, was already occupied by the revolutionaries - the government's ultimatum to these rebels was to either surrender or suffer the consequences of death. the rebel officers allowed the lower-rank soldiers to leave, the eighteen officers, who remained were all lieutenants.