Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
5 min of reading 
41 comments 
Brazilian Soldier Is Exalted by General Osório as the “Black Hero.” Discover the Story of the Most Feared Warrior of the Brazilian Army in the Paraguayan War and His Legacy of Courage.
The Most Feared Soldier of Brazil: Get ready to learn about one of the most incredible and inspiring stories of the Paraguayan War! Marcolino José Dias, the “Black Hero,” a soldier who earned his place as a legend in the Brazilian Army. Imagine facing dozens of enemies alone, storming a Paraguayan fort, and, as if that weren’t enough, hoisting the flag of the Empire of Brazil at the top. That’s right, Marcolino did all of this, with a courage that seems straight out of a movie, but it really happened!
The largest war in South America began in 1864, when Paraguayan dictator Solano López decided to raise the stakes and seized the Brazilian ship Marquês de Olinda. Not satisfied, he invaded Mato Grosso, starting one of the bloodiest conflicts on the continent. And it was in this chaos that the star of Marcolino José Dias shone. His story is not just about bravery, but also about resilience, determination, and the prominence of Black soldiers who made history. Want to know how he became the terror of the Paraguayans and a true symbol of heroism? Stay here and dive into the details of this epic journey that transformed a soldier into a legend!
Who Was the Brazilian Soldier Exalted by General Osório?
For six endless years, the Empire of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay found themselves entrenched in a catastrophic war that would forever change South American history. The Paraguayan War, one of the greatest conflicts of the 19th century, witnessed heroic deeds by men and women. Unfortunately, many of these deeds were forgotten, and worse, deliberately neglected.
-
A woman went out for a regular walk and ended up finding a treasure buried for over 900 years, with more than 2,000 medieval silver coins compared by archaeologists to a lottery prize and considered one of the most significant finds in recent years in the country.
-
Scientists revealed 11 signs that very intelligent people exhibit in their daily lives, and most people have no idea that some of these common behaviors are directly linked to an above-average brain.
-
From space, Buenos Aires appears as a colossal spot of light surrounded by kilometers of darkness, revealing at a single glance the exact boundary between the metropolis and the countryside, seen from 400 km altitude.
-
NASA spent over 118 million reais to build a single bathroom that works in zero gravity, and it has just gone to space on the first crewed mission to the Moon in more than 50 years.
The most feared soldier of the Brazilian army, Marcolino José Dias, who was exalted by General Osório, was a victim of this forgetfulness. It is believed he was born around 1830. He was also a slave, just like his parents. His owners were the couple Manoel José Dias and Maria Angélica Dias. According to some sources, Marcolino gained his freedom around 1845.
Historiography indicates that Marcolino, even as a former Black slave, managed to pursue a military career in the army, becoming a Sergeant in the National Guard in Bahia. When the Paraguayan War broke out, Quirino Antônio do Espírito Santo, a veteran of the independence war in Bahia, proposed the creation of a military company formed solely by Black volunteers.
The Most Feared Soldier of the Brazilian Army Was Part of the Baiano Zouaves
The company was named Baiano Zouaves, and the name referred to the French infantry soldiers who served in Algeria and other Arab territories in the 19th and 20th centuries. In fact, the uniform of this company was similar to that of the French, including red baggy trousers, a blue jacket embroidered with gold braid, and a small red hat.
According to studies, eleven Zouave companies gathered a total of 638 men, among them was Marcolino, the Brazilian soldier known as the Black Hero who took command of the 2nd regiment of the Baiano Zouaves.
These brave soldiers of the Brazilian army fought in important battles of the Paraguayan War, such as the “Battle of Uruguaiana,” “Battle of Avaí,” the capture of the “Fort of Itapiru,” the “Battle of Tuiuti,” and the tragic “Battle of Curupaty,” where they were nearly decimated.
But of all the battles of the Brazilian army, the most feared soldier entered the military history of the Empire of Brazil, exalted by General Osório, after his feat in the Battle of Curuzu.
Who Was General Osório?
General Osório, whose full name was Manuel Luís Osório, is one of the most iconic figures in Brazilian military history. Born on May 10, 1808, in the city of Nossa Senhora da Conceição do Arroio, now Osório, in Rio Grande do Sul, he had a trajectory marked by bravery, leadership, and loyalty to the fatherland. He joined the army at a young age, actively participating in crucial moments in Brazil’s history, such as the Cisplatina War, the Farroupilha Revolution, and later, the Platina Wars.
However, it was during the Paraguayan War (1864-1870) that Osório solidified his legacy as one of the country’s greatest military leaders. His aggressive strategy and charisma made him an inspiration to the soldiers under his command, earning the respect of both allies and adversaries.
Osório was known not only for his courage in battle but also for his humanity and concern for his subordinates, qualities that endeared him to the army. After his military career, he was granted the title of Marquis of Herval in recognition of his services to Brazil.
His journey is a symbol of bravery and dedication to the nation, and he is still revered today as a national hero and patron of the cavalry of the Brazilian Army.
The Crucial Act of the “Black Hero” to Be Exalted by General Osório
In the midst of the intense battle, with gunfire and explosions, the Brazilian soldier exalted by General Osório climbed onto the back of one of his soldiers and jumped over the wall into the fort, where there were dozens of soldiers from the Paraguayan army.
The “Black Hero” initiated a hand-to-hand struggle with the Paraguayans, defeating them, removing the flag of Paraguay from the fort, and hoisting the Brazilian flag.
The heroic feat of the most feared soldier of the Brazilian army was honorably mentioned by the Commander General of the Brazilian Armed Forces, General Osório, as the “Black Hero.” His courage made headlines in the press of Rio de Janeiro and Salvador. In 1867, Marcolino served in the 8th Corps of Volunteers of the Fatherland. That year, he was also granted honors of the rank of Captain in the Army and Ensign in the National Guard.
Ficou há pensar… Temos tantos heróis do passado lembrados e até feriado nacional. E quanto a este bravo herói nunca vhouvir falar, deveríamos ter um dia em comemoração a ELE,Marcolino Dias ,soldado,Sargento, Capital e por fim Alferes.
Vendo os comentários e rindo muito. Qualquer assunto agora vira baboseira de milico X comuna. A única observação que faço é a seguinte: não interessa seu posicionamento político e ideológico, se é Bolsonaro ou Lula, não importa aqui. O que importa é o que você quer deixar como legado. O herói nacional aqui, escravizado com o aval do governo da época, libertado por seus próprios meios, passou sua vida lutando pelo país como VOLUNTÁRIO. Hoje eu só estou vendo guerreiros voluntários brasileiros só lá na Ucrânia, espero estar errado (nem vou falar do outro lugar senão vira mais um fla-flu ideológico). Será que algum desses lacradores aí teriam essa mesma vontade de fazer a diferença ao invés de ficar de mimimi e arrotando frases de efeito jogando a culpa em políticos?
Herói negro não, BRASILEIRO, como todos os aqueles que se identificam com a genomica dessa nação, independente da contribuição da origem étnica.