Operation Farroupilha

Operation Farroupilha was the temporary transfer of the seat of government of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul from the Piratini Palace in the capital Porto Alegre to a military brigade barracks in Passo Fundo in the northwest of the state. It was planned by Governor Ildo Meneghetti and executed between April 1 and 3, 1964 as part of the coup d'état in Brazil in 1964.

In 1961 Rio Grande do Sul was fundamental in guaranteeing the inauguration of president João Goulart through the Legality Campaign. However, in 1964 the political scenario had changed and Meneghetti's state government was in opposition. The governor participated in the conspiracies that would lead to the coup, and the idea of the Operation had been developed since 1963. However, his intention was to confront the state leftist forces in conjunction with the 3rd Army in Operations "Aliados" or "Combate". Operation Farroupilha was an alternative plan activated on April 1 after legalist general Ladário Pereira Teles took command of the 3rd Army in Porto Alegre and supported the second Legality Campaign initiated by Leonel Brizola. Threats from the 3rd Army, which intended to requisition the Military Brigade, and from anti-coup demonstrators in front of the Piratini Palace, led to Meneghetti's escape from the capital in the afternoon. He was practically deposed, and Porto Alegre remained in the hands of Goulart's supporters. However, the Military Brigade remained loyal to the governor.

Meneghetti took important figures from his administration with him. His options for transferring the capital were Passo Fundo and Santa Maria. Passo Fundo was chosen because of its proximity to the border with Santa Catarina, the alliance with Mayor Mário Menegaz, and the larger numbers of the Military Brigade in contrast to the Army. The governor arrived at night and ordered the preparation of military forces in the city to recapture Porto Alegre. He was allied with General Mario Poppe de Figueiredo and his "Revolutionary 3rd Army", which controlled most of the army units in the interior of Rio Grande do Sul in contest to General Ladario's authority. On April 2, Goulart, the target of the coup, passed through Porto Alegre and refused Ladário and Brizola's offer of a military confrontation. General Ladário agreed to hand over his command and the coup triumphed, making a reconquest unnecessary. The troops of the governor and General Poppe entered Porto Alegre on April 3, and the gaucho government returned to its original capital.