Mariana was the seamstress and maid of
Francisca Elisa Xavier, wife of Portuguese-Brazilian captain major
Manuel Francisco Xavier. She was at one point married to José, another enslaved person who was forced to work in the fields. She was one of the leaders of a massive revolt against the
Brazilian Empire in 1838 that helped to free around 400 other enslaved people in the Vale do Café region of
Rio de Janeiro province. The revolt was led by both Mariana and
Manuel Congo, who was at that point Mariana's companion, with both being named by fellow enslaved people as King and Queen. She was responsible for helping the women, children, and elderly escape. She was about 30 years old by that point. The revolt was very successful, as 300 of the around 400 that were freed were able to escape. Those who escaped eventually reunited to participate in the rebellion. In response, the Brazilian National Guard was called in a contingent of 180 men led by then-Coronel
Luís Alves de Lima e Silva. They captured Mariana and 15 other enslaved people, though they were acquitted. Mariana, however, was forced to watch the execution of Manuel Congo. ==Legacy==