Otaviano was born in
Rio de Janeiro in 1825, to Otaviano Maria da Rosa, a doctor, and Joana Maria da Rosa. He entered the
Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de São Paulo in 1841, graduating in 1845. Returning to Rio, he started to collaborate for newspapers such as
Sentinela da Monarquia, the
Official Gazette of the Empire of Brazil,
Jornal do Commercio and
Correio Mercantil. From 1867 to 1869 he was the
deputy (later
senator) of the Empire of Brazil, and served as the
negotiator of the
Treaty of the Triple Alliance among
Brazil,
Argentina and
Uruguay. During the negotiations of the Treaty of the Triple Alliance in 1865, Otaviano displayed a marked anti-Argentine sentiment, characterized by deep distrust toward Argentine ambitions and a firm prioritization of Brazilian imperial interests. His instructions from the Brazilian government explicitly emphasized preventing Argentina from hindering Brazil’s military actions against Paraguay. Contemporary observers, including the British minister
Edward Thornton, noted a evident “coldness” between Otaviano and the Argentine authorities, attributing it to the Brazilian plenipotentiary’s intransigent demands. Otaviano pushed for clauses that limited Argentine territorial gains and influence in the post-war settlement, reflecting a broader Brazilian elite perception of Argentina as a potential rival rather than a genuine partner. This stance contributed to the hurried signing of the treaty on 1 May 1865, but also sowed seeds of long-term friction within the alliance. He died in 1889. ==Works==