Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza (1852-1905)

Photography NADAR (Tempone red) circa 1880 - Draw albumin tones Cepia on cardboard corners - Rare authentic vintage photography done by photographer Nadar father lr'artiste.

Piétro Savorgnan Di Brazza, whose real name is an Italian who was naturalized French after the surrender of Napoleon III at the Battle of Sedan on 1 September 1870. The military defeat of France against Prussia, had the immediate consequence, the proclamation of the Republic.

Savorgnan de Brazza
Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza was born on January 28 1852 in Rome, specifically in Castel Gandolfo, a town of Italy on Lake Albano in the region of Lazio. He began his studies in Rome and completed in Paris where he entered the Ecole Navale as an intern abroad. Having a soft spot for the sea, it eventually integrate the French navy after his naturalization on 12 August 1874.

In 1863, the French colony of Gabon is created almost peacefully. In 1875, the naval officer De Brazza staying. It is stationed in Port-Gentil. His superiors order him intimately to recognize the course of Ogooué that many Europeans at that time to confuse the Congo River whose mouth was discovered by the Portuguese Diego Cao in 1482.
With some subsidies provided by his superiors for the full exploration of longitudinal profile of Ogooué, De Brazza Lambaréné leaves (or center west of Gabon current) on 11 January 1876. It goes back to the river Ogooué Franceville (now Masuku, south-east Gabon) and sinking to the Alima, a tributary of the Congo River. On the banks of the river, his escort, formed among others by the Senegalese Malamine sergeant, was arrested by the Bafourous (*). This people has kept a bad memory blanks after the passage without delicacy, some time ago, Stanley, journalist-explorer French mission to central Africa on behalf of Leopold II, King of the Belgians. Without use of his arms, De Brazza decline. Sick and destitute, he returns to France via Libreville. He left momentarily Central Africa with a firm conviction: Ogooué and Congo rivers were two quite different from the equatorial zone ending in wide estuaries.

In 1878, a review committee of Upper Congo was born in Brussels. On the initiative of Belgian King Leopold II, the committee eventually take the name of «Association Internationale du Congo». This association is a fusion of many national committees including the French committee. She had a dual character: a scientific nature (due to his desire to geographical investigations) and a humanitarian character (because of his efforts for the abolition of slavery still raging inside the Dark Continent in the nineteenth century).

In December 1879, determined to achieve the Congo River and having refused offers of attractive sovereign Belgian, De Brazza returned in equatorial Africa. This time, it performs its mission of discovery and study of «the areas between Lake Gabon and Chad» as the French Committee of the Association Internationale du Congo », though initiated by Leopold II. To accomplish its mission labored for the benefit of France, except the French Committee (principal sponsor of this expedition), De Brazza had also received grants from the French Society of Geography and three departments (Navy, Foreign Affairs and Education). Therefore, this second trip, conducted from 1879 to 1881, was, after all, conclusive. Indeed, it was during this trip that concludes on 10 September 1880 a treaty of «friendship» or «protectorate» with the ruler of the kingdom batek. This kingdom whose territory stretched more along the lines of longitude (from west to east), extending from the east of Gabon in central west of the former Zaire (DRC) Via its territory, which straddles the Congo River, an area was estimated at between 85, 000 and 90, 000 km2. The title of the traditional ruler, who was not an autocrat, was Makoko. The capital of this kingdom called MBE, a city located on the right bank of the Congo, about a hundred kilometers north of Brazzaville.

Therefore Mbé that De Brazza signed a treaty with its famous Makoko (Iloo Mboulignaoh) that prevailed upon arrival. According to the terms of that treaty leonine, Makoko had to leave France «hereditary rights of its supremacy.» Thus, De Brazza could benefit from this treaty to the Kingdom of Makoko French protectorate. Therefore, France, through the De Brazza, could take possession of a portion of in particular Teke territory land Ntamo. It is in the territory of Ncouna, located between the rivers and Impila Djoué which De Brazza will install on 3 October 1880, the post of MFOA. This post MFOA is the starting point for future urban area of Brazzaville. It leaves the post of MFOA in the custody of Sergeant Malamine and two crewmen. A Mbé as MFOA - (who had only seventeen cases) - De Brazza plant the tricolor French flag. This will make Stanley and furious Leopold II. In its majestic fury, Leopold II had vowed that «Mr De Brazza will be great stir, but he was unable to ratify the treaty. We will play with Congo as a toy... «Sentence lost! Car Brazzaville and the colony of Middle Congo French will come to existence.

Before leaving France, De Brazza is also exploring the region of Niari Kouilou-up Atlantic. It crosses the river and reached Tchiloango Landana in Cabinda in December 1880. There is knowledge of French priests: Carrie and Augouard. Both Ecclesiastes will help to occupy the territories of the right bank of the Congo on behalf of France. With this unexpected support, De Brazza can calmly return to France.

In his absence, Stanley will have the unpleasant surprise float on the Kouilou-Niari, the tricolor flag of France. The faithful Malamine, which stands guard, will force Stanley and its impressive escort to turn back, illico presto. The expulsion took place on 27 July 1881.

Meanwhile, De Brazza was on the way back to France. He arrived in Paris in June 1882 when the official reserve him a welcome mid-fig, half grape. The French press took to task. And for good reason? The colonial expeditions had been bad press in the French opinion. The French parliament since the capture of Alsace and Lorraine by Germany, is divided between supporters and opponents of colonization. This opposition is embodied by two men: Jules Ferry and Georges Clemenceau. Their differences of opinion do not preclude the Historical Society to invite De Brazza October 31 1882. A few days later, it is first received by the City Hall of Paris before the city council not awarded him the gold medal. All this leads to the ratification of the Treaty of Mbé by the French Parliament on 21 November 1882. On 2 December 1882, the Chamber of Deputies consideration in the bill of Finance an opportunity to re-route De Brazza to the black continent. Before this third visit, De Brazza was promoted on February 19 1883, Lieutenant and curator of the French Republic in West Africa.

During his stay in Paris to thwart the aims of Stanley, De Brazza took the precaution of sending the Kouilou-Niari, Lieutenant André meet Makosso Cordier My Nsangu, sovereign to the throne of Loango. With one of its dignitaries, the lord Loembe, émissaire the sign of De Brazza, 12 March 1883, the treaty that puts this coastal kingdom under the suzerainty of France. A Bwali (current Diosso) the capital of the kingdom, located halfway between the mouth of Kouilou-Niari and the current site of Pointe-Noire, Cordier plant the French flag. Father and Carrie take this opportunity to implement in Loango (near Bwali), 25 August 1883, the first Catholic church of the Congo. His counterpart, the father Augouard to follow in building on 20 September 1883, the Catholic Mission Linzolo, 30 km south of Brazzaville. As a result, the evangelization of the Congo came to take its first steps.

Former vassal kingdom of Kongo, the Kingdom of Loango became autonomous since the seventeenth century. It includes adjacent areas of Mayumba south-east of Gabon, Cabinda and some south-east of former Zaire (DRC) and the whole basin Kouilou-up Loulombo Niari (ex Dechavanne) south of Brazzaville and spread over most southern territory of Congo-Brazzaville and was border with the kingdom Teke. For a colonial territory in one piece on the right bank of the Congo and ensure the junction between the river and the coast, France had to negotiate immediately with all the chiefs of the area. The person quickly, De Brazza will later send his faithful companions, with local leaders, to obtain peaceful protectorate treaty. Thus Charles de Chavannes sign with Mfumu Nzabi, 11 June 1884 the treaty that puts the territory of Manianga under the protection of France. On 17 October 1884, Albert Dolisie will do the same with the head at Ngaliema Essoukou. With all these treaties often extracted like a puzzle, the territory of Congo-Brazzaville was formed gradually. The Third

De Brazza journey began in March 1883. Apart from its usual crew, De Brazza was accompanied by scientists, auxiliary officers, NCOs from the army and navy. The trip aims to accomplish the creation of new posts and ensure free travel on rivers Ogooué.