The years following the overthrow of the Brazilian monarchy in 1889 witnessed considerable political unrest. In February 1891 the first president of the new republic, Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca, was elected. However, in November, after ordering the closing of Congress, he was forced to resign when Admiral Custódio de Melo threatened to bombard Rio de Janeiro, in what became known as the First Naval Revolt. Vice-President Marshal Floriano Peixoto then assumed the presidency. Since the 1891 Constitution stipulated that new elections had to be held if the president resigned before being in power for two years, Peixoto's rule was regarded by many as illegal; his authoritarian and centralizing tendencies created further discontent. There was also rivalry between the army and the navy, especially because of the superior status of the army in the Republic. Consequently, in March 1892, thirteen generals and admirals signed a manifesto calling for presidential elections in accordance with the Constitution. Peixoto reacted very strongly to this, dismissing or imprisoning the officers.