Gumercindo Saraiva (Arroio Grande, January 13, 1852 – Carovi, Capão do Cipó, August 10, 1894) was a Brazilian soldier, being one of the commanders of the rebel troops known as maragatos, during the Federalist Revolution.

Then they headed north, advancing in November to Santa Catarina and Paraná, with detainees arriving at the city of Lapa, 60 kilometers southwest of Curitiba, and besieging it.

On this occasion, colonel Gomes Carneiro, a loyalist officer, died in February 1894 without surrendering his position to the besiegers, in the episode which became known as the Siege of Lapa.

Admiral Custódio de Melo, leading the armed uprising against president Floriano Peixoto, joined the federalists and occupied the city of Desterro, currently Florianópolis.

Marching through three states, since his departure from Jaguarão until his return to the south, Gumercindo Saraiva and his troops traveled more than 3,000 km on horseback.

In both cities, the political elite, merchants and industrialists, in order to avoid lootings, killings and rapes, decided to make a deal with Saraiva.

This retaliation was in response to successive actions of extremism by the federalists led by Gumercindo Saraiva, which were marked by scenes of brutality: "The soldiers would present themselves half-naked and enter houses to rip curtains in order to make clothes.

In Curitiba, on the imminence of the attack, the people turned to the Ildefonso Pereira Correia, former Baron of Serro Azul, as no other leader inspired confidence.

In defense of the government of the Republic, president Floriano named and sent to Santa Catarina the fiery lieutenant colonel of the army Antônio Moreira César.