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A Study in Military Leadership: The Sargento Mor in the Portuguese South Atlantic Empire*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 December 2015

David Tengwall
David Tengwall*
Affiliation:
Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, Maryland
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Extract

The principal and only talent requisite for a governor was conscience… A good lawyer sufficed for administering justice, the camera for political affairs, and for war, the sargento mor…

Padre António Vieira commenting on the colonial government of Brazil to the Crown in 1654.

On the Tagus River approximately eight kilometers from the center of Lisbon stands a monument to Portuguese overseas exploration and expansion—O Padrão dos descobrimentos — erected in 1960 on the 500th anniversary of Prince Henry the Navigator. Facing the Tagus is Prince Henry. Flanking him on each side and representing the reasons behind the success of Portuguese exploration and expansion are several symbolic figures. King Manuel, during whose reign many of the discoveries were made, illustrates the complete support of the Crown that many of the expeditions enjoyed. A priest carrying a cross depicts the religious motives behind expansion—the spreading of Christianity to the heathen. There are also a caulker and a carpenter both important in the production of new sailing vessels. A pilot with an astrolabe portrays the significance of the scientific aspects of overseas exploration. Luís de Camões holds his Os Lusiadas, the epic poem that depicted the triumphs of Portuguese expansion. There are even widows in tears to remind viewers of the great loss of men that Portugal suffered during her conquests. Another important figure depicted on the monument is the conquistador with drawn sword, the symbol of the military—“the backbone of the empire.”

Type
Research Article
Information
The Americas , Volume 40 , Issue 1 , July 1983 , pp. 73 - 94
Copyright
Copyright © Academy of American Franciscan History 1983

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Footnotes

*

A portion of this paper was read at the 30th Annual Conference of the Center for Latin American Studies, University of Florida, Gainesville.

Research for this article was done with aid of a Fulbright-Hays Fellowship and a University of California Patent Award that enabled me to spend 10 months in Lisbon, Portugal in 1976-1977.

The following abbreviations have been adopted in the footnotes:

AHU Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino, Lisbon

ANTT Arquivo National da Tôrre do Tombo, Lisbon

BA Biblioteca da Ajuda, Lisbon

DH Documentos Históricos, 120 vols. Rio de Janeiro, 1928-in progress.

References

1 de Azevedo, J. Lucio, Cartas do Padre António Vieira 3 (Coimbra, 1925), p. 419.Google Scholar

2 Statement made by Salvador Correa de Sá e Benavides in the consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino of 11 October 1656, AHU, cód. 46, fol. 10-10v.

3 Serrão, Joel, Dicionario de História de Portugal 4 vols (Lisboa, 1971), III, p. 797.Google Scholar

4 de Mendonça, Marcos Carneiro, Raizes da Formação Administrativa do Brasil (Lisboa, 1972), pp. 157–175.Google Scholar

5 de Gouvea Pinto, Antônio Joaquim, Memorias Estatistico Historico Militar (Lisboa, 1832), p. 23 Google Scholar; see also Selvagem, Carlos, Portugal Müitar (Lisboa, 1931), pp. 378–379 Google Scholar; see also de Magalhaes Sepulveda, Christovão Ayres, História da Cavallaria Portuguesa 4 vols (Lisboa, 1889–1894), 2, pp. 61–62.Google Scholar

6 Barreiros, José Baptista, Subsidio Para a História da Guerra da Restauração (Lisboa, 1955), p. 8.Google Scholar

7 Ibid., pp. 8–9.

8 Mendona, , Raizes da Formaão, pp. 289–293.Google Scholar

9 Ibid.

10 Royal letters patent of 19 March 1588, ANTT, Chancelaria de Filipe I, Doações, liv. 17,fol. 165.

11 Royal letters patent of 1 March 1591, ANTT, Chancelaria de Filipe I, Doações, liv. 24, fol. 74.

12 Garcia, Rodolfo, Ensaio Sôbre a História Político e Administrativa do Brasil, 1500–1800 (Rio de Janeiro, 1956), p. 118.Google Scholar

13 Royal letters patent of 25 January 1602, ANTT, Chancelaria de Filipe II, Doações, liv. 6, fol. 280v. For a short biographical sketch of Campos Moreno see Vianna, Helio, ed., Livro Que da Razão do Estado do Brasil—1612 (Recife, 1955), pp. 48–49 Google Scholar. For his activities in Brazil see also do Salvador, Frei Vincente, História do Brasil, pp. 361, 404, 407–410.Google Scholar

14 Livro Que da Razão, pp. 38–49.

15 In recommending Manuel da Almeida Ferraz for the position of sargento mor of Maranhão, governor Balthazar de Sousa stated that the new sargento mor must be a man of practical experience in war, as Ferraz was. See consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 13 May 1652, AHU, cód. 14, fol. 390–390V.

16 Mendonça, , Raizes da Formação, pp. 289–293.Google Scholar

17 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 7 June 1706, AHU, cód. 274, fol. 181–181v.

18 Mendonça, , Raizes da Formação, pp. 289–293.Google Scholar

19 Ibid.

20 Miguel Belo da Costa, sargento mor of Maranhão received a letter from governor Francisco de Sá e Meneses that the fortifications might be in danger of pirates. The governor told Costa to use funds from the Royal Treasury to rebuild the fortifications and furnish them with troops and supplies. BA, 51-V-44, fol. 248 (24 February 1686). Francisco Garcez Barreto, sargento mor in São Vicente, was also ordered by the governor Antonio Lopes da Costa to inspect the fortifications in that captaincy. See royal letters patent of 6 March 1644, A NTT, Chancelaria de Afonso VI, Doações, liv. 16, fol. 184.

21 Gouvea suggested that sixty men for the new fortress on the Amazon should be sufficient. Also there should be five pieces of iron artillery—4 pieces of 4 pound weight, and one of 2 pound weight. There should also be two brass artillery pieces—one of 4 pound weight and one of 2 pound. Each canon should have 100 balls plus six barrels of powder. See consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 19 September 1648, AHU, cód. 14, fol. 133–133v; AHU, Maranhão, papeis avulsos, caixa 2, Doc. #113.

22 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 15 February 1652, AHU, cód. 14, fol. 373-373v. Miguel Belo da Costa, sargento mor of Maranhão, received word from governor Francisco de Sá e Meneses concerning the disobedience of the settlers in Maranhão. The governor restated the philosophy of the Conselho Ultramarino that those disobeying the law of the Crown must be punished. BA, 51-V-44, fol. 190–191 (14 November 1684).

23 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 8 February 1687, AHU, cód. 18, fol. 92v; AHU, Maranhão, papeis avulsos, caixa 4, fol. 142.

24 Belchior da Fonseca Saraiva, while serving as sargento mor of Sergipe d’El Rey, received a letter from governor Afonso Furtado de Castro do Rio de Mendonça dated 24 April 1684, stating that Dom Rodrigo Cáetelo Branco, provedor e administrador das minas (treasurer and administrator of the mines) of Itabaiana, was coming to inspect the mines of Sergipe. The sargento mor was ordered to give Castelo Branco whatever assistance necessary and to record any new findings. DH, vol. 8, pp. 391. Sebastião Velho de Lima, sargento mor of São Vicente, received a letter from the governor-general of Brazil on 28 November 1674, ordering him to draw up a map of the mining discoveries in Pernagua. DH, vol. 6, pp. 292–293.

25 Antônio Galvão, chosen sargento mor of Rio de Janeiro, was the Crown’s choice, because he could best fill in for the governor Salvador de Brito Pereira if and when he was called away or was unable to govern. See consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 6 October 1648, AHU, cód. 14, fol. 117–117v. In 1651, with the death of Pereira, sargento mor Galvão was in fact elected by the camara as interim governor serving until February, 1654. See consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 17 September 1661, AHU, cód. 16, fol. 21v-22.

26 de Castelo Branco, Antônio do Couto, Memorias Militares (Amsterdam, 1719), pp. 9–11.Google Scholar

27 Manuel Lopes, sargento mor do terço, governed his terço for one year with the death of his mestre de campo Antônio Jacome Bezerra. AHU, Pernambuco, papeis avulsos, caixa 8 ( 1 July 1682).

28 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 16 March 1697, AHU, Pernambuco, papeis avulsos, caixa 7.

29 Letter from Ataide to Gomes, 25 September 1654, DH, vol. 4, pp. 174-177; DH, vol. 5, pp. 217–220.

30 Pedro de Miranda, sargento mor do terço for mestre de campo Francisco Figueroa in Pernambuco, had a similar duty to demonstrate and instruct the militia in the interior in the handling of arms. See consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 29 May 1665, AHU, cód. 84, fol. 147v-148.

31 In the follow up to this regimento, Pedro Gomes received a letter from Conde de Attouguia authorizing Gomes to impose a ban on soldiers in the Reconcavo from withdrawing from the military. DH, vol. 3, pp. 225 (18 October 1654). Insufficient numbers of soldiers being a constant problem, Attouguia wrote Gomes two years later (16 June 1656) stating that the sargento mor must encourage all settlers to use their slaves to serve in the military, a common practice in the South Atlantic empire. See letter from Attouguia to Gomes, , DH, vol. 3, p. 346.Google Scholar

32 See letter from governor-general to Mendonça e Eça of 27 January 1705, DH, vol. 40, pp. 295–296.

33 See appointment made by governor of Pernambuco of 9 July 1679, DH, vol. 25, pp. 245–246.

34 Royal letters patent of 24 November 1701, AHU, cód. 123, fol. 524–524v; ANTT, Chancelaria de Pedro II, Doações, liv. 44, fol. 200v.

35 Domingos Froes de Tovar, a candidate for sargento mor of Maranhão in 1687, had not presented his papers in the specified time period, according to the orders of the Conselho Ultramarino, and consequently was not even considered for the post. See consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 29 January 1687, AHU, cód. 18, fol. 92v.

36 Bernardo Nogueira de Sousa, a candidate for sargento mor of Maranhão, listed in his petition that he served as a soldado in the Alentejo beginning in 1641. He claimed to have, in 1644, served at the battle of Montijo, where he received 23 wounds (most of them deadly!): four head wounds, three wounds in his left hand, one in the right leg, and fifteen in his chest and stomach area. He somehow recovered to continue his military service in the Restoration. The Conselho Ultramarino was not impressed by his battle scars, however, and chose him third. See consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 29 August 1664, AHU, cód. 16, fol. 122-122ν; AHU, Maranhão, papeis avulsos, caixa 4, Doc. #107.

37 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 3 April 1664, AHU, cód. 46, fol. 266–266v; AHU, Pará, papeis avulsos, caixa 1.

38 Crown award of 5 September 1664, AHU, Pará, papeis avulsos, caixa 1.

39 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 28 January 1665, fol. 148-148v; AHU, Maranhão, papeis avulsos, caixa 4, Doc. #117.

40 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 17 February 1661, AHU, cód. 16, fol. 5-5v; AHU, Maranhão, papeis avulsos, caixa 4, Doc. #51. For Cabo Verde see consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 1 July 1661, AHU, cód. 16, fol. 16-16v; AHU, Cabo Verde, papeis avulsos, caixa 3, Doc. #420. João Soares was a candidate for sargento mor of Maranhão in 1661. The Conselho Ultramarino mentioned that it was not an impediment for Soares not having served as a capitão, as he had conformed to the rules of the military. However, the Conselho Ultramarino did not rank him any higher than third. See consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 17 February 1661, AHU. cód. 16,5-5v; AHU, Maranhão, papeis avulsos, caixa 4, Doc. #51. Gaspar Gonzalves Cardoso, a candidate for sargento mor of Pará in 1655, was the second choice of the Conselho, because he had only served as an artillery captain rather than an infantry captain. See consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 26 April 1655, AHU, cód. 15, fol. 164–165; AHU, Pará, papeis avulsos, caixa 1.

41 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, AHU, cód. 16. fol. 320–321; AHU, Cabo Verde, papeis avulsos, caixa 6, Doc. #25.

42 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 24 September 1648, AHU, cód. 14, fol. 135–135v.

43 Ibid.

44 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 19 November 1654, AHU, cód. 15, fo. 137–138; AHU, Maranhão, papeis avulsos, caixa 3, Doc. #76.

45 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 20 November 1654, AHU, cód. 15, fol. 134–135v.

46 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 14 October 1645, AHU, cód. 13, fol. 251v.

47 Royal letters patent of 14 December 1645, ANTT, Chancelaria de João Iv, Doações, liv. 17, fol. 199.

48 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 13 November 1648, AHU, cód. 14, fol. 144v-145; AHU, Cabo Verde, papeis avulsos, caixa 2a, Doc. #270.

49 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 31 May 1651, AHU, cód. 14, fol. 297-298; AHU, Rio de Janeiro, papeis avulsos, caixa 2, Doc. #706.

50 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 30 January 1671, AHU, cód. 16, fol. 421v-421; AHU, Cabo Verde, papeis avulsos, caixa 4, Doc. #64. For Crown see royal letters patent of 25 February 1671, AHU, cód. 118, fol. 58v-59; AHU, Cabo Verde, papeis avulsos, caixa 4, Doc. #140; ANTT, Chancelaria de Afonso VI, Doações, liv. 41, fol. 66v-67.

51 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 18 February 1699, AHU, cód. 19, fol. 179v-180; AHU, Paraiba papeis avulsos, caixa 5. Christavão de Gouvea de Miranda, appointed capitão e sargento mor of liha do Fogo in 1672, petitioned again for the same post in 1681. One of the important factors determining the Crown’s recommendation was that the members of the town council of Ilha do Fogo wrote a letter of support recommending Miranda for another three year term. See consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 5 July 1681, AHU, cód. 17, fol. 332–332v; AHU, Cabo Verde, papeis avulsos, caixa 4, Doc. #169.

52 For Bras Osorio see consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 5 December 1695, AHU, cód. 19, fol. 2-3; AHU, Cabo Verde, papeis avulsos, caixa 6. For Pedro Lopes Filgueira see consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 17 January 1696, AHU, cód. 18, fol. 435-436; AHU, Angola, papeis avulsos, caixa 12. For Filipe Pereira Velho see consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 16 January 1685, AHU, cód. 18, fol. 8v-9.

53 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 13 May 1652, AHU, cód. 14, fol. 390–390v.

54 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 20 November 1654, AHU, cód. 15, fol. 134v-135.

55 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 1 February 1658, AHU, cód. 15, fol. 293v-194v; AHU, Cabo Verde, papeis avulsos, caixa 3, Doc. #407.

56 Ibid.

57 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 13 January 1698, AHU, cód. 19, fol. 60v-61. For Crown award see royal letters patent of 21 March 1698, AHU, cód. 123, fol. 73v-74; A NTT, Chancelaria de Pedro II, Doações, liv. 52,fol. 290v-291.

58 Royal letters patent of 14 November 1694, ANTT, Chancelaria de Pedro II, Doações, liv. 22, fol. 152–153.

59 Royal letters patent of 23 July 1704, AHU, cód. 124, fol. 224 v.

60 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 20 November 1671, AHU, cód. 17, fol. 14; AHU, Cabo Verde, papeis avulsos, caixa 4, Doc. #73.

61 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 3 October 1677, AHU, cód. 17, fol. 244-246; AHU, Maranhão, papeis avulsos, caixa 6, Doc. #25.

62 Royal letters patent of 28 May 1678, AHU, cód. 119, fol. 69v-70; ANTT, Chancelaria de Afonso VI, Doações, liv. 32, fol. 106v-107.

63 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 15 June 1684, AHU, cód. 17, fol. 420; AHU, Cabo Verde, papeis avulsos, caixa 5.

64 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 18 January 1685, AHU, cód. 18, fol. 8v-9.

65 Royal lettera patent of 30 July 1666, AHU, cód. 117, fol. 222v-223; ANTT, Chancelaria de Afonso VI, Doações, liv, 22, fol. 158–158v.

66 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 5 February 1686, AHU, cód. 18, fol. 50v-52; AHU, Paraíba, papeis avulsos, caixa 5.

67 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 26 February 1701, AHU, Cabo Verde, papeis avulsos, maço 1.

68 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 2 September 1656, AHU, cód. 15, fol. 248–249.

69 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 24 March 1702, AHU, cód. 19, fol. 311v-312.

70 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 26 October 1648, AHU, cód. 14, fol. 117–117v.

71 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 28 September 1668, AHU, cód. 16, fol. 296-296v; AHU, Pará, papeis avulsos, caixa 1.

72 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 12 August 1667, AHU, cód. 16, fol. 228v-230; AHU, Paraíba, papeis avulsos, caixa 1.

73 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 20 April 1682, AHU, cód. 17, fol. 377v; AHU, Maranhão, papeis avulsos, caixa 7, Doc. #3. See consulta of 16 January 1685, AHU, cód. 18, fol. 8v-9.

74 Consulta of the Conselho Ultramarino, 25 June 1682, AHU, cód. 17, fol. 377v; AHU, Maranhão, papeis avulsos, caixa 7, Doc. #3.

75 One exception was Jose Velho de Azevedo, appointed sargento mor of Pará for a six year term. See royal letters patent of 13 March 1693, AHU, cód. 121, fol. 287–287v; ANTT, Chancelaria de Pedro II, Doações, liv. 50, fol. 161.

76 Royal letters patent of 7 February 1656, AHU, cód. 116, fol. 211–211v; ANTT, Chancelaria de João IV, Doações, liv. 27, fol. 147-147v.

77 Royal letters patent of 11 November 1699, AHU, cód. 123, fol. 298–298v.

78 Junior, Caio Prado, The Colonial Background of Modem Brazil, translated by Macedo, Suzette (Berkeley, 1967), p. 349.Google Scholar

79 Crown letter to Gouvea of 30 August 1647, AHU, Maranhão, papeis avulsos, caixa 2, Doc. #69.

80 Boxer, C.R., Race Relations in the Portuguese Colonial Empire, 1415–1825(Oxford, 1963), p. 2.Google Scholar