Entre a monarquia e a etnia: Antônio Pessoa Arcoverde e o cargo de governador dos índios em Pernambuco (c. 1654-c. 1694)

Abstract

In the second half of the 17th century, the process of Portuguese interiorization in America needed an intermediar pole of negotiation between indigenous and Portuguese cultures, in order to connect the hinterland to the center of government. Under the title of Governor of the contributions of Antônio Pessoa Arcoverde to the consolidation of Portuguese in this territory and the political-administrative mechanisms used by him to strengthen his negotiating power over the colonial authorities. Using the documental base of the Overseas Historical Archive provided by Projeto Resgate and the historiography related to the said post, an investigation will focus on the certificates made by the tabajra leader, which include the military services in the wars in Pernambuco and in the hinterlands – against blacks and opposites around enterprise – during the years 1654 to 1694. Thus, the colonial administrative structure is problematized, since Antônio Pessoa Arcoverde had privileges unavailable to a goof parto f the population due to the actions of his military company.