Uma capitania mal-sucedida: política e economia em Itamaracá entre os séculos XVII e XVIII

Abstract

This work aims to analyze the conflicts surrounding the political and economic situation of the captaincy of Itamaracá in the 17th century, the loss of its autonomy, and consequently, its annexation to the captaincy of Pernambuco. We will depict the model of remote administration promoted by the grantees, in addition to analyzing the structures of social and power relations within the captaincy. To do so, we will discuss local powers and how administrative positions within the grant were distributed, addressing their functions and obligations within the captaincy and duties towards the Crown. In addition, we will expose the revenues of the captaincy of Itamaracá and the interest that the captaincy of Pernambuco had in them. We will make reference to the uprising of Goiana as one of the most illustrative conflicts regarding political groups and their disputes of interests, especially after the Dutch invasion in the region, which led to the incorporation of the captaincy of Itamaracá by the Crown. Finally, we will attempt to explain how Itamaracá endured in the possession of the grantees for so long, even amid a period of successive incorporations into the Crown, while also presenting the reasons established by historians that seek to explain the failure of this captaincy.