Homens de armas e de negócios: cristãos-novos mercadores nas guerras de conquista da Paraíba e Sergipe d’El-Rei (1585 – 1590)

Abstract

During the 16th century, the process of Iberian overseas expansion followed different elements of violence across the intersection between wars of conquest and long-distance trade. Often merchants served as both men-at-arms and businessmen, aiming to penetrate overseas markets, secure their positions in a given commercial circuit, or earn profits and material goods from the spoils of warfare. In light of these elements, this research aims to understand different aspects regarding the participation of mercantile agents in the wars of conquest of the captaincies of Paraiba (1585) and Sergipe d’El Rei (1590) through the trajectories of New Christian merchants connected to overseas commercial networks, that took part directly in the conflicts. Both campaigns intended to establish new Portuguese settlements in Brazil while enslaving the indigenous populations, besides expanding the sugar industry and the internal supply needed to support this market. To achieve the said purpose, we inspect the lives and itineraries of selected individuals through the traces left by sources such as the inquisitorial records and the chronicles of the campaigns. This effort intends to understand their motives, respective participations, prizes of war, and the relationship established by the subjects with the conquered territories in the aftermath of battle.