A serviço D`el-Rei: O governo de João da Maia da Gama na Capitania da Paraíba (1708 – 1717)

Abstract

After rendering military services by years in India and in The War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1714), the Lusitanian João da Maia da Gama was awarded with the charge of captain-major and governor of Paraiba in 1708. Coming into port at the captainship in a critical period of Brazilian colonial history, João da Maia took part actively in the colonial administration, outlining plans and strategies in the military, economic and political fields, including an involvement in The Mascate War in Pernambuco. Utilizing as main sources the documentation of the Overseas Historical Archive (OHA) and the Historical Documents from the National Library (HDNL), the present dissertation intends to analyse from the political culture standpoint of the Ancient Regime, the performance and the practices by João da Maia da Gama in the exercise of their governmental functions, observing their juridic boundaries and the possibility of autonomy in face to the metropolitan guidelines. Furthermore, it aims at investigating his involvement in commercial activities and observing how his intervention in Pernambuco’s conflict was put into effect – the most remembered action by historiography -, seeking to perceive the plausible political motivations and strategies involved in the governor’s action.