Publication Date
2010
Categories
According to the information contained in Breve Descrição Geográfica, Física e Politica de Minas Gerais by Diogo de Vasconcelos, Ouro Preto (Vila Rica) is located at 339º and 48' longitude and 20º 24' latitude (currently at 43º and 30' longitude West and 20º and 23' latitude South, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil), within the Captaincy of Minas Gerais, in Portuguese America.
Ouro Preto which initially was called Vila Rica, emerged from the unification of the markets of Ouro Preto, Caquete (a commercial center for trading slaves, cattle, and provisions), Passa Dez, which is located opposite the first, Antonio Dias Market, and Father Faria Market. The markets had developed gradually in areas of mining activity, where gold was extracted from the neighbouring stream beds.
The early years of occupation were marked by constant incidents of violence between the prospectors as well as by a generalized shortage of provisions (1699). As the years passed, the supply of provisions became relatively regular, hand in hand with the arrival and departure of the tropeiros (groups of merchants) who traveled the roads to the Ports of Parati and, after, Rio de Janeiro, crossing the sertões [backlands] and trading rations, slaves, and all sorts of necessary goods. Vila Rica de Albuquerque, which was founded on 8 April, 1711, by Governor António de Albuquerque Coelho de Carvalho - before Minas Gerais had become a captaincy separate from São Paulo - did not attain confirmation of its name. The Royal Letter of 15 December, 1712 named it Vila Rica de Nossa Senhora do Pilar de Ouro Preto. On the date of the establishment of the town, the Municipal Council was installed; its members were elected in the manner defined by the Ordenações do Reino [the Kingdom´s Law Code]: by six residents selected by the residents (owners).
After 1720, with the establishment of the Captaincy of Minas Gerais separate from the Captaincy of São Paulo, Vila Rica became capital of the Captaincy, headquarters of government, and site of the main edifices of the metropolitan authorities in the Colony, which were built during the 18th century. The Government Palace (1740) is situated in Vila Rica. It currently is one of the buildings of Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto and of the Museum of Mineralogy. Vila Rica is also the site of the Municipal Building and Jail, whose construction started in 1785 and where the Museum of the Inconfidência, the Royal House of Contracts or Casa dos Contos, and the Magistrates´ House are located - all operate as museums nowadays. Finally, the Opera House, one of the oldest theaters in South America (built before 1740), is located in Vila Rica as well.
The year 1720 was marked by the Rebellion of Felipe dos Santos, which occurred during the government of the Count of Assumar, Dom Pedro de Almeida. The principal reason for the revolt was the attempt to re-establish Foundry Houses for the collection of the quinto tax (the fifth part of gold production owed the Crown), as ordained by the King in the royal letter of 8 February, 1719, as substitution for the fintas taxation system (pre-established amount to be paid annually). Wanting to impose greater authority over Minas Gerais, the Count of Assumar ordered the setting on fire of the settlement of Morro do Pascoal, where the rebellion leaders were hidding and had the main leader, Felipe dos Santos, hung and quartered.
After the 1730s, when the quietação dos povos [silencing of the peoples] was felt, Vila Rica had streets lined with houses, and the Mother Church of Pilar, built with stucco, had become too small to house the faithful. The construction of an expanded church was arranged, to display the wealth of the region as well as the civilizational codes of metropolitan society. The Santíssimo Sacramento [blessed, consecrated Host] and paroquial jurisdiction were temporarily moved to the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary. Once the work of expansion of the Mother Church was completed on 24 May, 1733, the ceremony of transfer of the Santíssimo Sacramento to the Church of Nossa Senhora do Pilar was preceded by celebrations, leading up to the day of the cerimonial procession. The event was narrated by Simão Ferreira Machado in the account entitled Triunfo Eucarístico.
Around 1780, the population of Vila Rica comprised a significant number of the Colony´s intellectual elite. The first residents, who were wealthy, had their sons educated in the Universities of the Kingdom and other European universities. When he assumed the government of the Captaincy in 1783, Dom Luis da Cunha Menezes was not concerned with pleasing this intellectual elite. At the same time, the echos of the North American movement of independence and Illuminist ideals in general were spreading throughout the region. This constituted sufficient motivation for some of the most influential men of the mining cities, Portuguese included, to begin planning the development of a Republican State in Minas Gerais. In 1788, the conspiracy rapidly spread to all areas of the Captaincy.
The rebellion never happened. One of the plotters, Joaquim Silvério dos Reis, who was in substantial financial debt to the Crown, denounced all who were involved in exchange for the forgiveness of his debts. The leaders were arrested and, except for Cláudio Manoel da Costa, who died in prison, exiled to Africa. The main leader, Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, nicknamed Tiradentes [Tooth Extractor], was arrested on 10 May, 1789 and hung on 21 April, 1792 in Rio de Janeiro.
After the declaration of independence (1822), Vila Rica became the capital of Minas Gerais province in 1823, by order of EmperorDom Pedro I and, as of then, was called Imperial City of Ouro Preto.
With the proclamation of the Republic (1889), for topographical reasons, the city of Ouro Preto was unable to expand in order to accomodate new government buildings.
On 12 December, 1897, the new capital of the State of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, was inaugurated. Ouro Preto lost the place it had occupied for nearly one century. In order to preserve its historical and architectural patrimony, in 1980 it became the first Brazilian city to be declared Historical and Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Bibliography:
BORREGO, Maria Aparecida de Menezes, Códigos e Práticas: o processo de constituição urbana em Vila Rica colonial (1702-1748), São Paulo, Annablume, 2004. BRANDÃO, Ambrósio F. Diálogos das grandezas do Brasil. (1618). Rio de Janeiro: Dois Mundos, sd. LIMA JÚNIOR, Augusto de, Vila Rica de Ouro Preto: síntese histórica e descritiva, Rio de Janeiro, EGL, 1996. REVISTA do Arquivo Público Mineiro, Ano XXXI, Belo Horizonte, 1980 (Transcrição da 2ª parte do Códice 23, Seção Colonial, Registro de Alvarás, Cartas, Ordens Régias e Cartas do Governador ao Rei, 1721-1731, folhas 91 a 188v.). PAES, Maria Paula D. C., Vislumbres do Sol, Teatro do Controle. Prudência e Persuasão nas Minas do Ouro, Belo Horizonte, UFMG, 2000 p. 92-123. VASCONCELOS, Diogo Pereira Ribeiro de, Breve Descrição Geográfica, Física, Política da Capitania de Minas Gerais (1804), Belo Horizonte, Fundação João Pinheiro, 1994.
Translated by: Maria João Pimentel
Ouro Preto which initially was called Vila Rica, emerged from the unification of the markets of Ouro Preto, Caquete (a commercial center for trading slaves, cattle, and provisions), Passa Dez, which is located opposite the first, Antonio Dias Market, and Father Faria Market. The markets had developed gradually in areas of mining activity, where gold was extracted from the neighbouring stream beds.
The early years of occupation were marked by constant incidents of violence between the prospectors as well as by a generalized shortage of provisions (1699). As the years passed, the supply of provisions became relatively regular, hand in hand with the arrival and departure of the tropeiros (groups of merchants) who traveled the roads to the Ports of Parati and, after, Rio de Janeiro, crossing the sertões [backlands] and trading rations, slaves, and all sorts of necessary goods. Vila Rica de Albuquerque, which was founded on 8 April, 1711, by Governor António de Albuquerque Coelho de Carvalho - before Minas Gerais had become a captaincy separate from São Paulo - did not attain confirmation of its name. The Royal Letter of 15 December, 1712 named it Vila Rica de Nossa Senhora do Pilar de Ouro Preto. On the date of the establishment of the town, the Municipal Council was installed; its members were elected in the manner defined by the Ordenações do Reino [the Kingdom´s Law Code]: by six residents selected by the residents (owners).
After 1720, with the establishment of the Captaincy of Minas Gerais separate from the Captaincy of São Paulo, Vila Rica became capital of the Captaincy, headquarters of government, and site of the main edifices of the metropolitan authorities in the Colony, which were built during the 18th century. The Government Palace (1740) is situated in Vila Rica. It currently is one of the buildings of Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto and of the Museum of Mineralogy. Vila Rica is also the site of the Municipal Building and Jail, whose construction started in 1785 and where the Museum of the Inconfidência, the Royal House of Contracts or Casa dos Contos, and the Magistrates´ House are located - all operate as museums nowadays. Finally, the Opera House, one of the oldest theaters in South America (built before 1740), is located in Vila Rica as well.
The year 1720 was marked by the Rebellion of Felipe dos Santos, which occurred during the government of the Count of Assumar, Dom Pedro de Almeida. The principal reason for the revolt was the attempt to re-establish Foundry Houses for the collection of the quinto tax (the fifth part of gold production owed the Crown), as ordained by the King in the royal letter of 8 February, 1719, as substitution for the fintas taxation system (pre-established amount to be paid annually). Wanting to impose greater authority over Minas Gerais, the Count of Assumar ordered the setting on fire of the settlement of Morro do Pascoal, where the rebellion leaders were hidding and had the main leader, Felipe dos Santos, hung and quartered.
After the 1730s, when the quietação dos povos [silencing of the peoples] was felt, Vila Rica had streets lined with houses, and the Mother Church of Pilar, built with stucco, had become too small to house the faithful. The construction of an expanded church was arranged, to display the wealth of the region as well as the civilizational codes of metropolitan society. The Santíssimo Sacramento [blessed, consecrated Host] and paroquial jurisdiction were temporarily moved to the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary. Once the work of expansion of the Mother Church was completed on 24 May, 1733, the ceremony of transfer of the Santíssimo Sacramento to the Church of Nossa Senhora do Pilar was preceded by celebrations, leading up to the day of the cerimonial procession. The event was narrated by Simão Ferreira Machado in the account entitled Triunfo Eucarístico.
Around 1780, the population of Vila Rica comprised a significant number of the Colony´s intellectual elite. The first residents, who were wealthy, had their sons educated in the Universities of the Kingdom and other European universities. When he assumed the government of the Captaincy in 1783, Dom Luis da Cunha Menezes was not concerned with pleasing this intellectual elite. At the same time, the echos of the North American movement of independence and Illuminist ideals in general were spreading throughout the region. This constituted sufficient motivation for some of the most influential men of the mining cities, Portuguese included, to begin planning the development of a Republican State in Minas Gerais. In 1788, the conspiracy rapidly spread to all areas of the Captaincy.
The rebellion never happened. One of the plotters, Joaquim Silvério dos Reis, who was in substantial financial debt to the Crown, denounced all who were involved in exchange for the forgiveness of his debts. The leaders were arrested and, except for Cláudio Manoel da Costa, who died in prison, exiled to Africa. The main leader, Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, nicknamed Tiradentes [Tooth Extractor], was arrested on 10 May, 1789 and hung on 21 April, 1792 in Rio de Janeiro.
After the declaration of independence (1822), Vila Rica became the capital of Minas Gerais province in 1823, by order of EmperorDom Pedro I and, as of then, was called Imperial City of Ouro Preto.
With the proclamation of the Republic (1889), for topographical reasons, the city of Ouro Preto was unable to expand in order to accomodate new government buildings.
On 12 December, 1897, the new capital of the State of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, was inaugurated. Ouro Preto lost the place it had occupied for nearly one century. In order to preserve its historical and architectural patrimony, in 1980 it became the first Brazilian city to be declared Historical and Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Bibliography:
BORREGO, Maria Aparecida de Menezes, Códigos e Práticas: o processo de constituição urbana em Vila Rica colonial (1702-1748), São Paulo, Annablume, 2004. BRANDÃO, Ambrósio F. Diálogos das grandezas do Brasil. (1618). Rio de Janeiro: Dois Mundos, sd. LIMA JÚNIOR, Augusto de, Vila Rica de Ouro Preto: síntese histórica e descritiva, Rio de Janeiro, EGL, 1996. REVISTA do Arquivo Público Mineiro, Ano XXXI, Belo Horizonte, 1980 (Transcrição da 2ª parte do Códice 23, Seção Colonial, Registro de Alvarás, Cartas, Ordens Régias e Cartas do Governador ao Rei, 1721-1731, folhas 91 a 188v.). PAES, Maria Paula D. C., Vislumbres do Sol, Teatro do Controle. Prudência e Persuasão nas Minas do Ouro, Belo Horizonte, UFMG, 2000 p. 92-123. VASCONCELOS, Diogo Pereira Ribeiro de, Breve Descrição Geográfica, Física, Política da Capitania de Minas Gerais (1804), Belo Horizonte, Fundação João Pinheiro, 1994.
Translated by: Maria João Pimentel