Vila Rica Revolt

Quick Facts: Who was Vila Rica Revolt?

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Vila Rica Revolt

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A 1720 colonial revolt in Minas Gerais against Portuguese crown taxation and control.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Vila Rica Revolt (Portuguese: Revolta de Vila Rica), also known as Vila Rica Sedition, was a colonial revolt against the Portuguese crown. It took place between June 28 and July 19, 1720, in Vila Rica, a city in the Royal Captaincy of Minas de Ouro and Campos Gerais dos Cataguases, in Colonial Brazil. It is traditionally considered a nativist movement by Brazilian historiography, and one of the precursors of the so-called Minas Gerais Conspiracy. Recent reviews show that it was part of a cycle of local contestations that sought to correct errors of the administration. It is also commonly referred to as Filipe dos Santos Revolt, after one of its leaders.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Among its direct causes were the creation of the foundry houses, the prohibition of the circulation of gold dust and the monopoly of the main commodities by reinóis (those born in Portugal). The revolt was met with an energetic reaction from governor Pedro Miguel de Almeida Portugal e Vasconcelos, the Count of Assumar, that culminated with the execution of its main leader, Filipe dos Santos. The Minas region (now Minas Gerais state) had already experienced great upheavals that showed, as Pedro Calmon says, a "brave people, vain of their power" in the mountains, aware that the law would only be enforced if its inhabitants agreed. This is how, in the beginning of the 18th century, the War of the Emboabas began, pitting the emboaba Manuel Nunes Viana against D. Fernando de Mascarenhas and the Paulistas, and which resulted in the separation of the Captaincy of São Paulo and Minas de Ouro in 1709. The laws, in the sertão, were imposed by true "régulos" (as one governor recorded in 1737).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The government was distant and lacked strength in these places, unlike the inhabitants - supportive, organized and armed. The production of the mines grew, while the taxes sent to the royal court remained stagnant. In Portugal, an explanation was demanded; it lay in smuggling, which caused enormous damage to the royal treasury. One of the measures adopted, in 1719, was the foundry houses imposition forbidding the circulation of gold dust and demanding that all ore had to be smelted in one of those institutions to be created in Vila Rica, Sabará, São João del-Rei and in Vila do Príncipe. These were the places where the royal fifth would be paid.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1709: 1709 Milestone — Fernando de Mascarenhas and the Paulistas, and which resulted in the separation of the Captaincy of São Paulo and Minas de Ouro in 1709.
2. 1719: 1719 Milestone — One of the measures adopted, in 1719, was the foundry houses imposition forbidding the circulation of gold dust and demanding that all ore had to be smelted in one of those institutions to be created in Vila Rica, Sabará, São João del-Rei and in Vila do Príncipe.
3. 1720: 1720 Milestone — It took place between June 28 and July 19, 1720, in Vila Rica, a city in the Royal Captaincy of Minas de Ouro and Campos Gerais dos Cataguases, in Colonial Brazil.
4. 1737: 1737 Milestone — The laws, in the sertão, were imposed by true "régulos" (as one governor recorded in 1737).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Vila Rica Revolt

True or False: “The Vila Rica Revolt was primarily a protest against the imposition of new taxes by the Crown.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): While local discontent existed over administration, the immediate catalyst for the revolt was the enforcement of measures like foundry houses and gold dust prohibitions.

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