People of Portuguese & Spanish Colonies in AmericaBy Tiffany Jacobs

HIST 140 (#50607)

Diego Vasicuio (Spanish)

Male

Early-mid 17th Century

Climax of story takes place in May, 1671

From the Village of Salamanca

In Southern Peru

Chose to live under the influence of Spanish rule

Wanted to be near sacred hillside cave of Canuea

Participated in the Mita System

Forced by Spanish into labor program

On a 2 month rotation

Paid to work at dangerous mines, or haciendas, or textile workshops

Diego Vasicuio continued

Religious Chief Priest Custodian of his ‘god’, “Sorimana”

Enthusiastic supporter of his cult

Performed religious ceremonies, offered sacrifices & prayers

Subject of a heresy charge by Spanish Catholic priest Father de Prado demanded surrender of his ‘god’

Demanded repentance from witchcraft and idolatry

Diego preserved his ritual, religion & ‘god’ Surrender a fake idol and acted repentant

Adapted to the demands of the Catholic church to survive

Francisco Baquero (Spanish)

Male

Mid-Late 1700’s, beginning about 1776

Born in Buenos Aires Lived in Buenos Aires until death or migration by 1810

Mestizo Non-white, dark skinned, claimed to be Indian at times

Conveniently indecisive about his social/race group

Shoemaker Started as apprentice at 12 years old

Became a journeyman 4 years later

Failed at attempts to organize/influence shoemaker guild

Francisco Baquero continued

Master Shoemakers and Artisans try to form a guild Repeated attempts at elections & drafts of constitutions

Three major groups and leaders at war Romero & anti-foreigner group

Baquero & non-whites

Foreigners & recent immigrants from Spain

Baquero’s conflict Wanted social standing that guild membership provided

Did not care which race or group was excluded as long as he was a part of the other group

Was unsuccessful at final attempt to establish a casta guild for non-whites/mestizos/blacks

Died a bitter and angry man in isolation

Beatriz de Padilla (Spanish)

Female, 30 years old, unmarried

Mid 1600’s, 1650 was time of inquisition

Born in Lagos Near Guadalajara in New Spain (Mexico)

Mulatta Although she claimed to be a lighter-skinned Morisca

Daughter of a white man and mulatta mother

Housekeeper and Mistress She was born a slave and given her freedom

Excelled at being a mistress!

Beatriz de Padilla Continued

Accused Murderess and Sorceress Accused of poisoning her lover/father of her child, a priest, Diego

Ortiz Saavedra

Accused of sorcery in maddening of her lover/father of her children, lord mayor of Juchipila, don Diego de las Marinas

Trial was a convoluted, complex “soap opera”

Witnesses were embittered ex-servants

Many involved had a connection to Beatriz or her lovers, their brothers/sisters/wives, etc.

Beatriz the saint?

Her story is glorified by explanation that Beatriz guaranteed the survival of her race by “breeding” with whites

She did not conform to cultural & social regulations because her skin color did not require her to

She was obstinate & flippant about her charms being “between her legs”

She was considered a “Jezebel” by others but this story portrays her as a hero

Micaela Angela Carrillo (Spanish)

Female, married to Juan Tapia y Luna, later widowed

Mid to Late 1700’s

Nuestra Senora de Asuncion Amozoque Modern-day Amazoc

Large Indian population compared to the rest of Mexico

Spanish & Indian – she operated and was respected in both circles Daughter of Spaniard, Diego Carrillo & Indian cacique of Amozoque,

Maria Gutierrez

Not being an Indian, she had greater freedom

Landowner & Manufacturer of Pulque Performed “man’s labor”, rode horses, worked in fields

Hard working, purchased land, contributed to religious groups, provided for her children

Retained her independence

Micaela Angela Carrillo Continued

Property battle between son & illegitimate daughter Three children with husband & three illegitimate daughters

Distributed most of her property prior to her death to guarantee her illegitimate daughter’s could receive property

Divided property according to Indian law

After her death, son Estaban, who had received largest share of Micaela’s property, filed lawsuit against sister, Maria Antonia

He won but later an appeal overturned the decision

Micaela’s industriousness guaranteed her independence Despite patriarchal society

Provided for all of her children & daughters too

Damiana da Cunha (Portuguese)

Female

18th Century, baptized in 1780

Goias of Brazil She lived in Sao Jose or Maria Primeria

Member of the Caiapo Granddaughter of Angrai-Oxa Indians

Lived in the Aldeia

Many roles, no occupation Heroine, teacher, missionary, mediator, expedition leader

Damiana da Cunha Continued

Adapted to Settled Way of Life Intelligent, well spoken, brave, Christian

Wanted the Caiapo to adapt to the new civilized way of life offered in the Aldeia

Acted on her Christian beliefs to bring Caiapo back repeatedly to civilization

Catechized Indians of the Goias

Died trying to keep the dream of Christian peace alive

Believed the civilized life was the way to save her people from extinction

Catarina de Monte Sinay (Portuguese)

Female, nun

Late 1600’s to Late 1700’s

Bahia, Brazil Desterro Convent

Father born in Portugal and emigrated to Brazil

Nun and entrepeneur Sold sweets

Made loans

Rented houses

Gave gifts

Owned slaves

Catarina de Monte Sinay Continued

Deeply committed and content Spent her life doing business

Attributed that talent to her father

Amassed significant wealth in her lifetime

Made generous gifts to the chapel

Was proud the gifts were functional and decorative

At her death she was deeply concerned about confessing her sins of entrepreneurialism

All was done without the permission of the archbishop

Applied her talents for the good of others and was so humble she doubted her salvation – truest form of religion!