De Gestis Meni de Saa
Encyclopedia
De Gestis Meni de Saa is a poem written about 1560 (see 1560 in poetry
) by José de Anchieta
, a 16th century Portuguese
Jesuit missionary in Brazil
, who was called the "Apostle of Brazil." The poem describes the "heroic deeds" of Portuguese soldiers "fighting in the immense wilderness."
The wars referred to were actually aimed at the systematic conquest and destruction of Tupi villages and fields and the enslaving of their inhabitants, as a means of "putting an end to cannibalism
" and facilitating their Christianization. Anchieta and his fellow-Jesuit Manuel da Nóbrega
supported and actively promoted that aggressive policy.
1560 in poetry
Nationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature .-Events:* Pierre Ronsard becomes court poet to Charles IX of France...
) by José de Anchieta
José de Anchieta
José de Anchieta was a Canarian Jesuit missionary to Brazil in the second half of the 16th century. A highly influential figure in Brazil's history in the 1st century after its discovery on April 22, 1500 by a Portuguese fleet commanded by Pedro Álvares Cabral, Anchieta was one of the founders of...
, a 16th century Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
Jesuit missionary in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, who was called the "Apostle of Brazil." The poem describes the "heroic deeds" of Portuguese soldiers "fighting in the immense wilderness."
The wars referred to were actually aimed at the systematic conquest and destruction of Tupi villages and fields and the enslaving of their inhabitants, as a means of "putting an end to cannibalism
Cannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
" and facilitating their Christianization. Anchieta and his fellow-Jesuit Manuel da Nóbrega
Manuel da Nóbrega
Manuel da Nóbrega was a Portuguese Jesuit priest and first Provincial of the Society of Jesus in colonial Brazil...
supported and actively promoted that aggressive policy.