Martim Soares Moreno
Encyclopedia
Martim Soares Moreno, probably born in 1586, was a Portuguese
explorer who defended the interests of the crown in Brazil, fighting French pirates and Dutch
invaders during decades.
His uncle, Diogo de Campos Moreno says that "he was sent very young with Pêro Coelho de Sousa, so that while serving in that expedition he could learn the language of the Indians, and their customs, devoting himself to them, and making himself very familiar, and a relative or friend to them, as they say." He participated in the Pêro Coelho expedition to Ceará in 1603 and ended up becoming, years later (1612), the virtual founder of that colony. There he built, on the river Ceará, a fort and a chapel, with the help of the Indians that he brought from Rio Grande do Norte
.
This period of his life served as the historical basis for José de Alencar
's novel Iracema
.
That same year, on the orders of Jerónimo de Albuquerque Maranhão, he reconnoitered Maranhão
, occupied by the French, who had stirred up the people of that land. On his return, however, his ship was driven by the wind to the Antilles
. In 1614 he was in Seville
, in Spain
.
The next year, now a captain, he returned to Maranhão, together with reinforcements of 900 men, which made possible the definitive expulsion of the French and the capture of the city of São Luís. In 1616 he was captured on the high seas by a French Corsair, after a violent battle that left him seriously wounded with a cut on the face and the loss of a hand.
The charter letter of May 26, 1619 made him lord of the captaincy of Ceará, in thanks for his services. There, in 1624 and 1625, he repelled the attacks of two Dutch ships.
In 1630 he dedicated himself to fighting the Dutch invasion of Pernambuco. He left Ceará with a few Indians and soldiers and arrived at the Arraial do Bom Jesus in June of 1631. In the initial phase of the fight, he took part in the blockade of the Dutch forces in Recife
and Olinda
. He always distinguished himself, as a combatant and interpreter with the Indians. In subsequent years he took part in the defense of Paraíba
and of Cunhaú (in Rio Grande do Norte
).
The Dutch having defeated the Portuguese colonial resistance, and the Portuguese Monarchy having been restored
in 1640, a truce was signed between Portugal
and the Netherlands
. Nevertheless, in 1645, Martim Soares Moreno took part in the clandestine movement that ended with the expulsion of the Dutch from Brazilian territory.
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...
explorer who defended the interests of the crown in Brazil, fighting French pirates and Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
invaders during decades.
His uncle, Diogo de Campos Moreno says that "he was sent very young with Pêro Coelho de Sousa, so that while serving in that expedition he could learn the language of the Indians, and their customs, devoting himself to them, and making himself very familiar, and a relative or friend to them, as they say." He participated in the Pêro Coelho expedition to Ceará in 1603 and ended up becoming, years later (1612), the virtual founder of that colony. There he built, on the river Ceará, a fort and a chapel, with the help of the Indians that he brought from Rio Grande do Norte
Rio Grande do Norte
Rio Grande do Norte is one of the states of Brazil, located in the northeastern region of the country, occupying the northeasternmost tip of the South American continent. Because of its geographic position, Rio Grande do Norte has a strategic importance. The capital and largest city is Natal...
.
This period of his life served as the historical basis for José de Alencar
José de Alencar
José Martiniano de Alencar was a Brazilian lawyer, politician, orator, novelist and dramatist. He is one of the most famous writers of the first generation of Brazilian Romanticism, writing historical, regionalist and Indianist romances — being the most famous The Guarani...
's novel Iracema
Iracema
Iracema is one of the three indigenous novels by José de Alencar. It was first published in 1865.-Plot introduction:The story revolves around the relationship between the Tabajara indigenous woman, Iracema; and the Portuguese colonist, Martim, who was allied with the Tabajara nation's enemies, the...
.
That same year, on the orders of Jerónimo de Albuquerque Maranhão, he reconnoitered Maranhão
Maranhão
Maranhão is a northeastern state of Brazil. To the north lies the Atlantic Ocean. Maranhão is neighbored by the states of Piauí, Tocantins and Pará. The people of Maranhão have a distinctive accent...
, occupied by the French, who had stirred up the people of that land. On his return, however, his ship was driven by the wind to the Antilles
Antilles
The Antilles islands form the greater part of the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea. The Antilles are divided into two major groups: the "Greater Antilles" to the north and west, including the larger islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola , and Puerto Rico; and the smaller "Lesser Antilles" on the...
. In 1614 he was in Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
The next year, now a captain, he returned to Maranhão, together with reinforcements of 900 men, which made possible the definitive expulsion of the French and the capture of the city of São Luís. In 1616 he was captured on the high seas by a French Corsair, after a violent battle that left him seriously wounded with a cut on the face and the loss of a hand.
The charter letter of May 26, 1619 made him lord of the captaincy of Ceará, in thanks for his services. There, in 1624 and 1625, he repelled the attacks of two Dutch ships.
In 1630 he dedicated himself to fighting the Dutch invasion of Pernambuco. He left Ceará with a few Indians and soldiers and arrived at the Arraial do Bom Jesus in June of 1631. In the initial phase of the fight, he took part in the blockade of the Dutch forces in Recife
Recife
Recife is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Brazil with 4,136,506 inhabitants, the largest metropolitan area of the North/Northeast Regions, the 5th-largest metropolitan influence area in Brazil, and the capital and largest city of the state of Pernambuco. The population of the city proper...
and Olinda
Olinda
Olinda is a historic city in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco, located on the country's northeastern Atlantic Ocean coast, just north of Recife and south of Paulista...
. He always distinguished himself, as a combatant and interpreter with the Indians. In subsequent years he took part in the defense of Paraíba
Paraíba
Paraíba Paraíba Paraíba (Tupi: pa'ra a'íba: "bad to navigation"; Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation: is a state of Brazil. It is located in the Brazilian Northeast, and is bordered by Rio Grande do Norte to the north, Ceará to the west, Pernambuco to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the east...
and of Cunhaú (in Rio Grande do Norte
Rio Grande do Norte
Rio Grande do Norte is one of the states of Brazil, located in the northeastern region of the country, occupying the northeasternmost tip of the South American continent. Because of its geographic position, Rio Grande do Norte has a strategic importance. The capital and largest city is Natal...
).
The Dutch having defeated the Portuguese colonial resistance, and the Portuguese Monarchy having been restored
Portuguese Restoration War
Portuguese Restoration War was the name given by nineteenth-century 'romantic' historians to the war between Portugal and Spain that began with the Portuguese revolution of 1640 and ended with the Treaty of Lisbon . The revolution of 1640 ended the sixty-year period of dual monarchy in Portugal...
in 1640, a truce was signed between Portugal
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...
and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. Nevertheless, in 1645, Martim Soares Moreno took part in the clandestine movement that ended with the expulsion of the Dutch from Brazilian territory.