Caramuru
Encyclopedia
Diogo Álvares Correia called Caramuru by the Tupinambá, was a Portuguese
settler born in Viana do Castelo. He departed for Brazil
in 1509, and his ship wrecked in the coast of Bahia, Diogo Álvares found himself among the Tupinamba Indians. The Tupinamba called him "Caramuru" ("Moray Eel
" or "Creator of Fire") because on the shape and the fire of his weapon.
Later, Diogo Álvares founded a settlement called Vila Velha and married Paraguaçu (or Paraguassu), the daughter of Tupinamba's chief Morubixava Taparica. During the following twenty years, Diogo Álvares kept contact with European ships and used his influence on local Indians to help the Portuguese Crown and missionaries during the early years of Brazilian
colonization.
In 1526, he traveled to France
with his wife. Paraguaçu was baptized by Mary Catherine des Granches, wife of Jacques Cartier
, under the name Catarina.
A couple of years later, he returned to Bahia
and aided Tomé de Sousa in founding Salvador and creating the first Brazilian General-Government, by the request of King João III of Portugal
.
He died in October 1557, was buried in the Church of Jesus, and left half of his wealth to the Jesuits
. His wife, Catarina Paraguaçu died in 1582.
His sons, Gaspar, Gabriel and Jorge were declared knights by Governor Tomé de Sousa.
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...
settler born in Viana do Castelo. He departed for 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...
in 1509, and his ship wrecked in the coast of Bahia, Diogo Álvares found himself among the Tupinamba Indians. The Tupinamba called him "Caramuru" ("Moray Eel
Moray eel
Moray eels are cosmopolitan eels of the family Muraenidae. The approximately 200 species in 15 genera are almost exclusively marine, but several species are regularly seen in brackish water and a few, for example the freshwater moray can sometimes be found in freshwater...
" or "Creator of Fire") because on the shape and the fire of his weapon.
Later, Diogo Álvares founded a settlement called Vila Velha and married Paraguaçu (or Paraguassu), the daughter of Tupinamba's chief Morubixava Taparica. During the following twenty years, Diogo Álvares kept contact with European ships and used his influence on local Indians to help the Portuguese Crown and missionaries during the early years of Brazilian
History of Brazil
The history of Brazil begins with the arrival of the first indigenous peoples, thousands of years ago by crossing the Bering land bridge into Alaska and then moving south....
colonization.
In 1526, he traveled to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
with his wife. Paraguaçu was baptized by Mary Catherine des Granches, wife of Jacques Cartier
Jacques Cartier
Jacques Cartier was a French explorer of Breton origin who claimed what is now Canada for France. He was the first European to describe and map the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the shores of the Saint Lawrence River, which he named "The Country of Canadas", after the Iroquois names for the two big...
, under the name Catarina.
A couple of years later, he returned to Bahia
Bahia
Bahia is one of the 26 states of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast. It is the fourth most populous Brazilian state after São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, and the fifth-largest in size...
and aided Tomé de Sousa in founding Salvador and creating the first Brazilian General-Government, by the request of King João III of Portugal
John III of Portugal
John III , nicknamed o Piedoso , was the fifteenth King of Portugal and the Algarves. He was the son of King Manuel I and Maria of Aragon, the third daughter of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile...
.
He died in October 1557, was buried in the Church of Jesus, and left half of his wealth to the Jesuits
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
. His wife, Catarina Paraguaçu died in 1582.
His sons, Gaspar, Gabriel and Jorge were declared knights by Governor Tomé de Sousa.
- The historical episode was the central theme of a Portuguese poemPortuguese literatureThis is a survey of Portuguese literature.The Portuguese language was developed gradually from the Vulgar language spoken in the countries which formed part of the Roman Empire and, both in morphology and syntax, it represents an organic transformation of Latin without the direct intervention of...
by Santa Rita DurãoSanta Rita DurãoJosé de Santa Rita Durão was a Colonial Brazilian Neoclassic poet, orator and Augustinian friar. He is considered a forerunner of the "Indianism" in the literature of Brazil, with his epic poem Caramuru....
(XVIII Century, Minas Gerais), titled Caramuru.
- Caramuru appears briefly in Mário de AndradeMário de AndradeMário Raul de Morais Andrade was a Brazilian poet, novelist, musicologist, art historian and critic, and photographer. One of the founders of Brazilian modernism, he virtually created modern Brazilian poetry with the publication of his Paulicéia Desvairada in 1922...
's MacunaímaMacunaíma (novel)Macunaíma is a 1928 novel by Brazilian writer Mário de Andrade. It is one of the founding texts of Brazilian modernism.The novel follows a young man, Macunaíma, "a hero without a character," born in the Brazilian jungle and possessing strange and remarkable abilities , as he travels to São Paulo...
. He is also the main character in the film comedy Caramuru - A Invenção do BrasilCaramuru - A Invenção do BrasilCaramuru: A Invenção do Brasil is a Brazilian romantic comedy film released 9 November 2001. It is a loose, comedic adaptation of the epic poem Caramuru, written in 1781 by Brazilian friar Santa Rita Durão.- Plot :...
.
See also
- Hans StadenHans StadenHans Staden was a German soldier and mariner who voyaged to South America. On one voyage, he was captured by the Tupinambá people of Brazil whom he claimed practiced cannibalism...
- Pākehā MāoriPakeha MaoriPākehā Māori is a term used to describe early European settlers in New Zealand who lived among the Māori. Some were kept by the Māori as slaves, while others settled in Māori communities by choice, many being runaway seamen or escaped convicts...
- Gonzalo GuerreroGonzalo GuerreroGonzalo Guerrero was a sailor from Palos, in Spain who shipwrecked along the Yucatán Peninsula and was taken as a slave by the local Maya. Earning his freedom, Guerrero became a respected warrior under a Maya Lord and raised three of the first mestizo children in Mexico...
- John YoungJohn Young (Hawaii)John Young was a British subject who became an important military advisor to Kamehameha I during the formation of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was left behind by Simon Metcalfe, captain of the American ship Eleanora, and along with a Welshmen Isaac Davis became a friend and advisor to Kamehameha...
- Jim BridgerJim BridgerJames Felix "Jim" Bridger was among the foremost mountain men, trappers, scouts and guides who explored and trapped the Western United States during the decades of 1820-1850, as well as mediating between native tribes and encroaching whites...
Further reading
- Crow, John A.; The Epic of Latin America (Fourth Edition); University of California Press, 1992; Pages 139-140.