Sebastianism
Encyclopedia
Sebastianism, one aspect of the sleeping king folk-motif, is part of the Portuguese and Brazilian mythology and culture. It means waiting for a hero
that will save Portugal and lead it to the Fifth Empire, and known as Eu nacional (national Self). In Brazil
the most important presence of Sebastianism happened in context of Proclamation of Republic, to lead movements such as the War of Canudos
that defended the divine rights of D. Pedro II
to rule Brazilian Empire
.
Fernando Pessoa
also wrote about this hero-to-come in his epic Mensagem (The Message) supporting his ideas on predictions and myths.
The name 'Sebastianism' derives from King Sebastian of Portugal
(January 20, 1554 - August 4, 1578), grandson of John III
, who became heir to the throne due to the death of his father, João, Crown Prince of Portugal in 1554 two weeks before his birth, and who succeeded to the throne three years later. This period saw continued Portuguese colonial expansion
in Africa, Asia and Brazil. Luís de Camões
wrote the Lusiads in his honour. The young King grew up under the guidance of the Jesuits
. He also convinced himself that he was to be Christ's captain in a crusade against Muslims in Africa.
had to swear to yield his throne to Sebastian, in case Sebastian (who would have been 86 years old) were to return.
After his death (or disappearance), Portuguese nobility saw its independence gone (1580). In the time of Habsburg rule (1580-1640), impostor
s claimed to be King Sebastian in 1584, 1585, 1595 and 1598. Because of these events, Sebastian passed into legend as a great Portuguese patriot and hero - the "sleeping King" who would return to help Portugal in her darkest hour, on a misty day.
, contrasting with Brazilian Empire
, where Catholicism was the official religion. In imperial administration, the church had very important roles: functioning as registrar for births, deaths, weddings, and even the recording of property (the control of this in the Portuguese Empire
, which was based in a donation system, became, until recently, a huge problem in the Brazilian economy and Brazilian politics).
The coup d'état of emperor Pedro II
and his republican reforms brought few changes in most people's lifestyle - for example, universal enfranchisement was not enacted -, the greatest change for Brazilians really was the "godless" government
. Catholicism and the monarchy
had been closely tied and strongly effected Brazilian people. Most of the opposition movements to republic in 1890's, 1900's and earlier 1910's had religious motivations. The character of D. Sebastião
returned to people's imagination: he would come back to defend the divine right of the Brazilian Monarchy, who were directly descended from the Portuguese monarchs, to rule in Brazil
and defend Catholicism, which had been removed from government by the Republic.
The most famous presence of Sebastianism appears in the War of Canudos
. This revolt was led by Antonio Conselheiro
and happened in the Brazilian Northeast. This region was in an economic depression since the discovery of large gold mines
in Minas Gerais
, formerly part of Capitania de São Paulo
, that dislocated the economic center to southestern Portuguese America in the 18th century. The only subterfuge for the poverty in the region, overflowed with the abolition of slavery
that produced a huge mass of unemployeds, was the religion. Antonio Conselheiro
prechament was against the Antichrist
republic and conquered a lot of followers, founding a city named Canudos
, where was practiced a cooperative
system and in the summit the population of town was near 25.000 inhabitants in 1897.
Another great movement where Sebastians were found is the Contestado War
, in Santa Catarina
and Paraná
states. The building of São Paulo
-Rio Grande do Sul
Railway by Percival Farqhuar
needed the dispossess of several small proprietys that was considered by Republican Government as "terra devolutas" (useless lands), in this way, there were not any ressarchiments or payments for the railway building. Then the population of the area risen against the Hermes da Fonseca presidence, and, for some of the same reasons that were in Canudos
, the war became a "guerra santa" (jihad
, Religious war
) and got a lot of messianic
symbols, like the flag of the movement, inspired by Knights Templar
, or the miracles done by José Maria de Santo Agostinho, and also the presence of D. Sebastião.
Hero
A hero , in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion...
that will save Portugal and lead it to the Fifth Empire, and known as Eu nacional (national Self). 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...
the most important presence of Sebastianism happened in context of Proclamation of Republic, to lead movements such as the War of Canudos
War of Canudos
The War of Canudos was a conflict between the state of Brazil and a group of some 30,000 settlers who had founded their own community in the northeastern state of Bahia, named Canudos...
that defended the divine rights of D. Pedro II
Pedro II of Brazil
Dom Pedro II , nicknamed "the Magnanimous", was the second and last ruler of the Empire of Brazil, reigning for over 58 years. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he was the seventh child of Emperor Dom Pedro I of Brazil and Empress Dona Maria Leopoldina and thus a member of the Brazilian branch of...
to rule Brazilian Empire
Brazilian Empire
The Empire of Brazil was a 19th-century state that broadly comprised the territories which form modern Brazil. Its government was a representative parliamentary constitutional monarchy under the rule of Emperors Dom Pedro I and his son Dom Pedro II, both members of the House of Braganza—a...
.
Fernando Pessoa
Fernando Pessoa
Fernando Pessoa, born Fernando António Nogueira de Seabra Pessoa , was a Portuguese poet, writer, literary critic and translator described as one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century and one of the greatest poets in the Portuguese language.-Early years in Durban:On 13 July...
also wrote about this hero-to-come in his epic Mensagem (The Message) supporting his ideas on predictions and myths.
Sebastian, the Child King
Sebastian of Portugal
Sebastian "the Desired" was the 16th king of Portugal and the Algarves. He was the son of Prince John of Portugal and his wife, Joan of Spain...
(January 20, 1554 - August 4, 1578), grandson of John III
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...
, who became heir to the throne due to the death of his father, João, Crown Prince of Portugal in 1554 two weeks before his birth, and who succeeded to the throne three years later. This period saw continued Portuguese colonial expansion
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
in Africa, Asia and Brazil. Luís de Camões
Luís de Camões
Luís Vaz de Camões is considered Portugal's and the Portuguese language's greatest poet. His mastery of verse has been compared to that of Shakespeare, Vondel, Homer, Virgil and Dante. He wrote a considerable amount of lyrical poetry and drama but is best remembered for his epic work Os Lusíadas...
wrote the Lusiads in his honour. The young King grew up under the guidance of 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...
. He also convinced himself that he was to be Christ's captain in a crusade against Muslims in Africa.
The birth of a hero and a myth
Almost immediately upon coming of age, Sebastian began plans for a great crusade against the Moroccans of Fez. The Portuguese crusaders crossed into Morocco in 1578 and, against the advice of his commanders, Sebastian marched deep inland. At Ksar El Kebir (Field of the Three Kings) the Portuguese were routed by Ahmed Mohammed of Fez, and Sebastian was almost certainly killed in battle or subsequently executed. But for the Portuguese people, he had just disappeared and would return home one day, to such an extent that, in 1640, King John IV of PortugalJohn IV of Portugal
|-|John IV was the King of Portugal and the Algarves from 1640 to his death. He was the grandson of Catherine, Duchess of Braganza, who had in 1580 claimed the Portuguese crown and sparked the struggle for the throne of Portugal. John was nicknamed John the Restorer...
had to swear to yield his throne to Sebastian, in case Sebastian (who would have been 86 years old) were to return.
After his death (or disappearance), Portuguese nobility saw its independence gone (1580). In the time of Habsburg rule (1580-1640), impostor
Impostor
An impostor or imposter is a person who pretends to be somebody else, often to try to gain financial or social advantages through social engineering, but just as often for purposes of espionage or law enforcement....
s claimed to be King Sebastian in 1584, 1585, 1595 and 1598. Because of these events, Sebastian passed into legend as a great Portuguese patriot and hero - the "sleeping King" who would return to help Portugal in her darkest hour, on a misty day.
Late Sebastianism
In the present day, Sebastianism is used by some intellectuals and politicians in Portugal to criticize the Portuguese society in general and in particular fields such as the economy, saying it is Sebastianist, that is, they are assuming Sebastian will return and solve all their problems so they can ignore them.Late Sebastianism in Brazil
With the Proclamation of Republic in 1889 the Brazilian state became a Secular stateSecular state
A secular state is a concept of secularism, whereby a state or country purports to be officially neutral in matters of religion, supporting neither religion nor irreligion. A secular state also claims to treat all its citizens equally regardless of religion, and claims to avoid preferential...
, contrasting with Brazilian Empire
Brazilian Empire
The Empire of Brazil was a 19th-century state that broadly comprised the territories which form modern Brazil. Its government was a representative parliamentary constitutional monarchy under the rule of Emperors Dom Pedro I and his son Dom Pedro II, both members of the House of Braganza—a...
, where Catholicism was the official religion. In imperial administration, the church had very important roles: functioning as registrar for births, deaths, weddings, and even the recording of property (the control of this in the Portuguese Empire
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
, which was based in a donation system, became, until recently, a huge problem in the Brazilian economy and Brazilian politics).
The coup d'état of emperor Pedro II
Pedro II of Brazil
Dom Pedro II , nicknamed "the Magnanimous", was the second and last ruler of the Empire of Brazil, reigning for over 58 years. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he was the seventh child of Emperor Dom Pedro I of Brazil and Empress Dona Maria Leopoldina and thus a member of the Brazilian branch of...
and his republican reforms brought few changes in most people's lifestyle - for example, universal enfranchisement was not enacted -, the greatest change for Brazilians really was the "godless" government
Secular state
A secular state is a concept of secularism, whereby a state or country purports to be officially neutral in matters of religion, supporting neither religion nor irreligion. A secular state also claims to treat all its citizens equally regardless of religion, and claims to avoid preferential...
. Catholicism and the monarchy
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
had been closely tied and strongly effected Brazilian people. Most of the opposition movements to republic in 1890's, 1900's and earlier 1910's had religious motivations. The character of D. Sebastião
Sebastian of Portugal
Sebastian "the Desired" was the 16th king of Portugal and the Algarves. He was the son of Prince John of Portugal and his wife, Joan of Spain...
returned to people's imagination: he would come back to defend the divine right of the Brazilian Monarchy, who were directly descended from the Portuguese monarchs, to rule 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...
and defend Catholicism, which had been removed from government by the Republic.
The most famous presence of Sebastianism appears in the War of Canudos
War of Canudos
The War of Canudos was a conflict between the state of Brazil and a group of some 30,000 settlers who had founded their own community in the northeastern state of Bahia, named Canudos...
. This revolt was led by Antonio Conselheiro
Antônio Conselheiro
Antônio Conselheiro was a Brazilian religious leader, preacher, and founder of the village of Canudos, the scene of the War of Canudos , a civil rebellion against the central government which was brutally stamped out with the loss of more than 15,000 lives.-Early...
and happened in the Brazilian Northeast. This region was in an economic depression since the discovery of large gold mines
Colonial Brazil
In the history of Brazil, Colonial Brazil, officially the Viceroyalty of Brazil comprises the period from 1500, with the arrival of the Portuguese, until 1815, when Brazil was elevated to kingdom alongside Portugal as the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves.During the over 300 years...
in Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
, formerly part of Capitania de São Paulo
São Paulo (state)
São Paulo is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. Named after Saint Paul, São Paulo has the largest population, industrial complex, and economic production in the country. It is the richest state in Brazil...
, that dislocated the economic center to southestern Portuguese America in the 18th century. The only subterfuge for the poverty in the region, overflowed with the abolition of slavery
Lei Áurea
The Lei Áurea , adopted on May 13, 1888, was the law that abolished slavery in Brazil.It was preceded by the Rio Branco Law of September 28, 1871 , which freed all children born to slave parents, and by the Saraiva-Cotegipe Law , of September 28, 1885, that freed slaves when they reached the age of...
that produced a huge mass of unemployeds, was the religion. Antonio Conselheiro
Antônio Conselheiro
Antônio Conselheiro was a Brazilian religious leader, preacher, and founder of the village of Canudos, the scene of the War of Canudos , a civil rebellion against the central government which was brutally stamped out with the loss of more than 15,000 lives.-Early...
prechament was against the Antichrist
Antichrist
The term or title antichrist, in Christian theology, refers to a leader who fulfills Biblical prophecies concerning an adversary of Christ, while resembling him in a deceptive manner...
republic and conquered a lot of followers, founding a city named Canudos
Canudos
Canudos was a town founded in the racially diverse Bahia state of northeastern Brazil in 1893 by Antônio Vicente Mendes Maciel. Antonio was an itinerant preacher from Ceara who had been wandering through the backroads and lesser-inhabited areas of the country from the 1870s onwards, followed by a...
, where was practiced a cooperative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
system and in the summit the population of town was near 25.000 inhabitants in 1897.
Another great movement where Sebastians were found is the Contestado War
Contestado War
The Contestado War , broadly speaking, was a guerrilla war for land between settlers and landowners, the latter supported by the Brazilian state's police and military forces, that lasted from October 1912 to August 1916....
, in Santa Catarina
Santa Catarina (state)
Santa Catarina is a state in southern Brazil with one of the highest standards of living in Latin America. Its capital is Florianópolis, which mostly lies on the Santa Catarina Island. Neighbouring states are Rio Grande do Sul to the south and Paraná to the north. It is bounded on the east by...
and Paraná
Paraná (state)
Paraná is one of the states of Brazil, located in the South of the country, bordered on the north by São Paulo state, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Santa Catarina state and the Misiones Province of Argentina, and on the west by Mato Grosso do Sul and the republic of Paraguay,...
states. The building of São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
-Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
Railway by Percival Farqhuar
Percival Farqhuar
Percival Farquhar was an American businessman, whose dealings in Latin America are the subject of constant criticism....
needed the dispossess of several small proprietys that was considered by Republican Government as "terra devolutas" (useless lands), in this way, there were not any ressarchiments or payments for the railway building. Then the population of the area risen against the Hermes da Fonseca presidence, and, for some of the same reasons that were in Canudos
Canudos
Canudos was a town founded in the racially diverse Bahia state of northeastern Brazil in 1893 by Antônio Vicente Mendes Maciel. Antonio was an itinerant preacher from Ceara who had been wandering through the backroads and lesser-inhabited areas of the country from the 1870s onwards, followed by a...
, the war became a "guerra santa" (jihad
Jihad
Jihad , an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. In Arabic, the word jihād translates as a noun meaning "struggle". Jihad appears 41 times in the Quran and frequently in the idiomatic expression "striving in the way of God ". A person engaged in jihad is called a mujahid; the plural is...
, Religious war
Religious war
A religious war; Latin: bellum sacrum; is a war caused by, or justified by, religious differences. It can involve one state with an established religion against another state with a different religion or a different sect within the same religion, or a religiously motivated group attempting to...
) and got a lot of messianic
Messiah
A messiah is a redeemer figure expected or foretold in one form or another by a religion. Slightly more widely, a messiah is any redeemer figure. Messianic beliefs or theories generally relate to eschatological improvement of the state of humanity or the world, in other words the World to...
symbols, like the flag of the movement, inspired by Knights Templar
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
, or the miracles done by José Maria de Santo Agostinho, and also the presence of D. Sebastião.
See also
- The Magical Kingdom
- Fifth EmpireFifth EmpireThe Fifth Empire, known as Quinto Império in Portuguese is a mythological concept which became widespread after the publication of the poem A Mensagem, by Fernando Pessoa.- The Concept :...
- SaudadeSaudadeSaudade ) is a unique Galician-Portuguese word that has no immediate translation in English. Saudade describes a deep emotional state of nostalgic longing for an absent something or someone that one loves. It often carries a repressed knowledge that the object of longing might never return...
- Culture of PortugalCulture of PortugalThe culture of Portugal is the result of a complex flow of different civilizations during the past Millennia. From prehistoric cultures, to its Pre-Roman civilizations , passing through its contacts with the Phoenician-Carthaginian world, the Roman period , the...
- PortugalPortugalPortugal , 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...
- Canudos War
- Contestado WarContestado WarThe Contestado War , broadly speaking, was a guerrilla war for land between settlers and landowners, the latter supported by the Brazilian state's police and military forces, that lasted from October 1912 to August 1916....
- Other "hidden" heroes (see also King in the mountainKing in the mountainA king in the mountain, king under the mountain or sleeping hero is a prominent motif in folklore and mythology that is found in many folktales and legends...
)- Jesus Christ for Christianity
- King ArthurKing ArthurKing Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
of England - MahdiMahdiIn Islamic eschatology, the Mahdi is the prophesied redeemer of Islam who will stay on Earth for seven, nine or nineteen years- before the Day of Judgment and, alongside Jesus, will rid the world of wrongdoing, injustice and tyranny.In Shia Islam, the belief in the Mahdi is a "central religious...
for Shiism - King MatjažKralj MatjažKralj Matjaž is a legendary hero in Slovenia, possibly based on a real life king Matthias Corvinus of Hungary. The legend says that he is asleep in Mount Peca in the Alps. When his beard grows nine times around the stone table, he shall awake and bring a golden era to the Slovenes.- The legend...
for SloveniansSloveniansThe Slovenes, Slovene people, Slovenians, or Slovenian people are a South Slavic people primarily associated with Slovenia and the Slovene language.-Population:Most Slovenes today live within the borders of the independent Slovenia... - Emperor Frederick I (Frederick "Barbarossa")Frederick I, Holy Roman EmperorFrederick I Barbarossa was a German Holy Roman Emperor. He was elected King of Germany at Frankfurt on 4 March 1152 and crowned in Aachen on 9 March, crowned King of Italy in Pavia in 1155, and finally crowned Roman Emperor by Pope Adrian IV, on 18 June 1155, and two years later in 1157 the term...
of Germany - Emperor Constantine XIConstantine XIConstantine XI Palaiologos, latinized as Palaeologus , Kōnstantinos XI Dragasēs Palaiologos; February 8, 1404 – May 29, 1453) was the last reigning Byzantine Emperor from 1449 to his death as member of the Palaiologos dynasty...
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A legendary hero of Denmark - Owain LawgochOwain LawgochOwain Lawgoch, , full name Owain ap Thomas ap Rhodri , was a Welsh soldier who served in Spain, France, Alsace and Switzerland. He led a Free Company fighting for the French against the English in the Hundred Years' War...
of Wales - The Gray Champion of The United States of America.