Domains of the Faith: missionary policies and the defense of the Portuguese Royal Patronage (Portugal and the Holy See, 1640-1715)

Author(s)

Agatha Francesconi Gatti

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH/SBD)
• Defense date: 2021-06-09

Examining board members

Pedro Luis Puntoni; Caio César Boschi; Pedro António Almeida Cardim; Bruno Guilherme Feitler; Fernando Antonio Novais

• Advisor: Pedro Luis Puntoni

Abstract

The main objective of this thesis is to study the configuration of Portugal\'s missionary policy in the period comprised between the acclamation of D. João IV and the Peace Agreements (Treaty of Utrecht) that marked the end of the Spanish Succession War in 1715. This purpose was carried out working in two main research fronts, both of them, in our view, essential and at the same time complementary to achieve a broad understanding of the proposed theme. The first one intended to understand the background and developments that occurred after the initiative of the Portuguese Crown to create new organizations in order to improve the management of its missionary enterprise. The institution of a Junta de Missões in Portugal (1655) and of Juntas de Missões in overseas spaces, in 1681, are part of a broader movement of specialization in decision-making processes and institutionalization of new political and administrative instances that featured the years after the Portuguese Restoration. On the other hand, the Juntas de Missões are also intertwined with the policies and strategies developed by the Portuguese monarchy to defend its spiritual privileges in overseas territories at a time of severe disputes held on the European space. From this perspective, we were especially interested in the relationship built by Portugal with the Holy See and its mobilization towards the performance of the Sacred Congregation \'De Propaganda Fide\' created in 1622. The political-diplomatic clashes between Portugal and the Holy See in defense of their Patronage rights, and the strategies designed by Portugal in order to oppose a policy of expansion of Catholicism that progressively set up and strengthened in the interior of the Roman Curia, were at the core of the second front of investigation that boosted this work. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/05248-3 - On behalf of the success of the king of Portugal's missions: missionary policy and defense of the Portuguese royal patronage, 1640-1715
• Grantee: Ágatha Francesconi Gatti
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate