VITORIA AND THE PIRATES

VITORIA AND THE PIRATES

 

Joan Blaeu (1640) Map

 

Terra Brasilis

Brazil was discovered in 22 April of 1500, by Pedro Álvares Cabral and his fleet. But only 30 years after the discovery, Portugal started to worry about Brazil’s colonization, pressured by the pirates that used to raid it seeking for “Pau Brasil”, or in English Brazilwood (Caesalpinia echinata ).

This plant has dense orange-red heartwood that takes a high shine when cut, looking like ember (“braise” in old English or “brasa” in Portuguese). That’s the origin of its name meaning “ember like” wood.  The wood also yields a red dye called brazilin, which oxidizes to brazilein, at the time, the best and most popular used red dye in Royal Europe.

Modern Dyeing with powdered Brazilin; crimson red color dye bath from brazilwood.

 

In fact the whole land was covered with Brazilwood (or simply Brasil or Bresil) and for that reason it was called at that time Land of Brazil or “Terra Brasilis”.

The map below shows the exploration of Brazilwoon in Terra Brasilis. Pretty much the whole country.

 

With “the pirate issue” in mind, in 1531, Martim Afonso de Souza, commanding his mighty navy ported in Pernambuco, he was sent there with the mission of fighting pirates and establishing people’s settlements.  (Northeast on the map)

 

 

By not having enough resources to sponsor the colonization process, the King of Portugal, Don João III accepted the suggestion of dividing Brazil in pieces that would be later distributed to the ones that had interest and means to colonized them. To those pieces we give the name of Captaincies (Capitanias in portuguese).

 

  12 first volunteers presented themselves, mostly came from warrior families, travelers and sailors, people from the court but willing to do the bold enterprise. Among them there was Vasco Fernandes Coutinho, that got the 11^th Captaincy as a donation from the Portuguese Royal Crown, that later would be known as the Captaincy of Espírito Santo ( number 9 as shown on the map).

 

 

THE CAPTAINCY

 

With the donation letter received in June 1^st, 1534, Vasco F. Coutinho shore on a small beach on  23 May of 1535 where he set the first village,  that now is called Prainha de Vila Velha (Prainha = Small Beach) . Because it was the 8^th of Pentecostes, he named the land “Espirito Santo” (Holy Spirit) in honor to the third person of the Holy Trinity.

 

To colonize the land he subdivided it within 60 of the men that came with him. To that division we give the name of Sesmaria a type of private property similar to a feud.

 

 

Because the village’s location didn’t provide much security against the native’s raids, Vasco Coutinho searched a better place in 1549, finding a rocky island, where he set a new village called Vila Nova do Espírito Santo. (literally New Village of the Holy Spirit). After that, the first village was called Vila Velha (Old Village) and so it is nowadays.

 

The constant fights with the native Brazilians kept on going until September 8^th, 1551, day that the Portuguese had a great victory, and to celebrate and save that date, the new village started to be called Vila da Vitória (Village of Victory), now being known as Vitória.

 

Vasco F. Coutinho was more a warrior than an administrator, but some of the  buildings that he built can still be seen like the Rosário Church at the first beach he porte in Vila Velha, built in 1551. This is the Oldest Church in Brazil beign the only temple in the Americas that still preserve the History of Patronage  (Padroado)

 

Igreja do Rosário, na Prainha

 

 

 

Vitoria

Vitória is a city with old buildings. Even before being the capital of the Espírito Santo it had chapels, forts and other landmarks and buildings that are now part of the historical monuments that tells us the history about development, domination and fights against natives and pirates. Most of the  historical landmarks used to be down town which we now call historical center.

 

 

Historical center of Vitoria

Vitória is the 7^th oldest settlement in Brazil.

You would kind of hope to see more of those historical buildings but most of them were gone in name of progress. Now the city tries to rebuilt and restore its old buildings but these are the ones that still remain and can be visited:

Escadaria Maria Ortiz

Vitoria was a famous target for pirates and being an island, and strong in its navy, it was also famous for its victories over them. During the colonization days the City was constantly attacked by pirates, specially the Dutch ones.

The Maria Ortiz Staircase is one of the most iconic and, somewhat folkloric places, in the city that is related to Pirates.

In front of the Eighth Park, you can see what nowadays would be a narrow staircase leading to the high part of the city.

One of the pirates that came to the shore was the (in) famous Pieter Pieterszoon Heyn, also known as Piet Heyn. He ported at where now is the Eight Park in March 10, 1625 and, with his mates, tried to conquer the island by taking its heart in the High City.

The invaders were surprised by the initiative of a young lady named Maria Ortiz.

Maria Ortiz was a spanish descendent, born in 1603, and considered by many the first female brazilian heroin. While living in the Captaincy of Espirito Santo she led the resistance against the surprise attack of Heyn and his men.

She not only started but also encouraged her neighbors to throw boiling water, hot oil, embers, sticks, stones and everything but the kitchen sink on the dutch men, giving the Portuguese solders time to arrive and fight back. At the time the staircase was called Ladeira do Pelourinho (Pelourinho Slope) but it was renamed after her honor later in 1899.

“And I would have gotten away with it too if it wasn't for you…” by ANY Scooby Doo monster and probably Piet Heyn.

Pieter Pieterszoon Heyn, also known as Piet Heyn. Tried to conquer Vitoria, but failed. Then he tried to attack Luanda in Angola, Africa but couldn’t seize the city. Then, back to Brazil, he later tried to attack Bahia in 1627, failing too, but he managed to capture 30 Portuguese ships and a huge amount of the sugar cargo.

More in: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/264709/Piet-Heyn

Some people say that Maria Ortiz was in fact a prostitute. That could be to the fact that she lived in the lowest (and poorest) part of the city and being an unmarried lady. Thing that was not common. But it could also be prejudice against the fact she was half Spanish, or to the fact that her family couldn’t afford a dowry.

1910 – The Eighth Park as how it look at the time. It used to be called Praça Santos Dumont

THE HIGH CITY

   

On top of the staircase you can see the High City, neighborhood created to protect the citizens from the constant invasions that occurred on the lowest part of the city.

At the top you can see the Cathedral of Vitória and at bottom picture the Anchieta Palace, house of the government.

It’s possible to visit the interior of the Palace during the week to understand a bit more about the politics of the place and a bit more about the role that Catholicism held in the colony. It may not look like it now but this was once a Church dedicated to São Tiago (Saint James) and a school. This is now one of the four buildings in Brazil that has inside the Mousish technique of Egrafito fresco. That consists in a white scratched draw on a black surfix. Pretty much scratched drawing.

Many underground tunnels were built to lead people from the palace to other areas of the city, according to local stories more than six are known but the total number  is uncertain.

Below, previous look of the Saint James Church. (That’s actually a side view).

Outside of the Palace there is an alley (very common) that leads to the Church of São Gonçalo. The legend says that people that gets married there has a long and happy marriage. The church date must be saved with over 2 years ahead.

Also built on the upper part of the city due to the insecurity problems of the lower part of the city.

 

FORTS

FORTE SÃO DIOGO

The São Diogo Staircase was build aside of an old fort to protect Vitoria: The São Diogo Fort. It had the strategic location to monitor one of the accesses of the High City.  The fort was also used to defend great part of Vitoria’s bay.

The São Diogo Fort no longer exists. Due to the lack of space, the island expanded to the sea, expanding most of its old beaches and ports, making many of the old forts even more useless. This one being removed in the XIX century.

The local was previously called Ladeira da Pedra, or in English “Stone Slope” because it had no pavement at the time, being a rustic stair built by cutting directly on the stone that can still be seen on the place. This one in eclectic style was built in 1942.

Forte São João- Curva do Saldanha.  Av. Vitória, 320 - Centro, Vitória (ES)

FORT SAM JOAM (now Forte São João)

It was in 1952, when the Dona Luiza Grinalda (widow of Vasco Fernandes Coutinho) used to rule the captaincy, that another big pirate ship approached the bay’s shore. The famous English sailor/ explorer /pirate Thomas Cavendish (or simply Cavendish).

To defend themselves, the citizens of the Espirito Santo improvised small fortifications, the first, next to the Penedo Hill (Morro do Penedo,) and the second on the Watch hill (Morro do Vigia). The last one being the base for the building of Sam Joam Fort, as it was called at that time .

Wall and cannons

They always had improvised fortifications that needed constant fix: in 1678 and 1682, the fortress was restored, but only in 1726, with the engineer Nicolau de Abreu that the fort was actually built: the one story building had a protective wall, merlons and 10 cannons. The first blueprint of the building has the date of 1767 made by the engineer José Antônio Caldas though.

It was once an expression of the will of defense against pirates from those people that used to live there.

The fort was fully active until 1888. After that it was sold and renamed as “Chácara do Bispo” (something like “Bishopp farm”). In 1924, resold, became the Triannon Cassino and later, in 1902, it was finally bought by The Saldanha Regatta Club (boat racing club) being now known as The Saldanha.

You can still visit the local, although you can see the cannons there on its outside, on the inside, you will see nothing but empty ballrooms.

Thomas Cavendish (Trimley St. Martin, 19 Sep. 1560 – Feb. 1592)

His first victim was in Brazil’s coasts, where he and his crew captured a ship with sugar and slaves. He took Gaspar Jorge as hostage being only released in the frustrated raid to Vitoria where the pirate lost 80 of his men.

Churches and Pirates

The whole captaincy had its buildings built strategically in high places to avoid, the unwanted intruders and to have a better chance to spot and fight them back.

Some churches were built high not only to protect the faithful pious, but also to spot the intruders and alarm the soldiers.

Rua Reis Magos, s/n. Nova Almeida, Serra – ES

Igreja dos Reis Magos (Three Wise Men Church)

Located in Nova Almeida (20 minutes from Vitoria) there is the Church and Residence “Reis Magos”. Also situated strategically 43,74 yards  (40 meters) above the sea level, where you can see everything around.

The building of the first chapel was helped by the natives from the tribe Tupiniquin. Under Padre Braz Lourenço orders, it was small and originally made of straw and was opened in January 6^th of 1557. 

In 1615 the Church and Residence of the Wise Men was opened. The compound Church and residence has its walls made of reef rock and cement made of clay, sand, oyster /seashell powder and the whale oil.

Nossa Senhora da Assunção Church

Also built in a higher ground was the Nossa Senhora da Assunção Church. Built with the help of the natives, it had the same materials and purpose as the above: church and residence.

Now it’s considerate a Sanctuary named Santuário Nacional de São José de Anchieta, located on the city of Anchieta.

Santuário Nacional de São José de Anchieta, Anchieta/ES.

That and many other cities suffered with pirate encounters in Brazil for over a century. Many battles were fought in their land and sea.

Therefore protective measures like building in higher ground, making thicker walls and hidden tunnels under constructions had to be taken.

And  that was all for today folks... Stay tuned for the next posts of the subject.

What PIRATE Story have you heard of your city? Got any to share?