Manoel da Nóbrega

Manoel da Nóbrega (variant Manuel da Nóbrega) was a Portuguese Jesuit priest and first Provincial of the Society of Jesus in colonial Brazil. Together with José de Anchieta, he was very influential in the early History of Brazil, having participated in the founding of several cities, such as Recife, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, and many Jesuit Colleges and seminars.

War and Expansion

But the exploitation and massacres of Indian villages by the Portuguese colonists continued despite the pacification efforts of Nóbrega. The Tamoio and Tupininquim tribes, who lived along the Brazilian coast from the present-day states of Espírito Santo to Paraná were naturally the most affected ones. Rebelling, they formed a warring tribal alliance, which became the Tamoio Confederation (Confederação dos Tamoios, in Portuguese) and started attacks on the villages founded by the colonists. São Paulo was attacked several times, but resisted. Hard pressed, Nóbrega tried to make a peace treatise with the Confederation, sensing that all their effort and the Portuguese colonization was in great danger. Under considerable duress and several threats of being killed and eaten by the Indians, he and Anchieta stayed for a time in Iperoig (present-day Ubatuba in the Northern cost of São Paulo), in conference with the tribal chieftains, until Nóbrega was able to achieve temporary peace. Anchieta's command of Língua Geral, the idiom generally spoken by the Indians (and who was compiling a vocabulary and a grammar) was extremely useful to Nóbrega, who had not such ability.

Related Topics:
Pacification - Tamoio - Tupininquim - Espírito Santo - Paraná - Tamoio Confederation - Iperoig - Ubatuba - Língua Geral - Vocabulary - Grammar

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The arrival of a French invasion force in 1555, in the Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro (the so called France Antarctique episode), however, tipped the balance again, since the Indians saw an opportunity to rally the Frenchmen's help to vanquish the hated Portuguese. Thus, Nóbrega had no alternative other than bless and support the punitive expeditions sent by the third Governor-General, Mem de Sá, in 1560 and by his nephew, Estácio de Sá, in 1565. The French colonists were defeated and definitely expelled and their Indian allies were reduced to submission.

Related Topics:
Guanabara Bay - Rio de Janeiro - France Antarctique - Mem de Sá - Estácio de Sá

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After the expulsion of the French invaders, Father Manoel da Nóbrega staid in Rio and founded a new Jesuit College in the city, the College of Saint Vincent, and was nominated its Rector (Dean). In 1570 he was again nominated Brazilian Provincial of the Jesuit Order, but he died before taking office, in October 18, 1570, in the very day he was completing 53 years of age. Seven years later, the Jesuit Provincialship of Brazil was accepted by Anchieta, his great pupil and friend.

Related Topics:
October 18 - 1570

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