The "miracle of omnipotence" and the scattering of the strays: urbanizing and civilizing politics in Sao Paulo in Morgado de Mateus administration (1765-1775)

Abstract

Morgado de Mateus was the first governor of São Paulo Captaincy after the restauration of 1765. One of the first actions of his government was the urbanization of captaincy, with the erection of new villages, and the spacial reorganization, according with the new enlightened norms of Pombaline government. His goal was to civilize the inhabitants, to settle them in civil villages, and to submit them to the Royal authority.