Being loyal to the Portuguese monarchs – the black regiments in colonial Brazil

The present paper discusses the “racial” loyalty and “class” solidarity of black soldiers towards other fugitive black slaves during colonial Brazil. Having sworn loyalty and allegiance to the Portuguese monarchs, those soldiers joined the war against the quilombos located far from major urban centers. This study examines black soldiers’ petitions and official correspondence regarding their military careers. The documents are part of the collection of the Historical Overseas Archive in Lisbon.

The present paper discusses the “racial” loyalty and “class” solidarity of black soldiers towards other fugitive black slaves during colonial Brazil. Having sworn loyalty and allegiance to the Portuguese monarchs, those soldiers joined the war against the quilombos located far from major urban centers. This study examines black soldiers’ petitions and official correspondence regarding their military careers. The documents are part of the collection of the Historical Overseas Archive in Lisbon.