Abstract
This study intends to discuss the entry of Catholic descendants of indigenous peoples who inhabited the Amazon region in the Third Order of São Francisco do Pará. Until the beginning of the 18th century, the Order practiced a restrictive policy of acceptance of native Catholics. After the laws of April 4th, June 6th, June 7th of 1755 and the famous “Diretório dos Índios”, approved on August 17th of 1758, a legal environment was created that favored the wider entry of descendants of indigenous populations in the Order. Nevertheless, the sources from the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino (AHU) from Lisboa, made available by Projeto Resgate, show signs of resistance to compliance with the legislation by the Capucho friars in the Province of Santo Antônio de Portugal. In the 1760s, the entry of brothers who descended from natives seemed to pave the way for requests from other social groups that, considered to be “impure blood”, were traditionally excluded from joining third orders.
Keywords:
third orders; pure blood laws; Pombaline laws on Indians