The Engenho da Rainha: scopes of rights and conflict in the lands of Carlota (1819-1824)

ABSTRACT

This article analyses the dispute over land located in the region known as Engenho da Rainha, theoretically belonging to Carlota Joaquina. Contrary to the established memory of Carlota's complete lack of interest in this property - "from these lands I do not even want the the dust" - this article unveils various perceptions on the right to land and retraces the strategies used by the Queen's attorney in order to safeguard Her property with emblematic Carlota Joaquina no longer in Brazil. In our view, by means of the investigation of how the scopes of rights operated in order to build scales of appropriation that would avoid the delegitimization of the property of the Engenho by the Queen, this article scrutinizes the capacity of the Ruler of the former United Kingdom and to enforce ownership of her Engenho in Rio de Janeiro.

Keywords:
Carlota Joaquina; scopes of rights; properties