Filed in the Manuscript Division of the National Library, the work Livro Segundo das Cartas que o Ilmo. e Exmo. Sr. D. Antonio de Noronha Capitão General da Capitania de Minas Gerais escreveu durante o seu governo que teve princípio em 28 de maio de 1776 (Second Book of the Letters that His Illustrious Excellency Mr. D. Antonio de Noronha, Captain General of the Captaincy of Minas Gerais, wrote during his government that began on May 28, 1776) is a remarkable set of documents not only about the government of Minas Gerais, but also about important administrative authorities of that period. This Codex includes the Plano secreto para a nova conquista do Cuieté (Secret plan for the new conquest of the Cuieté) and the letters to the Marquis of Angeja and the minister Martinho de Mello e Castro, which are herein published. Written by the governor D. Antonio de Noronha himself, the documents show instructions and measures to be taken regarding the Cuieté region, in the sertão (hinterland) of Minas Gerais, and reflect on critical issues in the context of the colonization of Portuguese America, such as the exercise of power by part of the metropolitan authorities, the specificity of the colonial population, the settlement of border areas, and the expansion of government and bureaucracy.
colonial government; hinterland; border; colonization
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