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ENCYCLOPAEDIA of Rebellions

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Enslaved Amerindians uprisings in S. Paulo 1652

Synopsis
During the 1650s, a series of indigenous revolts erupted in the region of São Paulo, an area of agricultural occupation at the southern border of Portuguese America. The revolts were a direct reaction of the local enslaved indigenous population (as well as Indians subjected to the "administrações particulares" regime) against the escalation of compulsory labour brought about by the agricultural and technological development in the area, which at that time was at its height. In 1652, the indigenous workers employed in the private properties of Antônio Pedroso de Barros and João Sutil rebelled against their masters. In 1658, the village of São Paulo was sieged by indigenous assaults and murders. In 1660, approximately a dozen other farms were subjected to insurrections. On all occasions, the pattern of indigenous action was the killing of landlords, burning of houses and crops, looting, and subsequent escape into the woods. The only exception was the destruction of a farm, presumably carried out by external Indians and ordered by a neighboring landowner interested in the booty. In sum, the revolts were triggered by an alliance between Guaranis and Guayanás, who were either former or newly incorporated workers in productive units.
Additional info

Starting date: . Ending: . Duration: 8 years. Name in sources: Revoltas de índios escravizados em São Paulo. Location: São Paulo Country (current): Brazil. Monarchy: Portuguese. Main participants: Enslaved, Indigenous, Workers. Number of participants: >500. Main reasons & motivations: Freedom, Labour. Leadership: Unknown. Relevance: low.

Further reading
MONTEIRO, John Manuel (1994). Negros da Terra: Índios e Bandeirantes nas Origens de São Paulo. São Paulo: Companhia das Letras. VELLOSO, Gustavo (2018). Ociosos e Sedicionários: Populações Indígenas e os Tempos do Trabalho nos Campos de Piratininga (Século XVII). São Paulo: Intermeios.
Cite this entry

Velloso, Gustavo (2021). "Enslaved Amerindians uprisings in S. Paulo 1652", in J. V. Serrão and M. S. Cunha (coord), Encyclopaedia of Rebellions in the Early Modern Iberian World. https://mappingrebellions.com/revolt/enslaved-amerindians-uprisings-in-s-paulo-1652/ (accessed on 12 March 2026).