Henrique Dias - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Henrique Dias was a soldier and militia leader born in the Portuguese colony of Brazil

Colonial Brazil

In the history of Brazil, Colonial Brazil, officially the Viceroyalty of Brazil comprises the period from 1500, with the arrival of the Portuguese, until 1815, when Brazil was elevated to kingdom alongside Portugal as the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves.During the over 300 years...

. He was born to freed slave parents. There is no consensus among historians whether he was born free or captive. He led freed slaves with distinction against Dutch forces

Dutch Brazil

Dutch Brazil, also known as New Holland, was the northern portion of Brazil, ruled by the Dutch during the Dutch colonization of the Americas between 1630 and 1654...

, and played important roles in the First

First Battle of Guararapes

The First Battle of Guararapes was a battle in a conflict called the Pernambucana Insurrection, between Dutch and Portuguese forces in Pernambuco, in a dispute for the dominion of that part of Brazil.-The Beginnings:...

and Second Battles of Guararapes

Second Battle of Guararapes

The Second Battle of Guararapes was the second and decisive battle in a conflict called Pernambucana Insurrection, between Dutch and Portuguese forces in 1649 at Jaboatão dos Guararapes in the state of Pernambuco, ending the Dutch occupation of Brazil....

. For his courage and leadership in battle, the Portuguese king made him a knight of the Order of Christ

Order of Christ (Portugal)

The Military Order of Christ previously the Royal Order of the Knights of Our Lord Jesus Christ was the heritage of the Knights Templar in Portugal, after the suppression of the Templars in 1312...

.

Colonial officials created militias composed of freeborn and recently-manumitted blacks. These militias, which could be used to quell slave revolts, were referred to as "Henriques". Henriques were an example of cofradia or brotherhoods, usually having their own patron saint. In 1789, 752 crioulo and black freedmen served in seven Henriques regiments.

See also