Pedro IV of Kongo
Encyclopedia
Nusamu a Mvemba. King of Kongo, ruled in 1694–1718. He is noted for restoring the country and ending the civil war which had raged since 1666. It was during his reign that Beatriz Kimpa Vita
, the prophetess possessed by Saint Anthony had her career.
which was a lineage founded from the two rival lineages of the late seventeenth century, the Kimpanzu
and the Kinlaza
. He began his career among royal refugees who had taken shelter in the mountain of Kibangu, in the Serra do Canda of modern day Angola
. He claimed the throne upon the death of his brother, but as he was not crowned in São Salvador
, he was not considered fully legitimate.
missionary Francesco da Pavia. The concerts did not result in success however as bad blood remained among all the contenders.
Popular discontent with the king rose in the early eighteenth century as many felt he had not done enough to restore the kingdom by reoccupying the capital, and to this end Pedro led an armed column from Kibangu to São Salvador in 1694 and was crowned there by a priest. But he was threatened immediately by his principal rival, João II of Mbula, who also claimed to be king, and withdrew immediately. He would remain in the mountain for many more years. After 1700, Pedro sought to reoccupy the ancient capital by sending out groups of colonists, one set led by Manuel Cruz Barbosa, his majodomo, and the other by Pedro Constaninho da Silva (known also as Kibenga), a one time rival who had temporarily joined forces with him. Pedro himself moved down from Kibangu to a smaller mountain, Evululu, nearer to the capital.
Pedro IV was fortunate that he was able to capture Beatriz near his capital at Evululu, and in July 1706 had her executed. In 1709 in turn, he occupied São Salvador, defeating the final partisans of Pedro Constantinho da Silva. The same year, he won a signal victory of João II, thus securing himself the position as king.
According to later accounts, before his death in 1718, Pedro declared that the kingship in Kongo should rotate between the rival lineages.
Kimpa Vita
Beatriz Kimpa Vita , was a Congolese prophet and leader of her own Christian movement, known as Antonianism. Her teaching grew out of the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church in Kongo.-Early life:...
, the prophetess possessed by Saint Anthony had her career.
Early life
Very little is known of Pedro's early life, although he was the founder of the House of Agua RosadaAgua Rosada
Água Rosada or Álvaro XIV was ruler in Kongo from February 1891 to 1896. His father signed the vassalage of Kongo in 1888-Family:Álvaro XIV was the son of Peter V or VI, brother of Álvaro XIII and son of Henrique II. Henrique had split his Asian lands between his two sons; Álvaro and Peter. They...
which was a lineage founded from the two rival lineages of the late seventeenth century, the Kimpanzu
Kimpanzu
The Kimpanzu were members of the Mpanzu kanda also known as the House of Kimpanzu, one of the lineages from which the kings of Kongo were chosen during the 17th century and following Kongo's reunification under Pedro IV.-Origins:...
and the Kinlaza
Kinlaza
The Kinlaza were members of the Nlaza kanda or House of Kinlaza, one of the ruling houses of the Kingdom of Kongo during the 17th century. It was one of the main factions during the Kongo Civil War along with the Kimpanzu and Kinkanga a Mvika kandas....
. He began his career among royal refugees who had taken shelter in the mountain of Kibangu, in the Serra do Canda of modern day Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
. He claimed the throne upon the death of his brother, but as he was not crowned in São Salvador
M'banza-Kongo
M'banza-Kongo , is the capital of Angola's northwestern Zaire Province. M'banza Kongo was founded some time before the arrival of the Portuguese and was the capital of the dynasty ruling at that time...
, he was not considered fully legitimate.
Reign
He was also a partner in several attempts to organize a peaceful settlement to the succession crisis in Kongo brokered by the old Queen Ana Afonso de Leão with the special cooperation of the CapuchinOrder of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
missionary Francesco da Pavia. The concerts did not result in success however as bad blood remained among all the contenders.
Popular discontent with the king rose in the early eighteenth century as many felt he had not done enough to restore the kingdom by reoccupying the capital, and to this end Pedro led an armed column from Kibangu to São Salvador in 1694 and was crowned there by a priest. But he was threatened immediately by his principal rival, João II of Mbula, who also claimed to be king, and withdrew immediately. He would remain in the mountain for many more years. After 1700, Pedro sought to reoccupy the ancient capital by sending out groups of colonists, one set led by Manuel Cruz Barbosa, his majodomo, and the other by Pedro Constaninho da Silva (known also as Kibenga), a one time rival who had temporarily joined forces with him. Pedro himself moved down from Kibangu to a smaller mountain, Evululu, nearer to the capital.
The Antonian Movement
There were millennial stirrings among the colonists that had been sent out to resettle the capital. Several prophets emerged, but the final prophet, Beatriz Kimpa Vita, began immensely popular. Claiming to be possessed by Saint Anthony, Beatriz confronted Pedro on his lack of resolution, and he for his part wanted to arrest her as a heretic, as indeed the Capuchin priest in his service, Bernardo da Gallo recommended. However, he did not, and Beatriz left his capital, and eventually began resettling São Salvador herself. In the process she gained the adherence of Pedro Constantinho da Silva, thus setting up a crisis between Pedro IV and his one time subordinate.Pedro IV was fortunate that he was able to capture Beatriz near his capital at Evululu, and in July 1706 had her executed. In 1709 in turn, he occupied São Salvador, defeating the final partisans of Pedro Constantinho da Silva. The same year, he won a signal victory of João II, thus securing himself the position as king.
According to later accounts, before his death in 1718, Pedro declared that the kingship in Kongo should rotate between the rival lineages.