“Aflige-se, arruína-se e perde-se” : os crimes de corrupção no terceiro contrato dos diamantes (1748-1755)

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the third diamonds' contractor life path, Felisberto Caldeira Brant, through the corruption historiography in the iberian modern world’s perspective. Therefore, our time period selected extending from the discussions which elevated our character to the position of one the most important royal business’ bidder to the inquisitorial investigation that proved him guilty of corruption. As from his administration unlawfulness, which he perceived as a custom practice and a tradition force, that we effort to bring together the threads which endured his shortly virtuous actions, once he contravened, at Portuguese Crown’s view, all the clauses settled in the contract signature’s act. Beyond that, Brant led a big smuggler’s network that sent thousands of gems from Tejuco to Rio de Janeiro which debarked at Lisbon port to be illegally and were sold in the various european market squares. As we understand, the corruption in the Modern Age, from the Kingdom to the colonies, wasn’t solely an economic problem, but a social matter which the effects, when felt by the political ordinance, could menace the Monarchy stability. It was only when the nuisance caused a political scandal, became grumble's reason, as well as a royal coffer embezzlement, namely when the economic damage created political implications, as happened in the Caldeira Brant’s case, that the Justice was sued and the punishment was brought forth. However, even though he had indiscreet actions and public fame due to his constant deviants, Felisberto was not the only one who committed practices which resulted in corruption, but he was one of the few sentenced to life incarceration at the Limoeiro. Political articulations, as an example of clientelist networks, could make accusations and allegations disappear in a time lapse, but our character was alone. He lost his solidarity and affiliation relations with the Minas Gerais captaincy authorities, thereupon he was convicted for crimes which others also committed and, unlike him, suffered nothing. At that time, there was a reign exchange in Portugal which destabilized the old networks at the colony, so, again, the practice of corruption accusation against political enemies emerged. Caldeira Brant, though it was investigated if “his smuggling was average or excessive”, succumbed in face of a more powerful “friend”, because he couldn't get rid of his corrupting stigma that perverted the king’s image before the most polite nations of the Old World.