Gomes Freire de Andrada and conflicts over the demarcation of southern borders in the Americas

power networks and action strategies in the second half of the Seven Hundreds

Abstract

From the mid-seventeenth century, Portugal and Spain began to question the ownership and maintenance of territories in America. Conflicts over demarcating southern borders have become increasingly larger, and to try to resolve the situation, was celebrated in 1750, Treaty of Madrid. Problems arising from the implementation of this treaty made the presence of the governor of Rio de Janeiro and south-central of Portuguese America in this period, Gomes Freire de Andrada, became fundamental in the region. In this context, the present work has the purpose to analyze the governmental performance of Gomes Freire and his relationship with spanish agents, with autochthons, with jesuits and with lusitanian officers, showing his social networks, and his strategies.