Martin Antonenko
A Fixture
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2008
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Zumbi dos Palmares
Today I'm going to talk about a man whose name almost every child in Latin America knows, but practically no one in Europe!
Zumbi - called "Zumbi of Palmares".
Zumbi was born in 1655 in the settlement of Palmares in Brazil, then part of the Kingdom of Portugal, and was originally baptized with the Christian name "Francisco".
Palmars was a region in which only runaway slaves (and their descendants) lived. In his early 20s, Zumbu was the undisputed leader of Palmares because of his strength, fighting skills, strategic skills and leadership.
In the course of time he developed the region around the settlement into a de facto autonomous state, which consisted of several settlements and called itself the "Association of Palmares".
The Palmareinos not only offered absolutely every runaway slave ...
... shelter and shelter for the Portuguese colonial rulers, they also launched regular campaigns under the leadership of Zumbis, during which they raided Portuguese properties, freed the slaves living there and escorted them to the protection of Palmeres ...:
Under Zumbi's government, Palmares grew to over 30,000 inhabitants - including by no means only black slaves, but also Brazilian natives, Arabs - and Europeans oppressed by the colonial government ...:
Also under Zumbi's leadership, the inhabitants of Palmares fought back over twenty attacks by the Portuguese in bloody fashion!
This was also thanks to a martial art called "Capoeira", which originally came from Africa and was taught under Zumbis guidance in Palmares ...:
After the twentieth attack by the Portuguese, Zumbi responded with a downright counter-offensive that led him and his warriors to the gates of the capital Recife of the province of Permambuco in 1678 ...:
However, his strength was insufficient to conquer the fortified city ...:
Then the provincial governor Pedro Almeida ...
... made Zumbi a peace offer ...:
He promised to give freedom to all people living in Pamares if the Palmares Association were to submit to Portuguese violence in return.
Zumbi refused - he didn't trust the Portuguese!
15 years later, the Portuguese launched a major attack on the Palmares region on February 6, 1694 with the most modern artillery brought in from Europe ...:
The main settlement of the kingdom, Cerca do Macaco, was enclosed on three sides and subjected to devastating artillery fire for several days.
The warriors of Palmares were no match for this - and finally had to surrender after the worst losses!
The Palmares Association had existed for 67 years!
Zumbi himself managed to escape the sinking of Cerca do Macaco wounded!
For two more years he was able to continue the resistance against the slave owners with a few faithful - in the end he was betrayed by one of his own people!
Zumbi was beheaded in public on November 20, 1695 at Vicosa. Where this happened, this monument stands today ...:
After that, the Portuguese had to display his head in Recife for several years as many African-born slaves could not believe in his death:
To her he was immortal, like a demigod!
In memory of Zumbi, November 20th, the day he was executed, is celebrated today as "Dia da Consciência Negra" (= Black Self-Awareness Day), children have no school.
In addition, Zumbi is today the hero of the Afro-Brazilian human rights movement of the twentieth century and a Brazilian national hero.
Today I'm going to talk about a man whose name almost every child in Latin America knows, but practically no one in Europe!
Zumbi - called "Zumbi of Palmares".
Zumbi was born in 1655 in the settlement of Palmares in Brazil, then part of the Kingdom of Portugal, and was originally baptized with the Christian name "Francisco".
Palmars was a region in which only runaway slaves (and their descendants) lived. In his early 20s, Zumbu was the undisputed leader of Palmares because of his strength, fighting skills, strategic skills and leadership.
In the course of time he developed the region around the settlement into a de facto autonomous state, which consisted of several settlements and called itself the "Association of Palmares".
The Palmareinos not only offered absolutely every runaway slave ...
... shelter and shelter for the Portuguese colonial rulers, they also launched regular campaigns under the leadership of Zumbis, during which they raided Portuguese properties, freed the slaves living there and escorted them to the protection of Palmeres ...:
Under Zumbi's government, Palmares grew to over 30,000 inhabitants - including by no means only black slaves, but also Brazilian natives, Arabs - and Europeans oppressed by the colonial government ...:
Also under Zumbi's leadership, the inhabitants of Palmares fought back over twenty attacks by the Portuguese in bloody fashion!
This was also thanks to a martial art called "Capoeira", which originally came from Africa and was taught under Zumbis guidance in Palmares ...:
After the twentieth attack by the Portuguese, Zumbi responded with a downright counter-offensive that led him and his warriors to the gates of the capital Recife of the province of Permambuco in 1678 ...:
However, his strength was insufficient to conquer the fortified city ...:
Then the provincial governor Pedro Almeida ...
... made Zumbi a peace offer ...:
He promised to give freedom to all people living in Pamares if the Palmares Association were to submit to Portuguese violence in return.
Zumbi refused - he didn't trust the Portuguese!
15 years later, the Portuguese launched a major attack on the Palmares region on February 6, 1694 with the most modern artillery brought in from Europe ...:
The main settlement of the kingdom, Cerca do Macaco, was enclosed on three sides and subjected to devastating artillery fire for several days.
The warriors of Palmares were no match for this - and finally had to surrender after the worst losses!
The Palmares Association had existed for 67 years!
Zumbi himself managed to escape the sinking of Cerca do Macaco wounded!
For two more years he was able to continue the resistance against the slave owners with a few faithful - in the end he was betrayed by one of his own people!
Zumbi was beheaded in public on November 20, 1695 at Vicosa. Where this happened, this monument stands today ...:
After that, the Portuguese had to display his head in Recife for several years as many African-born slaves could not believe in his death:
To her he was immortal, like a demigod!
In memory of Zumbi, November 20th, the day he was executed, is celebrated today as "Dia da Consciência Negra" (= Black Self-Awareness Day), children have no school.
In addition, Zumbi is today the hero of the Afro-Brazilian human rights movement of the twentieth century and a Brazilian national hero.
