“Domain” and “possession”: the colonial borders of Portugal and France in the Cabo Norte (first half of the 18th century)

With the present article, we intend to analyze the territory called Cabo Norte (Amapá), during the first half of the 18th century, as a space that aggregated diverse social groups and imperial interests - especially the crowns of Portugal and France. We will privilege the actions of the Portuguese monarchy and the governor of the Estado do Maranhão e Grão-Pará, João da Maia da Gama. Therefore, among other documents, the study will analyze the correspondence exchanged between the latter and the governor of Cayenne and between the same Maia da Gama and the Portuguese Crown (through the Conselho Ultramarino). We intend to demonstrate that the consolidation of that space as a colonial territory was conceived from its insertion in an imperial context, its peculiar frontier condition with several European powers and its effective occupation.

Keywords:
Colonial Amazon; colonial frontiers; Portuguese empire