AFRICAN ILLICIT TRADE IN SOUTH-FLUMINENSE: THE SOUZA BREVES AND THEIR FARMS

Abstract

This article will analyze the involvement of one of the richest families of Brazil Empirewith the illegal African trade. The siblings José e Joaquim de Souza Breves, men of prominence in 19thcentury Brazilian’s politics and society, built a real territorial and human empire, formed by thousandsof slaves placed in their properties. They certainly built one of the biggest fortunes of that time. Fromthe "south-fluminense"  cost  until  the  "Vale  do  Paraíba",  we  can find  several  farms,  essentiallycharacterized  by  the  African’s presence.  Trying  to  comprehend  how  the  relationship  of theComendadores  Breves  with  the  illegal  slave  trade  built specific  characteristic  the  their  coastalproperties, lighting, in present time, new question about last years of african trade to Brazil.