Penachos de ideias

Abstract

The article discusses the role of Pedro Miguel de Almeida Portugal (1688-1756) in the Spanish War of Succession (1701-1714), during the embassy of his father, João de Almeida Portugal, 2nd Earl of Assumar, alongside the forces allied to Charles of Habsburg. The text reviews the historiography on the Portuguese participation in the conflict, considers the battle reports on the participation of the young nobleman, and analyzes the social life in Barcelona while father and son were there. The experience as a warrior and a courtier contributed to the education of the governor of the São Paulo e Minas do Ouro captaincy from 1717 onward. The dissemination of the achievements of his noble house, the representation of the Portuguese monarchy in a distant land, the hieratic conception of society and the erudition coupled with the condonation of violence are postures and aspects present in writings attributed to the future 3rd Earl of Assumar.