The Atlantic-African perspective of the Brazilian slave Empire around the Congo- Angolan zone outside the Portuguese domain: an option for the continuity of an archaic economic model (1822-1850).
Areas of influence in Central Atlantic Africa; Friendship Diplomacy; Empire of
Brazil; Autonomous African kingdoms
The objective of this thesis is to analyze the perspective of the Empire of Brazil in
establishing areas of influence around independent regions of the Congo-Angolan zone as an
option for the maintenance of an archaic economic model (1822-1850). The focus will be on
the action of the Imperial War Navy between the African ports of Molembo, Cabinda and
Ambriz in the late 1820s with the purpose of promoting the protection of slave ships against
the threat of pirates and privateers from the Argentine Republic. In order to understand the
interests and expectations of broad sectors of the Brazilian slave society, we analyze a
singular legal case that took place in the beginning of 1830 in the mercantile market of Rio de
Janeiro that involved the highest authorities of the Empire of Brazil to solve a question that
took place. diplomatic character and generated great repercussion in the Rio de Janeiro press.
It is the kidnapping of African princes together with their subjects by a slave ship that had
carried out negotiations for the acquisition of captives in Cabinda and on the Zaire River. The
Portuguese colonial heritage of reciprocity and friendship with the authorities of autonomous
African kingdoms had been threatened, as had the Brazilian government's intention to
preserve areas of influence on the coast of Atlantic Central Africa.