Brief primer on the main historical facts that helped in the construction of the cultural identity of the people of Mossoró.

1. M O S S O R
Ó
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
PROFESSIONAL MASTER HISTORY

2. UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DE PERNAMBUCO
PRO RECTORY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES
Professional Master in History
CONCLUSION WORK OF THE PROFESSIONAL MASTER IN HISTORY
MOSSORÓ
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
AXEL BEZERRA ALVES
MASTER STUDENT
DR HÉLDER REMIGIO AMORIM
TEACHER ADVISOR
2020

3. A CIDADE DE MOSSORÓ
 The city is located in the west of Rio Grande do Norte, a region in which
it is the most important economic and cultural center.
 It arose around Fazenda Santa Luzia in 1760 and in 1870 it gained its
political autonomy, separating from Assu.
 At the end of the century and the beginning of the twentieth century,
the city grew in economic importance as a commercial link between the
coast and the interior of the state, dynamic trade, processing of cotton
and leather and the imposing refining of salt.
 In the 1980s, oil exploration on land attracted a very large flow of
companies, increased the region's wealth and the city received
immigrants from various parts of the country. Concomitantly, irrigated
agriculture develops, making the city one of the largest producers of
tropical fruits.
 The city is the headquarters of UFERSA - Federal Rural University of the
Semi-Arid and UERN - State University of Rio Grande do Norte. It also
has Private Colleges and several State, Municipal and Private Schools.
 The most important celebrations are: “Pingo do Meio dia” (carnival),
“Mossoró - Cidade Junina” (June), “O Auto da Liberdade” (September)
and “A Festa de Santa Luzia” (December). These festivals attract large
numbers of tourists and pilgrims.
Santa Lucia
public domain image

4. THE MOST IMPORTANT HISTORICAL FACTS
THE REBELLION OF WOMEN - 1875-1876
ABOLITION OF THE ENSLAVED - 1883
RESISTANCE TO THE LAMPIAO’S GANG - 1927
FIRST FEMALE VOTE - 1928

5. THE REBELLION OF WOMEN
1875-1876
 CONTEXT: 19th century, Monarchy in decline, War of Paraguay.
 Motivation: Doubts about recruitment methods to fight in the Paraguayan War.
 Rebel Target: Public enlistment agencies.
 Leader: Anna Floriano
Fonte: BlogdoGMaia - 2009 Fonte: BlogdoGMaia - 2009

6. THE REBELLION OF WOMEN
1875-1876
On August 31, 1875, O Motim das Mulheres
took place in Mossoró. About 130 housewives
marched through the city streets protesting
the dubious way of recruiting men to fight in
the Paraguayan War.
The population denounced that the
recruitment would be used by the political
leaders of the time to recruit the children of
the opponents, as was being done in Mossoró.
The riot was led by Dona Anna Floriano,
Dona Maria Filgueira and Dona Joaquina
Maria de Góis, wives of politicians and
authorities in Mossoró.
Aware of politics, they started the
demonstration and the riot took over the city
streets. Fonte: Jinformal - 2018

7. THE REBELLION OF WOMEN
1875-1876
Armed with household items such as pots, pans, shells and wooden spoons, the women
went to the Igreja Matriz de Santa Luzia and tore up the notices posted on the bulletin board.
Then they went to the Judge of Peace's clerk's house and took and ripped up the documents
relating to the draft.
Not satisfied, they went to the newspaper “O Mossoroense” and destroyed the notices that
would be published the next day.
Fonte: Acervo do Jornal O Mossoroense - 2020

8. THE REBELLION OF WOMEN
1875-1876
The Movement left for Praça da Liberdade, where they clashed with a group of
soldiers from the Public Force who were there to control the rebellion. Some
women were injured and the protest was not aggravated any more thanks to the
interference of popular people who ended the confusion.
The Mossoró episode was not an isolated case, with similar manifestations in
other parts of the Province.
What makes this movement special is the fact that it was organized and
executed only by women, for the love of their children. They were victorious as
they were able to suspend recruitment.
Fonte: TCM TV a Cabo Mossoró – 2012

9. EARLY ABOLITION OF SLAVES
1883
On September 30, 1883, Mossoró, freed his
slaves five years before the Golden Law that
ended slavery in Brazil. Reason for a big party,
today is a municipal holiday in the city.
This libertarian interest arose from a tribute
paid by Freemasonry to the couple Romualdo
Lopes Galvão, leader of local politics and
commerce in 1883.
The proposal took to the streets and that
same year, the "Sociedade Libertadora
Mossoroense" was made official in the City
Council.
The Society determined the aim of freeing the
86 slaves who lived in the city. Then,
September 30 was instituted so that all slaves
could be freed. And the goal was achieved. In
the month of June, in a special session held at
the Masonic Lodge 24 de Junho, 40 slaves were
freed.
CONTEXT: XIX CENTURY, DECLINE
OF MONARCHY, ABOLITIONIST
CAMPAIGN
OBJECTIVE: ABOLISH THE SLAVES
OF THE CITY
LEADERS: ROMUALDO GALVÃO E
A MAÇONARIA
Fonte: Acervo do Jornal O Mossoroense - 2001

10. EARLY ABOLITION OF SLAVES
1883
Only a few farmers claimed
compensation for manumission. The
freed slaves continued to live on the
farms, no longer as captives, but as
paid employees.
The movement was organized and
concerned with the future freed, unlike
what happened with the Golden Law,
when slaves were expelled from the
farms, and ended up marginalized.
After the end of slavery in the city,
Mossoró began to receive a significant
number of slaves who fled from other
municipalities in search of freedom.
Romualdo Lopes Galvão
1853-1927
Fonte: Biblioteca da Uern - 2020

11. EARLY ABOLITION OF SLAVES
1883
Since then,
September
30 has
become the
great civic
date of
Mossoro
In 1913 the
date was
declared, by
law, as a
municipal
holiday
Fonte: TCM Tv a Cabo
Mossoró
Fonte: TCM – Tv a Cabo Mossoró - 2020

12. RESISTANCE TO THE LAMPIÃO'S GANG
1927
CONTEXT: OLIGARQUIC REPUBLIC,
CANGAÇO
On June 13, 1927, Lampião
launched an attack on Mossoró.
Before, he had sent an ultimatum
to Mayor Rodolfo Fernandes,
demanding a large sum not to
attack the City Hall.
The mayor disregarded the threat
and prepared the city to resist the
pack. He evacuated women, the
elderly and children to the coast
and organized the Resistance with
volunteers.
Lampião
Rodolfo Fernandes
Fonte: Acervo da UERN - 2020
Fonte: Memorial da Resistência - 2020

13. RESISTANCE TO THE LAMPIÃO'S GANG
1927
LAMPIÃO ULTIMATE AND THE MOSSORO MAYOR'S RESPONSE
Fonte: Memorial da Resistência - 2020
Lampião sends the mayor of Mossoró an
ultimatum demanding the amount of
Four hundred Contos de Réis not to
invade the City.
Reply from the Mayor of Mossoró:
“It is not possible to satisfy the shipment
of 400,000 (four hundred contos) that you
ask for, because I do not have it and even
in commerce it is impossible to get such a
sum. It is not known where the Bank's
manager, Mr. Jayme Guedes, is a refugee.
We are ready to receive them whenever
they want. Our situation offers absolute
confidence and total security. "
- Rodolpho Fernandes, mayor of Mossoró
in 1927

14. RESISTANCE TO THE LAMPIÃO'S GANG
1927
The Lampião’s Gang had 53 bandits. However, he did not imagine that he would face at
least 150 armed men in defense of the city. Throughout the night, the detonation of
weapons in profusion. It seemed like a very celebrated São João night ”, he wrote in O
Mossoroense. But the women prayed for another saint of June, Antônio celebrated that
day.
THE ATTACKERS THE DEFENDERS
Fonte: Jornal O Mossoroense - 1928
Fonte: Jornal O Mossoroense - 1928

15. RESISTANCE TO THE LAMPIÃO'S GANG
1927
AT THE LATE AFTERNOON OF JUNE 13, THE STRUGGLE IS INTENSIFIED. THE GANG LOSES
TWO OF HIS MAIN MEN: COLCHETE AND JARARACA. LAMPIÃO ESCAPE WEAKLY AND HIS
GANG GOES IN DECLINE, BEING TERMINATED IN THE INTERIOR OF SERGIPE STATE IN 1938.
CHURCH OF SÃO VICENTE, WHERE
HEROIC RESISTANCE OCCURRED
Fonte: Jornal O Mossoroense - 1928

16. FIRST FEMALE VOTE
1928
THE FIGHT FOR THE FEMALE VOTE HAS
BEGUN WITH SUFFRAGISTS IN ENGLAND
THE FIRST COUNTRY TO ESTABLISH THE
FEMALE VOTE WAS NEW ZEALAND
IN BRAZIL, THE STATES OF RIO GRANDE
DO NORTE AND AMAZONAS WERE THE
PIONEERS TO GRANT VOTING THE
WOMEN.
CONTEXT: DECLINE OF THE OLIGARCHIC
REPUBLIC, FEMALE VOTE
Fonte: Le Monde - 1909

17. FIRST FEMALE VOTE
1928
Long before Vargas authorized the
female presence in the country's
votes, a woman from Natal, in Rio
Grande do Norte, requested her
registration to participate in the
municipal election in Mossoró (RN) in
1928. She was Celina Guimarães
Viana, a young woman teacher.
At just 29 years old, Celina went to a
Mossoró registry office and asked to
join the list of voters, based on the
state constitution of RN. The state of
Rio Grande do Norte was the first of
all to regulate the electoral system
without “gender distinction”.
Fonte: O Globo - 2008
Celina Guimarães Viana
1st voter in Latin America

18. FIRST FEMALE VOTE
1928
The struggle of Celina Viana and the women of the potigars
encouraged other women in the country to fight for this right.
The Female Vote was only made national in 1932.
Fonte: Diário de Natal - 2001

19. O AUTO DA LIBERDADE
FESTIVAL THAT CONDENSES ALL THESE EVENTS THAT
HAPPENS IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER
Fonte: TCM – Tv a Cabo Mossoró - 2011

20. JOAQUIM CRISPINIANO NETO
MOSSORÓ'S STORY IN CORDEL
A poet from Rio Grande do
Norte, based in Mossoró, who
explained the history of
struggles of the people of
Mossoró.
Fonte: Gazeta do Oeste - 2001

21. “Auto da Liberdade is a work that
brings, from the heart of my
feeling, all the will to register a
past of struggles to stimulate a
present of reflection / action in
favor of materializing a happy
future.”
Joaquim Crispiniano Neto
Fonte: Editora Imeph - 2004