“ALWAYS VERY OBEDIENT AND WITH HONORED PROCEDURE "

MERIT SPEECH OF THE RIO GRANDE CAPITAINCE GOVERNMENT CANDIDATES (1700 -1739)

Abstract

The system of boons policy by the Portuguese Crown during the modern period was part of a strategic system that encourajed their vassals to perform the royal service , rewarding those who were loyal vassals and contributed to the expansion and proper functioning of the empire. Taking advantage of this system , anyone that required the boon in exchange for their services tried to put themselves as worthy of such grace , stating in their petitions all the services they had already provided to the Crown and describing their achievements and sufferings , attempting to stir emotions of the political center in knowledge of their worthiness to win the boon. With this in mind , this paper aims to analyze the discursive strategies used by the supplicants whom competed for the position of Captain General of the Rio Grande during the first half of the eighteenth century.