THE SECT THAT BECAME A TRAGEDY IN BRAZIL: THE KINGDOM STONE

Summary

In the 19th century, a strange sect in the Pernambuco hinterlands believed in the return of Dom Sebastião, a Portuguese king who vanished in battle over 200 years prior. This belief led to the creation of a messianic cult that culminated in the tragic Pedra do Reino massacre, where hundreds were sacrificed, believing the king would return and grant them riches and salvation. The events, marked by fanaticism and manipulation, reveal the dark side of messianic beliefs and their power to influence people, even leading to violence and mass death. The story is a tragic chapter in Brazil's history, reflecting the dangers of misplaced hope in a political savior.

Takeaways

• 😀 The 19th-century Brazilian sect of Sebastianism, originating in Pernambuco, believed in the return of the dead Portuguese King Dom Sebastião to save the region from poverty.
• 😀 The myth of Dom Sebastião, who disappeared in battle in Morocco in 1578, sparked the idea that he would return to restore glory to Portugal and, later, Brazil.
• 😀 As time passed, the belief in Dom Sebastião's return became more mystical and messianic, with the idea that he would bring prosperity, cure ailments, and change the lives of people.
• 😀 João Antônio, an unemployed man in Pernambuco, used the Sebastianist myth to manipulate people by claiming that Dom Sebastião was returning and would make everyone wealthy and healthy.
• 😀 João Antônio convinced locals, including Maria, the daughter of wealthy landowners, to marry him and gather followers, who formed a sect around the belief in Dom Sebastião’s return.
• 😀 The sect moved to Pedra Bonita (now Pedra do Reino), where they believed Dom Sebastião would be 'unsealed' from his enchantment, attracting around 300 followers.
• 😀 João Antônio’s followers were subjected to harsh punishments, and the area became infamous for its unhygienic conditions and its members offering sacrifices to Dom Sebastião.
• 😀 The movement’s beliefs escalated when João Antônio’s successor, João Ferreira, took control and encouraged even more extreme practices, including multiple marriages and self-sacrifice for the return of the king.
• 😀 The followers, under the influence of hallucinogenic substances, began to offer human sacrifices, including João Ferreira’s wife and children, as part of their belief that it would lead to Dom Sebastião’s return.
• 😀 The massacre ended when João Ferreira was killed by his own followers, and the military intervened, discovering the gruesome aftermath of the sect’s violent and fatal practices.
• 😀 The tragedy of Pedra do Reino influenced Brazilian culture, inspiring works like Ariano Suassuna’s novel, which explores themes of messianism, and highlights the dangers of waiting for a savior instead of seeking real change.

Q & A

What is Sebastianism and how did it begin?

Sebastianism is a belief that King Dom Sebastião of Portugal, who disappeared in 1578, would one day return to restore glory to Portugal. It began after his disappearance in the Battle of Alcáçquibir, where he was believed to have died, but many believed he might have survived and would return to save the country. This belief spread, particularly in Portugal and later in Brazil, with the notion that Dom Sebastião would bring prosperity and end suffering.

What role did the people of Brazil play in the spread of Sebastianism?

The belief in Sebastianism was brought to Brazil, especially in the Northeast, where there was already a strong connection with Portugal. The belief gained traction in Brazilian culture through literature, especially in cordel literature, which spread the myth of Dom Sebastião's return. The idea was particularly influential in impoverished regions, where people hoped for a savior to end their misery.

Who was João Antônio, and what role did he play in the Pedra do Reino tragedy?

João Antônio was an unemployed man from rural Pernambuco who, after reading about Sebastianism in cordel literature, began to spread the belief that Dom Sebastião was returning to save the people from poverty. He convinced many, including the parents of a young woman named Maria, to follow him. He gathered a group of followers and moved to Pedra Bonita, claiming that it was the site where Dom Sebastião would reappear.

What promises did João Antônio make to his followers?

João Antônio promised his followers that when Dom Sebastião returned, their lives would be transformed. He claimed that the poor would become rich, the disabled would be healed, and even those who were black would become white. He also promised that Dom Sebastião would bring wealth and prosperity, which attracted many desperate individuals to follow him.

How did João Antônio's leadership evolve in the Pedra do Reino movement?

Initially, João Antônio was the central leader of the movement, claiming to be the prophet of Dom Sebastião. However, he was eventually persuaded by a local priest to abandon the Pedra do Reino site, leaving the followers without their leader. His departure marked a shift in the movement, with João Ferreira, his brother-in-law, taking over and further intensifying the cult-like practices.

What were the extreme actions taken by João Ferreira as the new leader?

João Ferreira, as the new prophet, introduced even more extreme and dangerous practices. He claimed to receive revelations from Dom Sebastião and adopted authoritarian control over the group. He allowed men to have multiple wives, with the first night of marriage reserved for him, and prohibited the followers from maintaining cleanliness. He also encouraged the consumption of hallucinogenic substances, which further fueled the group's fanatical beliefs.

What was the significance of the two stones at Pedra do Reino?

The two large stones at Pedra do Reino were believed to be the site where Dom Sebastião would reappear. According to João Antônio and later João Ferreira, these stones would become red with blood as a sign of the king's return. The followers, under intense mental manipulation, were convinced that offering sacrifices, including human lives, was necessary for Dom Sebastião's return.

What led to the tragic events at Pedra do Reino?

The tragic events at Pedra do Reino were fueled by the fanaticism of João Ferreira's followers, who were convinced that they had to offer sacrifices for Dom Sebastião to return. The violence escalated when João Ferreira began to sacrifice his own followers, starting with his pregnant wife. This led to a series of brutal murders, with followers offering their children and themselves as sacrifices, believing it would bring about the king's return.

How did the massacre at Pedra do Reino end?

The massacre at Pedra do Reino ended when João Ferreira was killed by his followers, and the remaining members of the cult were overpowered by local authorities. João Gomes, a witness to the events, managed to escape and inform the authorities. Military forces were sent to the site, where they found the remnants of the cult and ended the violence. The site was eventually abandoned, and a priest cursed the place to prevent any future gatherings.

What lasting impact did the Pedra do Reino events have on Brazilian culture?

The events at Pedra do Reino left a lasting impact on the cultural and historical imagination of Brazil, particularly in the Northeast. The story became a symbol of fanaticism and the dangers of messianic beliefs. It was later immortalized in the works of writer Ariano Suassuna, who created the novel 'A Pedra do Reino e o Príncipe do Sangue do Vai-e-Volta,' contributing to the creation of the Armorial Movement, which blends popular culture with the literary tradition.