As nobrezas secundogénitas no império ultramarino português. Um estudo de caso (sécs. XVI e XVII)

Abstract

Over the past decades, the historiography has revised some preconceived ideas about the social role of not firstborn noble children, specially regarding the construction of overseas empires. In broad terms, we have tended to define the second born as a family and social problem. This has originated a simplistic and reductive image. However, there are some exceptions, prospects for an innovative approach, which will introduce a new descriptive geometry essential for the theoretical design. It is with them (and from them) that we shall dialogue. From the methodological point of view, it is worth stressing the need to stablish a prosopographic register. The use of this tool helps to optimize the information spread across multiple sources and tracking features that may go unnoticed. Finally, a case study may be emblematic, in many ways, of the historiographic reality that we want to recreate.