António Filipe Camarão

D. António Filipe Camarão painted by Victor Meirelles de Lima

António Filipe Camarão (commonly called "Felipe Camarão" or "Antônio Felipe Camarão" in Brazil) (* beginning of the 17th century; † August 24, 1648 ) was a Brazilian military leader and nobleman.

António Filipe Camarão was a Brazilian Indian from the Potiguar tribe . Its original name, pronounced in the tribal language, was Potty, which means shrimp (Port. Camarão). On the occasion of the transition to Christianity in 1614, he translated this name into Portuguese and made it his surname. In addition to perfect Portuguese, he also mastered Latin, which he had learned during his training from Jesuits. Since 1630 he fought tirelessly against the Dutch who were trying to annex Brazil. He fought them as leader of an Indian regiment on various fronts until his death in 1648. In the battle of Guararapes , which took place in the year of his death, he even commanded the right flank of the entire Portuguese army - it was the high point of his career as Army leader and at the same time his last military act. António Filipe Camarão was granted the right by royal decision to use the title “Dom”, which roughly corresponds to the English “Sir” or the German “Freiherr”.

Web links

• O Terço de Antônio Filipe Camarão: sua cooptação e evolução militar durante a invasão holandesa
• "O Governador dos Indios"
• "Tempo Livre" magazine from "Inatel"