A espada e a capela: relações de compadrio dos oficiais de milícia na fronteira meridional do Brasil (1816-1835)

It has become common place the idea that, during the first half of the 19th century, Brazil southern borderlands’ elite might have been composed of “military-ranchers”. However, no in-depth survey about this group has been done. This paper intends to investigate the presence and the role played by the militia officers in those societies. Personal ties were very relevant in that context, helping to build the politics and the economy. An important part of those ties can be reconstructed studying the “compadrio” – a personal tie between parents and godparents. This article focuses on the “compadrio” among militia officers in Alegrete, from 1816 to 1835. The main sources used were baptism records and official mail. Key words: Militia officers, personal ties, borderland, Rio Grande do Sul