Tiradentes

Lore & Background

Tiradentes was born on the Fazenda do Pombal, near the village of Santa Rita do Rio Abaixo, at the time disputed territory between the towns of São João del-Rei and Tiradentes, in the Captaincy of Minas Gerais in Colonial Brazil. He was the fourth of seven children of Portuguese-born Domingos da Silva Santos and Brazilian-born Antônia da Encarnação Xavier. After his parents died, he entered under the tutelage of his uncle and godfather Sebastião Ferreira Leitão, a dentist.

He worked as a peddler, miner, and partner in a pharmacy, and practiced dentistry, earning the nickname Tiradentes. He later joined the Minas Gerais Dragoon Regiment, where he was given command of a detachment and sent on missions along the Caminho Novo. He grew dissatisfied with his low rank and was eventually dismissed from his commanding post. Influenced by liberal ideas and the writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the American Revolution, he joined the Inconfidência Mineira, which envisioned an independent Brazilian republic.

The plot was exposed by Joaquim Silvério dos Reis. Tiradentes was sentenced to death, took full responsibility, and was hanged on 21 April 1792. His body was quartered and displayed.

Reader's Guide

Tiradentes is a national hero of Brazil and patron of the Military Police. His moniker became the namesake of a city in Minas Gerais, city squares in Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Ouro Preto, and a major avenue in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The 11th Mountain Infantry Battalion, 'Tiradentes' Regiment, has been in operation in the Brazilian Army since 1888.

Did You Know?

• Tiradentes means 'tooth puller', a pejorative denomination adopted during his trial.
• The proposed flag for the republic had a green triangle over a white background with the motto 'Libertas Quae Sera Tamen'.
• His head was sent to Ouro Preto but subsequently lost.