Antonio Bento, rude inlander: an abolitionist in the realm of justice and politics

Abstract

Antonio Bento, known as the leader of the fearless caifazes, hasnever had his biography deeply studied, even though it is commonly assumed that the most radical and popular abolitionist militants of the province of São Paulo evolved around him and around the Brotherhood of Nossa Senhorados Remédios. Through the analysis of the criminal and civilcourt documents of the city of Atibaia, this article aims toretrace and analyze his acts as a magistrate and district chief of police in the beginning of the 1870s – that is, a long time before he became the great “chief of the caifazes”. Therefore, it intends to investigate the political meanings and conflicts that shaped Antonio Bento’s work as a magistrate.