The Municipal Council of Vila Rica, and the consolidation of local elites, 1711-1736

This dissertation has as central objects the Municipal Council of Vila Rica and the local elites who controlled their prerogatives, from its foundation in 1711 until the riots that occurred in the hinterland of Minas Gerais in 1736. Over five chapters, we analyze the strategies used by the two groups that controlled the prerogatives of the institution, one during the decade of 1710, the other during the decades of 1720 e 1730. From the observation of local administrative routines and the study of the trajectory of the 520 individuals working in the institution during the period studied especially the 26 most influential individuals it was found oscillation of the jurisdiction of local authorities, linked to a reduction of the prerogatives of the Municipal Council. This movement was caused by increased pressure of the king\'s agents on institutionalized local elites, and a change of strategy of these elites from the repression of Villa Rica Revolt in 1720. Before this episode, the dominant local group was more resistant to the king\'s interests in the region; after 1720, the new group who took control of the local policy chose a more conciliatory line in relation to the king\'s agents. The consolidation of the local elites, since the decade of 1720, was directly linked to their decreasing autonomy in relation to the central power. (AU)