Between Franciscan and Benedictine: the case of Domingos do Loreto Couto (1696-1762)

Abstract

The present paper analyses the life of Domingos do Loreto Couto as a religious man recognized by historiography as the author of an important book to understand the early 18th century: Desagravos do Brasil e Glorias de Pernambuco. We are not interested in our author as a writer of chronicles; we will use his academic path as an element to get an overview of the selected period, especially regarding the cases of regulars who moved between Orders, a usual practice until the second quarter of the 18th century. Thus, we believe that Loreto Couto’s path invites us to understand, on a small scale, the power structure of the ecclesiastical sphere, the dialogue and disagreements between the regular clerics and the diocesan powers, or even the relations between the overseas dioceses and the center of the Christian monarchy.