Manuel Cabral de Alpoim

Biography

Manuel was born in São Miguel Island, he arrived at the Rio de la Plata in the company of their parents Amador Vaz de Alpoim and Margarida Cabral de Melo, belonging to the Portuguese nobility. His family had lived for five years in the Portuguese colony of Brazil, in which they had taken refuge after the earthquake in the Azores islands, in 1591.

He began his studies in Buenos Aires, to continue his education at Lisbon (Portugal). In 1613, he returned to Buenos Aires, and began to work in his father's business.

During 1620s and 1630s, Manuel Cabral de Melo e Alpoim occupied several government posts, including the positions of alcalde, regidor and Maestre de Campo. Resident in Corrientes was appointed as Lieutenant Governor of Province in 1625. He led the crackdown against the rebel Indians, who in 1628, had murdered the Spanish Jesuits among them Roque González de Santa Cruz, cowardly attacked by the cacique Ñezú in reduction of San Nicolás, located across the Uruguay River. Commanding an army of 200 soldiers of Guarani origin, departed from the city of Itatí to Rio Grande do Sul, in support of the Jesuits. The rapid intervention of Alpoim, saved the lives of hundreds of people. Also gave approximately 40.000 cattle for creating stays in the area.

The heart of Roque González de Santa Cruz, burned and pierced with an arrow, was found by Alpoim inside a bag of relics. His heart wrapped in the blanket, was escorted by soldiers of Captain Alpoim to the city of Corrientes.

With large effort was also devoted to livestock, in 1620s, he had obtained permission for the exploitation of "ganado cimarron" (wild cattle and horses). He had a ranch in Monte Grande, and also ran his mother's ranch in Luján.

Alpoim was a man highly respected by the natives of the area, giving permission for raising cattle to the Indians of the Reductions, to feed their families.

In 1637-38, Alpoim participated in expeditions against the rebel tribes that inhabited in the region of Calchaquí Valleys. The expeditions were led by Governor Pedro Dávila Enriquez and its successor Mendo de la Cueva.

Manuel Cabral de Alpoim used some weapons for defense, he had two arquebus one of flint, and the other of ammunition. Also he possessed an iron spear, and a sword of habit of the Third .

Family and Ancestors

His father, Amador Vaz de Alpoim, was a wealthy merchant who had participated in the expedition of the Ciudad de los Césares. His mother Margarida Cabral de Melo, was an aristocratic lady, great-granddaughter of Lourenço Anes and Grimaneza Afonso de Melo (natives of Azores).

Manuel Cabral de Melo was twice married, 1st, to Inés Arias de Mansilla, daughter of Francisco Arias de Mansilla (regidor) and Lucía de Espinosa. And to 2dly, with Juana Delgado de Espinosa, daughter of Captain Francisco Delgado de Ledesma and Jerónima de Espinosa. He had two daughters Margarita and Gregoria, and a son, Juan Cabral de Alpoim y Arias de Mansilla, alcalde, regidor and landowner of Corrientes Province.

In 1612, Alpoim traveled to Lisbon, where the King of Arms handed his Cartório da Nobreza (certificate of nobility). Her family includes among its illustrious ancestors; Kings of Portugal of Castile and France, also including the Royal House of England, through Afonso III of Portugal, grandson of Eleanor of England. He also was descendant of the same John, King of England, through of Álvaro Gonçalves da Maia, an ancestor of Beatriz de Noronha, wife of Álvaro Martins Homem.

Manuel Cabral de Melo e Alpoim claimed that his paternal ancestors were medieval knights of France. probably of Norman origin. His maternal ancestors were relatives to Gonçalo Velho Cabral and Pedro Álvares Cabral discoverers of Azores and Brazil.