Caramuru

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Diogo Alvares Correia

Portuguese settler born in Viana, Diogo Alvares Correia departed for Brazil in 1509. After his ship wrecked in the coast of Bahia, Diogo Alvares found himself among the Tupinamba Indians. The Indians called him Caramuru (Moray Eel or Creator of Fire) because on the shape and the fire of his weapon.

Later, Diogo Alvares founded a settlement called Vila Velha and married Paraguacu (or Paraguassu), the daughter of Tupinamba's chief Morubixava Taparica. During the following twenty years, Diogo Alvares kept contact with European ships and used his influence on local Indians to help the Portuguese Crown and missionaires during the early years of Brazilian colonization.

In 1526, he traveled to France with his wife. Paraguaçu was baptized by Catherine de Medici the queen of France under the name Catarina.

A couple of years later, he returned to Bahia and aided Thome de Sousa in founding Salvador and creating the first Brazilian General-Government, by the request of King João III of Portugal .

He died in October 1557, was buried in the Church of Jesus, and left half of his wealth to the Jesuits. His wife, Catarina Paraguaçu died in 1582.

His sons, Gaspar, Gabriel and Jorge were declared knights by Governor Thome de Sousa.

The historical episode was the central theme of a Portuguese poem by Santa Rita Durão (XVIII Century, Minas Gerais), titled "Caramuru".pt:Caramuru