Individual and society. Brás de Brito Souto and the process of institutionalization of free and freed Afro-descendant militias in Portuguese America (1684-1768)

I analyze in this article the trajectory of Brás de Brito Souto, the seventh and last master of the field of the militia of Henriques of Pernambuco, between 1684 and 1768. I propose that the examination of his trajectory is not “historical narrative”, but elaboration of a verifiable theoretical model of social figuration formed by an individual with other individuals of his time. I examine his social position and his social function of prestige as well I analyze the relations between individual and society in the context of the process of institutionalization of militias formed by free and freed African descents in Portuguese America during the first half of the eighteenth century.

Keywords:
militias; African descents; individual and society.