Antonio Cabral de Melo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Antonio Cabral de Melo y Carbajal
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Enlazando ganado en las pampas by Fernando Brambila
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| Accionero del Ganado Vacuno of Buenos Aires Province | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Antonio Román Cabral de Melo Alpoim y Carbajal de Salas.
1646 Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Died | c.1717 Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Spouse | Leonor de Morales |
| Occupation | landowner cattle merchant |
| Profession | Militia Officer |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Spanish Empire |
| Branch/service | Spanish Army |
| Years of service | c.1670-c.1700 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Fuerte de Buenos Aires |
| Commands | Milicias Provinciales de Buenos Aires |
Antonio Cabral de Melo (born 1646, died around 1717) was an important person in the Spanish colony of Buenos Aires. He owned a lot of land and was a Captain in the local army. He spent his time raising cattle and growing crops. He also had a special job called Accionero of the Río de la Plata. This job gave him permission to hunt wild cattle, known as cimarron cattle.
Contents
Antonio Cabral de Melo's Life
Antonio Román Cabral de Melo y Carbajal was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His father, Cristóbal Cabral de Melo, was a nobleman from Vila do Porto. His mother, María de Carbajal, came from a well-known family. Antonio was baptized on March 11, 1646.
He married Leonor Morales on July 13, 1671. Their wedding took place in the main Cathedral.
Antonio likely studied at the Jesuit College in Buenos Aires when he was around 18 to 20 years old. He became a successful landowner. He raised many animals like livestock, horses, and pigs. He also grew crops and grapes for wine. He owned several large farms, called haciendas, including one in the middle of Buenos Aires Province.
Military Service and Cattle Business
Like many of his family members, Antonio was active in the local army, called provincial militias. These militias were part of the Fort of Buenos Aires. He took part in some military trips against the native Pampas tribes. He held the important rank of Maestre de Campo, which meant he was in charge of the provincial militias for the Spanish Army.
Around 1690, the local government, called the Ayuntamiento, gave him special permission. This permission allowed him to hunt and slaughter the wild cattle that roamed freely in the Buenos Aires area.
The Accionero Role
People with the "accionero" title were very important. They supplied meat and leather to the city of Buenos Aires during the 1600s and 1700s. They also helped export leather to other countries. The right to be an "accionero" could be passed down in the family.
In 1668, Antonio asked the Ayuntamiento for permission to hunt 3,000 wild cattle. These cattle were in the area of Luján and belonged to his mother. After Antonio Cabral de Melo died, his son-in-law, Miguel Gerónimo de Esparza, inherited the right to hunt wild cattle.
Later, when most of the wild cattle in Buenos Aires Province were gone, the "accioneros" focused on raising cattle on their farms. They traded their products with large trading companies.
Family Connections
In 1707, Antonio Cabral de Melo gave his friend, Miguel de Riglos, the power to write his will. Miguel de Riglos was also a nephew of Manuel Cabral de Alpoim. Manuel was a famous rancher and military leader from Portugal. He was very important in the Río de la Plata region, where he served as Mayor and Lieutenant Governor of Corrientes. Antonio's grandfather on his mother's side was General Gonzalo Carbajal. He held many important positions in Buenos Aires.
See also
In Spanish: Antonio Cabral de Melo para niños
Images for kids
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Antonio Cabral de Melo's signature
