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Servant of God
Sepé Tiaraju
Memorial da Epopeia Riograndense 80a.jpg
Sepé Tiaraju by Danúbio Gonçalves
Layman and Guarani Leader
Born c. 1723
São Luiz Gonzaga, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Died 7 February 1756
São Gabriel, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Folk Catholicism
Anglicanism
Patronage Diocese of Bagé

Sepé Tiaraju (born around 1723, died 1756) was an important leader of the Guaraní people. He lived in a Jesuit mission called São Luiz Gonzaga. He died on February 7, 1756, in what is now São Gabriel, Brazil.

Sepé Tiaraju's Story

Sepé Tiaraju led his people in a big fight. This fight was against the Portuguese and Spanish rulers. It was called the Guarani War. He died just three days before a terrible event. About 1,500 of his friends and fellow soldiers were killed. Even after more than 250 years, Sepé Tiaraju is still a hero. Many people see him as a saint.

Why the Guarani War Started

This conflict happened in South America. It began because European countries decided to divide the land. They signed a paper called the Treaty of Madrid in 1750. This treaty said that the Guarani people living in the Jesuit missions had to leave their homes.

The Guarani had lived in these missions for 150 years. They had a special way of life together. They did not want to go back to the forests. They also did not want to move to another place. Later agreements, like the San Ildefonso Treaty (1777) and the Badajoz Treaty (1801), still dealt with these land issues.

Life in the Jesuit Missions

The Christianized Guarani people lived in Jesuit missions. These missions were in Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. About 80,000 Guarani lived there when the war started. These "evangelized" Guarani were different from those living traditionally.

The Guarani in the missions had many cattle. They had what was believed to be the largest herd in all of Latin America. So, the European rulers wanted more than just land. They also wanted the cattle and other resources.

Sepé Tiaraju's Legacy

Sepé Tiaraju became famous in books and poems. A Brazilian writer named Basílio da Gama wrote about him. This was in an epic poem called O Uraguai (1769). He also appeared in "O Lunar de Sepé" by Simões Lopes Neto. This poem was published in the early 1900s.

Sepé Tiaraju is also a character in other important books. One example is "O tempo e o vento" by Erico Verissimo. A famous saying is linked to Sepé Tiaraju. It is "Esta terra tem dono!" In Guarani, it is "Co ivi oguerecó iara." This means "This land has owners!"

Places Named After Sepé Tiaraju

The Sepé Tiaraju Airport is named after him. It is in Santo Ângelo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

He is also honored by the Anglican Church in Brazil. He was added to their Saints' Calendar in 2015.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Sepé Tiarayú para niños

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