The Colonel Who Shared His Wife with 7 Slaves: The Agreement That Destroyed a Dynasty in Minas, 1864

He presented the proposal not as a request, but as a determination. In the patriarchal society of the time, women had little power of decision over their own lives. The husband’s authority was absolute, especially in matters considered family-related. February 1864 marked the beginning of the most bizarre process in the history of the São Sebastião farm.

Colonel Augusto established rigorous criteria for the selection of the slaves who would participate in his plan. It would not be a random choice. Every detail was calculated to maximize the chances of success. The first criterion was physical health. The Colonel sent for the family doctor, Dr. Henrique Almeida, under the pretext of performing routine exams on the slaves. The doctor, without knowing the true intentions, examined all men between 20 and 35 years old, identifying the healthiest and most robust. The second criterion was intelligence.

The Colonel observed which slaves demonstrated a greater capacity for reasoning, refined manual skills, or knowledge of agriculture and mining. He believed these characteristics could be passed on to future heirs. The third criterion, although never openly admitted, was physical appearance. The Colonel wanted the children born of the agreement to have characteristics that would not immediately give away their mixed origin. He sought slaves with lighter skin and features that approached European standards.

After two weeks of observation, seven slaves were selected. João Crisóstomo, 28 years old, mixed-race (mestiço), worked as a foreman in the coffee fields, was literate, and demonstrated natural leadership among the other slaves. Miguel dos Santos, 25 years old, light-skinned mulatto, responsible for maintaining the coffee processing machines.

He had exceptional mechanical skills for the time. Antônio da Silva, 30 years old, brown (pardo), took care of the farm’s horses. He was known for his physical strength and knowledge of animal breeding. Pedro Gonçalves, 26 years old, mixed-race, worked in the Big House as an assistant to the butler. He knew how to read and write, keeping the property’s records.

Francisco de Assis, 24 years old, mulatto, responsible for cultivating the vegetable gardens that supplied the Big House, had knowledge of medicinal plants. José Maria, 29 years old, brown, an experienced miner, knew all the tunnels of the property’s mines. He was respected by the other slaves for his wisdom.

Luís Carlos, 27 years old, mixed-race, a skilled carpenter, responsible for the construction and maintenance of the farm structures. The selection was not communicated to the chosen ones immediately. The Colonel first needed to establish the rules of the agreement and prepare Dona Esperança for what was to come.

During the month of March, he built a small house at the back of the property, away from curious eyes. The location would be used for the encounters, ensuring privacy and total control over the situation. Pause for a moment and reflect. We are talking about human beings being treated as reproductive instruments. The slave-owning mentality transformed people into objects, denying them any humanity or right to choice. If you are feeling disturbed by this story, leave your like.

It is exactly this reflection that we need to make about our past. On March 15, 1864, Colonel Augusto summoned the seven selected slaves for a meeting on the porch of the Big House. It was a cold morning typical of the Minas autumn, with mist covering the mountains surrounding the farm. The men stood in a semicircle, waiting for their master’s words.

“You have been chosen for a special task,” the Colonel began, walking slowly in front of the seven. “A task that can bring benefits to all of us, but which requires absolute discretion and obedience.” The silence was total. The slaves kept their eyes down, a typical posture when in the presence of the Master. None of them imagined what was to come.

“My wife and I have faced difficulties in having children,” the Colonel continued. “You are going to help resolve this situation. Each of you will have the opportunity to contribute so that Dona Esperança becomes pregnant.” The revelation caused a visible shock to the men. João Crisóstomo, the most experienced of the group, dared to discreetly raise his eyes, trying to understand if he had heard correctly. Miguel dos Santos clenched his fists, controlling his surprise.

The others remained motionless, processing the impossible information. The Colonel proceeded to explain the rules of the agreement. Each slave would have a specific day of the week designated for encounters with Dona Esperança. The meetings would always occur in the house built specifically for that purpose, always under his indirect supervision.

Any attempt at contact outside the established schedule would be punished by death. The slaves who participated in the agreement would receive benefits: better food, new clothes, exemption from heavier work, and the promise of eventual manumission. But it was also made clear that refusal was not an option.

In the slave-owning logic, they were property and should obey without question. “If any of you manages to father a child with my wife,” the Colonel declared, “that man will receive his freedom and an amount of money sufficient to start a new life. The others will continue receiving the promised benefits.”

The promise of freedom was both a motivation and a form of control. The Colonel knew it would create competition among the slaves, decreasing the chances of rebellion or conspiracy. João Crisóstomo was assigned to Mondays, Miguel to Tuesdays, Antônio to Wednesdays, Pedro to Thursdays, Francisco to Fridays, José Maria to Saturdays, and Luís Carlos to Sundays.

The schedule would be strictly followed during Dona Esperança’s fertile period each month. Dona Esperança, who observed the scene from a window of the Big House, felt a mixture of humiliation and terror. She had spent weeks trying to convince her husband to give up the idea, but her pleas were ignored. In the patriarchal society of the time, she had no choice but to submit to her husband’s will.

The family doctor was informed about the special treatment Dona Esperança would receive to increase her chances of getting pregnant. Dr. Henrique Almeida, though surprised, did not question the Colonel’s decisions. Medicine at the time frequently recommended unorthodox methods for fertility problems.