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

The first week of the agreement was scheduled to begin in April, coinciding with Dona Esperança’s fertile period. The slaves were instructed on how to proceed, what clothes to wear, and how to behave during the encounters. Everything was planned to maintain the apparent dignity of the lady, even in such a degrading situation.

Monday, April 4, 1864, dawned rainy. The typical autumn drizzle of Minas covered the São Sebastião farm with a mantle of melancholy that seemed to reflect the tense atmosphere dominating the property. Dona Esperança woke up knowing this would be the most difficult day of her life. João Crisóstomo had received detailed instructions the day before.

He was to bathe, wear clean clothes, and head to the back house at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Colonel Augusto would stay outside, ensuring that no other slave approached and that the encounter proceeded as planned. The small wooden structure had been furnished simply but with dignity: a bed with clean sheets, a basin with scented water, and a single window that offered a view of the coffee fields.

The environment was prepared to maintain some appearance of civility in a completely dehumanizing situation. Dona Esperança arrived punctually, wearing a simple white cotton robe. Her eyes were red from crying and her hands were visibly shaking. João Crisóstomo was waiting for her, standing, equally nervous and embarrassed.

Both knew they had no choice in the situation. The encounter lasted less than 20 minutes. There were no conversations or attempts to create intimacy. Both wanted it to end as quickly as possible. João Crisóstomo, despite his position as foreman and his relative education, understood perfectly that he was being used as a reproductive instrument.

Dona Esperança endured the situation with the resignation of someone who had lost all control over her own life. The Colonel waited outside, smoking cigars nervously and checking his pocket watch repeatedly. When Dona Esperança left the house, he accompanied her back to the Big House without uttering a word.

João Crisóstomo waited a few minutes before returning to his activities in the coffee fields. The routine repeated itself in the following days. Miguel dos Santos, on Tuesday, showed even more nervousness than João. His inexperience with elite women made the situation even more embarrassing. Antônio da Silva, on Wednesday, was more direct and efficient than the first three, treating the encounter as just another task to be completed.

Dona Esperança developed mental strategies to endure the encounters. She would close her eyes and try to transport herself to her childhood memories in the convent. She mentally recited prayers in Latin or planned flower arrangements for the following week. Anything that would help her disconnect from reality.

The other slaves on the farm began to realize that something unusual was happening. The seven chosen ones received differentiated treatment, better food, new clothes, and exemption from some heavier tasks, but the farm’s rigid discipline and fear of the Colonel prevented any direct questioning.

Pedro Gonçalves, on Thursday, was the first to try to establish some kind of communication with Dona Esperança. He respectfully asked if she was well and if she needed anything. The unexpected kindness made her cry throughout the encounter, which left Pedro deeply disturbed.

Francisco de Assis, on Friday, took with him a small bouquet of wild flowers he had picked in the garden. The gesture, though simple, represented an attempt to humanize a completely dehumanized situation. Dona Esperança kept the flowers, which were the only ones she received during that entire dark period.

It is important to remember that we are dealing with a historical period where slavery completely dehumanized Black people, treating them as property. At the same time, women, even white and from the elite, had very little autonomy over their own lives and bodies. May 1864 brought the first complications of the agreement established by Colonel Augusto.

José Maria, assigned to Saturdays, began to show signs of deep psychological suffering. As a religious man who had learned to read through the Bible, he understood the moral dimension of what he was being forced to do. During the third Saturday of encounters, José Maria refused to enter the back house. He remained outside, kneeling, praying in a low voice.

Colonel Augusto, furious with the disobedience, threatened him with lashes. But José Maria maintained his position, explaining that he would rather die than continue sinning against God and against the lady. The situation created the first major conflict of the agreement. The Colonel could not simply punish José Maria physically without running the risk of compromising the entire plan.

Injured or marked slaves would draw attention, and discretion was fundamental to the success of the undertaking. Dona Esperança, who had developed a special respect for José Maria due to his education and religiosity, interceded for the slave. She suggested to her husband that they find a way to replace him without causing an outcry.

It was the first time since the beginning of the agreement that she had taken any initiative. The solution found was to transfer José Maria to work on a smaller family farm located three days’ journey away. Officially, he was being promoted to supervise production on a smaller property. In reality, he was being removed to avoid problems.

Luís Carlos, who was supposed to be the last of the week on Sundays, also took over Saturdays. The change created a different dynamic. Two weekly encounters with the same person generated an unprecedented familiarity between him and Dona Esperança. Luís Carlos was the youngest of the group and the one who demonstrated the greatest artistic sensitivity.

His skills as a carpenter revealed a keen eye for detail and proportions. During the encounters, he began to notice small problems in the house. A window that wouldn’t close right, a loose board in the floor, hinges that made noise. This attention to detail and care for the environment began to generate a less hostile atmosphere.

Dona Esperança began to wait for the weekends with less anxiety, knowing that Luís Carlos would make the environment more comfortable and less oppressive. During June, another problem arose. Antônio da Silva, responsible for the horses, began to show possessiveness toward Dona Esperança. On two occasions, he was seen observing her discreetly as she walked through the gardens of the Big House.

The behavior was extremely dangerous. Any suspicion of personal interest could result in severe punishment or death. João Crisóstomo, as foreman, was tasked with talking to Antônio. The conversation was direct. Any deviation from the established rules would put all participants of the agreement in mortal danger.

Antônio understood the message and moderated his behavior, but the incident revealed how the situation was psychologically affecting everyone involved. Miguel dos Santos developed a completely different strategy. He decided to treat the encounters as technical exercises, focusing exclusively on the reproductive objective.

His mechanical and distant approach was less emotionally disturbing but also colder and more dehumanized. Pedro Gonçalves continued to be the most talkative of the group. During the Thursday encounters, he told stories about his childhood, talked about books he had read, and asked respectful questions about Dona Esperança’s life before marriage.

These conversations helped make the encounters less traumatic for her. Francisco de Assis kept the habit of bringing small gifts: flowers, special fruits from the garden, or medicinal teas he prepared. His natural kindness created moments of humanity in the midst of the degrading situation. In July, Dona Esperança began to show the first symptoms of pregnancy.

The month of July 1864 brought the news that Colonel Augusto had been waiting for. Dona Esperança began to experience morning sickness, breast sensitivity, and a delayed menstrual cycle—symptoms she knew well from previous pregnancies, but this time there was a crucial difference. She did not know who the father of the child she carried was. Dr. Henrique Almeida was called to confirm the pregnancy.

The doctor, who had followed the couple’s frustrated attempts over the years, was surprised by the sudden success. He credited the conception to the new treatments the Colonel had mentioned, without suspecting the true nature of the methods used. “Congratulations, Colonel,” the doctor said after the exam. “Dona Esperança is definitely pregnant.

From the symptoms and initial development, I estimate the gestation is about six weeks along. If all goes well, you will have an heir in early March of next year.” The confirmation of the pregnancy brought complex reactions for all involved. Colonel Augusto felt a mixture of relief and anxiety.