Da calúnia à supressão: discursos sobre educação e antijesuitismo no período pombalino

Abstract

For over two centuries, the Order of Jesus maintained control of the Portuguese educational institutions, coordinating both the minor studies and university education. However, during the period of the Enlightenment in Portugal, the Jesuits have been heavily criticized and opposed, and finally expelled in 1759. Even with the absence of the Order, a deep campaign was boosted by the Minister Sebastião Jose de Carvalho e Melo, Marquis of Pombal. In 1770, the newly created Board of Literary Providence, coordinated by the minister himself, was asked to officially evaluate the supposed state of decay it was in the Portuguese education, especially at the University of Coimbra. The Board's work resulted in the publication in 1771 of the Compendium State Historical University of Coimbra, and a year later, the reform of the Statute of that institution. Under this scenario, this paper investigates the political reasons behind the antijesuitism speeches that lasted until 1774. In addition to assessing, through biographical surveys, the importance that the members of the Board of Providence Literary in the validation of those speeches and, by implication, strengthening the pombal’s educational policy.