The history of Portugal is not limited to great figures who accomplished feats that made them great. Over the several centuries of the country’s existence, many personalities distinguished themselves by carrying out actions that allowed them to be remembered by the people.
That’s what happened with Zé do Telhado. Despite having been one of the robbers of the post-civil war period, he went down in history as a figure cherished by the people, due to the fact that he always tried to share with the poor part of the loot he secured through his less noble actions.
Now, this gesture allowed him to be identified as a Portuguese Robin Hood.
Who was “Zé do Telhado”?
His name was José Teixeira da Silva (1818-1875). His birth took place in Penafiel, more precisely in the village of Telhado. He comes from a family with few resources.
At 14, he went to live with an uncle in Caíde de Rei, Lousada. He learned the trade of animal handler and castrator from his uncle. “Zé do Telhado” had five children fathered by the woman he married, a cousin of his, Ana Lentina de Campos. He married his cousin at age 27.
Military career
His life takes a new direction when he begins his military career in the Lancers of Lisbon, also called “Lanceiros da Rainha”. It was in the first half of the 19th century that a conflict emerged that had absolutists and liberals on opposing sides. Therefore, he ends up getting involved in the civil war process that placed liberals and absolutists in complex opposition.
After his faction is defeated, he ends up leaving Portugal. However, with the end of the civil war in 1837, and on his way into exile, he received permission from his uncle to marry his cousin Ana, with whom he started a family.
He later returned home after the exile of D. Miguel que José Teixeira da Silva.
In 1846, with the Maria da Fonte Revolution, “Zé do Telhado” joined the popular revolt. He ends up saving the life of General Sá da Bandeira during the clashes, a feat that leads him to be decorated by him, having received the Knight of Tower and Sword medal.
The robber
After the Gramido Convention, which took place in June 1847, the “Maria da Fonte Revolt” ceased. The family of “Zé do Telhado” was struggling with serious financial difficulties at this time.
In this context, “Zé do Telhado” led a gang that carried out several robberies in the north of São Paulo. It is after assuming leadership of this gang that he begins to be known as “Zé do Telhado”. As he made a point of sharing part of the gains he made with his actions with the poor, he was recognized by the people.
The group began to be sought after by the authorities with greater emphasis from the moment one of the gang members killed a servant. His gang was persecuted after that tragic episode.
“Zé do Telhado” intended to escape the hunt that was set up to catch him. However, when he was on board the ship destined for Brazil, he was caught and arrested.
A meeting in prison
After being arrested, “Zé do Telhado” was destined to be forgotten forever, but
had the opportunity to spend time with someone special, Camilo Castelo Branco. The writer was in the same prison for having been arrested for adultery. The temptation brought him problems, after falling in love with Ana Plácido, married to Manuel Pinheiro Alves, a rich merchant.
After having private time with “Zé do Telhado”, in the Porto Relation Prison, they formed a friendship. The writer Camilo Castelo Branco ended up paying tribute to the Portuguese Robin Hood in his work “Memórias do Cárcere”. He created another memory of history, which contributed to alleviating the crimes of “Zé do Telhado”.
With Camilo’s contribution, the man who could have been a Ferrabrás was transformed into a romantic hero, someone who stole from the rich and gave to the poor, like Robin Hood, a mythical English hero.
This English figure who lived in the 12th century, at the time of King Richard the Lionheart and the great Crusades, was also an outlaw who gave to the poor part of what he stole from the nobility.
The trial
After being arrested in 1859, “Zé do Telhado” was tried at the Marco de Canaveses Judicial Court. His trial began on April 25, 1859 and lasted until 1861. However, this encounter ended up playing a determining role in his life. He ended up being Camilo Castelo Branco’s lawyer who saved his life with his actions in court.
“Zé do Telhado” was likely to be sentenced to death, due to his less noble deeds. However, the lawyer’s defense prevented this fate. Against all expectations, “Zé do Telhado” was simply sentenced to exile on the west coast of Africa for life.
Although his sentence was later commuted to 15 years of exile, he remained in Angolan territory. It was in this country that he had the opportunity to rebuild his life. In addition to becoming a businessman recognized and esteemed by the local population, “Zé do Telhado” married again. From this marriage he had 3 more children.
Here, he lived until the end of his days. “Zé do Telhado” died in this country at the age of 57, in 1875. He is buried in a small mausoleum, located in the village of Xissa, which is located about 100 km from Malanje. This space has become a local attraction.
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