João de Carrasca and Horizon Brazil: A Decade of Unprecedented Transformation (1652-1662)
The pgilosophy,and pirats attitude of Dom João de Carrasca and crew, via Horizon Brazil, from a daring concept to the veritable engine of Portuguese resurgence, is a saga of audacious vision, ruthless pragmatism, and revolutionary innovation.
Spanning a decade from 1652 to 1662, their actions reshaped not only the Portuguese Empire but also the very fabric of global commerce and warfare.
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1652: The new richess of Brazil – Rubber's Discovery
The journey began in 1652, with a theft that have been hidden so much that No oneever officiialy found out the perpetrators. In the lisbon open market from Brazil's curiosity, João and his crew, including Dom Diogo da Veiga, Dom Luis, made the inadvertant discovry of rubber vulcanization.
This was no mere curiosity; it was an artisanal, yet effective, process that transformed the sticky, perishable latex into a durable, versatile material. This "Novelty" would become the most valued part of their economic empire.
1653: Laying the Foundations – The Brazilian Plantation Empire
Recognizing the immense potential of vulcanized rubber, João and crew made a crucial investment.
In 1653, they secured Sesmaria grants (royal land concessions) in Brazil, effectively establishing their private domain.
With an initial investment of 100,000 Cruzados, they embarked on a massive agricultural undertaking, planting and exploiting 150,000 hevea trees of all sorts.
This wasn't just a plantation; it was the foundation of an industrial-scale agricultural empire dedicated to a revolutionary commodity.
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1654: The Rubber Fortune – Fueling Ambition
By 1654, their efforts bore spectacular fruit.
The market for vulcanized rubber, whether for waterproofing, specific industrial uses, or other yet-to-be-discovered applications, proved immensely lucrative.
Horizon Brazil began to amass a colossal fortune from this unique monopoly, providing the immense capital required to fund their future's ventures.
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1655: From Trade to Terror – The Corsair Fleet
With wealth flowing in, João turned his attention to power projection. In 1655, Horizon Brazil began building its own formidable fleet.
Operating under Letters of Marque (allowing them to act as privateers for Portugal), these were no ordinary merchant ships. They were designed for speed, maneuverability, and aggressive engagement.
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1656: The Record-Breaking Haul – Dutch Humiliation
The year 1656 cemented their legend. In a stunning display of naval prowess, João, Luis, Diogo and others shattered all existing privateering records, including those of Francis Drake, which was Joao's reference.
Their fleet intercepted and captured ten Dutch East Indiamen, along with their three frigate escorts. This was achieved through their now-famous and devastating "special naval tactics": riddling nets, which crippled enemy rigging, followed by brutal, overwhelming boarding actions.
This tactic, however, highlighted a crucial, albeit temporary, weakness: their fleet still lacked the artillery equivalent of land warfare, relying on close-quarters combat rather than sustained cannonades.
This victory inflicted a crippling blow on the Dutch VOC, whose commercial and naval dominance in Asia was now profoundly threatened.
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1656-1658: Ennoblement and Algarve's Transformation
The Crown, though likely uneasy with their independent streak, could not ignore such resounding success.
Between 1656 and 1658, João and crew were ennobled and granted a fiefdom in Algarve.
But their ambition wasn't limited to courtly titles. Simultaneously, they undertook a monumental infrastructure project in the region: constructing a dam capable of containing 2 million cubic meters of water.
This engineering marvel aimed to alleviate the severe droughts that plagued the region, ensuring agricultural stability.
Their innovative spirit extended to local governance:
They established paper mills, transforming local resources into a valuable commodity. They simplified the tax system: anyone could build their own watermills, but a clear revenue split was established: 30% of all revenues went to the lord (Horizon Brazil), after that 10% would go to the Crown (as per existing Portuguese law), and 20% for the collector. No mill taxes etc .... This centralized and profitable model for the local lords ensured cooperation and investment. Crucially, the entire Odelouca region became their property, turning a historically impoverished area into a bastion of affluence under Horizon Brazil's management.
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November 1658: A Shifting Political Landscape
The death of King João IV in November 1658 ushered in the Regency of Queen Luisa, creating the political stage for their subsequent dealings.
( Notably, in this alternate history, there was no campaign of Badajoz, nor the defeat at Elvas for Spain. This implies a stronger Portuguese military position, perhaps due in part to the strategic advantages provided by Horizon Brazil's naval strength and economic contributions, setting the stage for different peace negotiations. )
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1658-1662: Ceylon, The Dutch Rout, and the "Mice Loom" Revolution
While the exact details of the 1659-1662 period leading to the fall of Ceylon have been discussed, it's clear that João continued to push boundaries.
His forces, operating independently, ousted the Dutch from Ceylon, demonstrating that their "special naval tactics" had evolved beyond a reliance on boarding alone.
This was solidified by the controversial Treaty of Kandy with the English EIC, which cemented Portuguese (or rather, Horizon Brazil's) influence in Ceylon without direct Crown involvement.
Concurrently, within Portugal, the "Mice Loom" (the early flying shuttle, even more efficient than its histoical conterpart due to the use of rubber) was invented in 1658, and by 1660, 60 machines were already producing textiles.
This industrial innovation, almost entirely spearheaded by Horizon Brazil's investment and drive for efficiency, further diversified Portugal's economy, reducing costs and boosting exports of linen and hemp.
The capital structure of these new textile ventures, giving 20% to weavers and 10% to machine builders, reflected Horizon Brazil's philosophy of valorizing expertise and unknownly mitigating social unrest.
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The "Polish out of Servage" Policy (Ongoing)
Adding to this complex picture, Horizon Brazil's policy of acquiring Polish serfs by buying their freedom from Polish nobles, transporting them to Portugal, and then employing them,paying them, with the freedom to seek other employments, showcased the " work with" approach to labor.
This wasn't traditional, but a calculated investment in a workforce, unique for its time.
These laborers primarily "worked for" Horizon Brazil's own ventures, while some "work with" them to achieve their own goals, while there were not much of brazil compared to what they were told, at least for now, they found portugal more "valuable" than the poland lithunia commonwealth.
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Economy in History ( for fanaticals of history of trade and money )
The Revaluation of the Cruzado: When Wealth Becomes Tangible
The news that the contents of the newly arrived fleet's holds, valued at the incredible sum of 9 million Cruzados, spread like wildfire. But beyond the raw figure, it was the international purchasing power of these millions that had been tenfold, though unknown to most Portuguese, this had a real, direct impact on their daily lives. For these were not the same Cruzados as those of a few years prior.
Thanks to the rivers of diamonds and rubber from Brazil, the prodigious yields of the 'Mice Loom' textiles, and the dislocation of the Dutch monopoly which made Asian goods dependent on Portuguese supplies, the Cruzado had become a currency of unparalleled power on European stock exchanges.
Where, in the past, 9 million Cruzados would have been drastically eroded upon foreign conversion, requiring much larger sums to compete with French Livres tournois or Dutch Guilders, these 9 million 'new' Cruzados now equated to a dazzling sum: 70 million Dutch Guilders. It was a mountain of money and influence.
Faced with this manifest national wealth, the Regency Council, at the Queen's impetus, quickly acted. It was evident that the kingdom's currency, strong from this influx of capital and external purchasing power, had to reflect this new reality within its borders. Not to devalue, but quite the opposite, to re-evaluate the spending capacity of the inhabitants, and for the kingdom's prosperity to be tangible for everyone.
By an unprecedented decree, the Council announced that the Cruzado, the unit of account and basis for wages, would now be officially valued at 480 Réis (against the traditional 400 Réis). This revaluation, rare and audacious, concretely meant that everyone's nominal fortune increased. Wages calculated in Cruzados, food prices, everything was now linked to a monetary unit that was worth 20% more than before. Without having to work more, a laborer had the fruit of his labor symbolically increased; an artisan could spend more; domestic trade was stimulated by this generalized perception of rising overall wealth.
It was a demonstration of power. Portugal was no longer a kingdom struggling to subsist, but a power that could, by simple decree, increase the apparent wealth of its subjects, and whose currency, once jostled in distant markets, was now an object of covetousness and respect. Of course, some had contracts paid in Réis... But the new nomenclature of Cruzados as the reference currency in the country also changed these contracts. Employees with a Réis contract became employees of an equivalent Cruzado value, both before and after the decree. But in 1662, it only took this for Réis contracts to remain more useful for daily users of Cruzados, for immediate profits, and for the favors of ladies...
The estimated 9 million Cruzados from this "prize" and its resale value concerning the part purchased in Kandy were not just spoils. They were the symbol and the engine of this new era of Portuguese prosperity.
Nevertheless, even with the advantages, the Kandy agreement represented a dangerous precedent for the established order.
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Toute la nuance, toutes les nuances résident dans la distinction entre le Roi (la légitimité absolue) et le Conseil de Régence, le pouvoir par intérim, souvent timoré et contraint par les apparences diplomatiques.
La "défiance logique" n'existe pas, mais la "prudence politique" et les activités liées à "l'inconnu".
La Prudence contre l'Audace
Le grand salon du Paço da Ribeira vibrionnait d'une tension nouvelle, non plus d'admiration stupéfaite, mais d'une prudence palpable.
João, knows the Crown's newfound financial comfort from the initial rubber sales is fleeting.
He immediately puts the future of the rubber trade in Cathay front and center, presenting it as the irresistible, vital, long-term solution to Portugal's sustained prosperity.
"Your Majesties, Esteemed Councilors, We return, not as simple adventurers, but as loyal portgueses who, by necessity, forged a new path where the old one faltered.
Our actions, while seemingly independent, have secured an unprecedented bounty for Portugal. The coffers are replenished, the war debts, in part, addressed.
But this, Your Majesties, is but a fleeting dawn. The very rubber that now fills your treasury, whose luxury phase in Europe draws to a close, demands a new horizon.
Our investigations, and the very reason for our engagements with the Dutch, confirm it: the market of Cathay is the true future for this 'Treasure of Heaven and Earth.' The Chinese crave this unique substance as a sacred marvel, a demand that vastly outstrips anything Europe can offer, and at prices that render our current profits but a fraction of their true potential.
The VOC, until now, has brutally blocked our access to this vital market.
We have shattered that blockade. To seize this future, to establish new, resiliant management systems for the colonies that prevent past failures, and to truly bind this newfound prosperity to the Crown, we propose the formal establishment of the Council of Eastern Trade (CET).
Dom João avait exposé son avis : non pas une absorption dans l'ancien ordre, mais une refonte audacieuse de l'empire, fondée par la force d'Horizon Brazil.
The Storm of Opposition
A Count stepped forward. "A Council of Eastern Trade, Your Majesty," he began, his voice laced with thinly veiled skepticism, "is an ambitious, indeed, an audacious proposition. But, with all due respect to Dom João, it represents a departure so profound from the established order that it warrants extreme caution."
He turned to address João directly.
"Your methods, while undeniably effective in generating wealth, have been… unconventional. The seizure of Dutch vessels, while profitable, strains our already delicate diplomatic relations. The 'Treaty of Kandy' with the English East India Company, negotiated without direct Crown involvement, sets a dangerous precedent for royal authority in our colonial possessions.
We cannot simply disregard the intricate web of European alliances and rivalries for the sake of a single, albeit lucrative, commodity."
A wizened old Councilor, the Conde de Vimioso, cleared his throat.
"Indeed. What guarantee do we have, Dom João, that this 'Cathay market' will not prove as volatile as others? Fashions change. What if the Chinese demand for rubber wanes? Our newfound wealth, however impressive, should be used to stabilize the kingdom, rebuild our conventional fleet, secure our borders, and perhaps, with a view to prudence, diversify our investments in traditional European markets. Not gamble it all on an unknown Eastern venture."
"And the 'Mice Loom'," interjected another Councilor, his tone bordering on dismissive, "while certainly efficient, represents a radical shift in our textile industry. While it has benefited some, it also disrupts established artisan guilds and traditional methods of production. Change, particularly at such a pace, breeds unrest."
The underlying moves to not change was obvious: João de Carrasca and Horizon Brazil were too powerful, too independent, too disruptive.
The Regency, acting in the King's stead, prioritized stability and the appearance of control.
They had allowed João's endeavors to flourish because of the desperate need for funds, but they had never fully embraced his radical vision. They saw Horizon Brazil as a powerful, albeit unruly, dog on a leash – a leash they now worried was fraying. The idea of formalizing their power, giving them a direct say in imperial policy through the CET, was anathema to their traditional power structure.
"Furthermore, Dom João," the Queen's own voice, usually soft, now held a note of steel, "the notion of allowing foreign investment, even from fellow Catholics, into what would effectively be a Portuguese royal company… it raises serious questions of sovereignty and control. Especially Spanish, after the decades of struggle for our very independence."
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João held his ground, his gaze unwavering. "Your Majesties, Esteemed Councilors," he began, his voice calm but firm,
"Your concerns are understandable, born of a prudence that has, perhaps, at times, allowed Portugal to stagnate where others have soared."
He addressed the count who began the opposition directly.
"Diplomacy is often best conducted from a position of strength, not weakness. The Dutch respect only power.
Our actions in Ceylon, and the resulting treaty, secured a vital foothold and disrupted their Asian monopolies, not through war declared by the Crown, but by the swift, decisive action of a privateer fleet – a fleet operating under your Letters of Marques.
We have proven that agile, well-funded initiatives can achieve what years of cautious diplomacy cannot."
He turned to the Conde de Vimioso.
"As for the volatility of the Cathay market, my Lord, consider the alternative: continued reliance on the fluctuating demands of Europe, where our rubber is currently a luxury, and our other commodities face stiff competition.
The 'Mice Loom' is not a disruption; it is a revolution that secures Portugal's place in the global textile trade. It does not destroy livelihoods, but retools them, offering weavers unprecedented efficiency and a share in the profits.
This very philosophy, valuing skill and participation, is what prevents unrest, rather than fostering it."
Then came the boldest stroke. "The Council of Eastern Trade, Your Majesties, would not be a mere trading company. It would be a joint-stock enterprise, yes, but one firmly anchored to the Crown's authority and Portugal's strategic interests. Its advantages are manifold:
By opening shares to all Catholics, including those from Spain who formally recognize Portugal's independence or swear allegiance to our Crown, we tap into an unprecedented pool of capital.
Think of the wealth accumulated by merchants, nobles, even religious orders across Catholic Europe, yearning for secure, profitable investments. This is not about relinquishing control, but about leveraging their capital for Portugal's benefit. Imagine the sheer scale of operations we could achieve, dwarfing any single national company.
A joint-stock company disperses risk. No longer would the Crown bear the sole burden of costly expeditions and colonial infrastructure.
Investors, drawn by the proven profitability of Horizon Brazil and the promise of the Cathay trade, would become stakeholders in Portugal's imperial future. Their prosperity would be directly tied to ours, creating a powerful network of vested interests that would support Portuguese influence across the globe.
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The grand salon of the Paço da Ribeira remained hushed, the Councilors processing João's audacious vision for the Council of Eastern Trade. While the Queen and many of her advisors saw the "Catholics only" investment clause through the lens of Counter-Reformation purity and a subtle counter to Protestant maritime power, João de Carrasca's perspective, though outwardly aligned, ran deeper and darker.
He understood the necessary dance. Portugal's Crown was devout, its alignment with the Counter-Reformation absolute.
To propose a venture that welcomed "reformist" capital would be to commit political suicide, an act of heresy in the eyes of the realm.
So, he embraced the "Catholics only" rule, not as an ideological crusade against Protestants, but as a pragmatic necessity, a rule "imposed" by the very framework of Portuguese identity he needed to operate with.
For João, the theological squabbles between Catholic and Reformist were, in the grand scheme, a distraction.
He held no particular love for Dutch Calvinists or English Anglicans, but he considered them primarily as economic rivals or allies.
Their internal divisions weakened the broader Christian front. His true, visceral hatred, the one that fueled a cold, relentless determination, was reserved for another foe entirely.
As he spoke, painting the grand picture of the CET's future, his mind often drifted to the deeper currents of his purpose.