“A tribute to my father’s memory”

Emilio Joaquim da Silva Maia’s interpretations of Brazilian History and the revival of his father ́s Memory, Joaquim José da Silva Maia, in the 19th century

Abstract

The article’s aim is to analyse the interpretations of Emilio Joaquim da Silva Maia (1808-1859) that marked the history of Brazil and Portugal. He was a doctor and naturalist, and one of the founders of Brazilian Historical and Geographical Institute. He never concealed his intention of keeping his father´s memory alive. In the 1840s, he not only edited and published his father´s posthumous writings, but also endeavoured to write his own version about the events that led to Brazil’s Independence. In the 1850s, Emilio Maia published a set of writings entitled Historical Studies on Portugal and Brazil in order to revive his father’s legacy, which had been forgotten and supplanted by memory and the historical writings that prevailed in Brazil following the country´s separation from Portugal. We examine the actions and trajectories of father and son in light of the dynamics between memory and oblivion and their political unfolding.