Mousinho di Albuquerque, Joaquim Augusto

Born into a noble noble family. Hereditary military. Luis da Silva Mousinho di Albuquerque - the grandfather of Joaquim Augusto Mousinho - was a prominent politician and military officer, held ministerial posts and participated in the civil war on the side of the liberals. José Diogo Mascaresignas Mousinho di Albuquerque - the father of Joachim Augusto Mousinho - was a well-known military engineer. Joaquim Augusto was brought up in the spirit of monarchism and the traditions of the military aristocracy ^[1] .

He graduated from the Polytechnic School and the Lisbon Military School. In 1878 he entered the service in the 4th Cavalry Regiment. In 1884 he received the rank of lieutenant. He also graduated from the University of Coimbra in the course of mathematics and philosophy. He taught at the military school for two years.

In 1886, Joaquim Augusto Mousinho was sent to Portuguese India . He served in the railway administration. Since 1888 - Secretary of the colonial government ^[2] . In 1890 he was transferred to Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique) and was appointed Governor of Lawrence Marches as captain. Two years later, Mousinho returned to Lisbon .

In 1894, Joaquim Augusto Mousinho, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, was sent to Portuguese East Africa to suppress the anti-colonial uprising of the Gungunyana in southern Mozambique . He commanded the Ulan squadron, was the military governor of the province of Gaza .

Despite the difficult climate for Europeans in southern Africa, the troops under the command of Mousinho acted very energetically ^[3] . On November 11, 1895 , the Gungunyana residence was burned. On December 28, 1895, Mousinho and his detachment captured Gungunyan.

Joaquim Mousinho di Albuquerque with three dozen soldiers surrounded the leader of the uprising Gungunyanu with a hundred bodyguards. And he did something that would never have occurred to his British, French or Dutch colleague. He drew his saber and said: “You are my captive ... But I will not shackle you. If you want to resist, take a spear or a club, - I am at your service, and my people will not intervene ” ^[4] .

Rich mining in the form of gold, diamonds, ivory was also captured.

On May 21, 1896, Major Joaquim Augusto Mousinho was appointed Governor General of Mozambique. On November 27, 1896, he replaced Antoniu Enesha as royal commissar. In 1897, under his command, victories were won in several major battles, the uprising was almost crushed.

Military successes, especially the capture of the Gungunyans, made the name Mousinho widely known in the world. He enjoyed particular prestige in Portugal. The press and public opinion put him on a par with the heroes of Lusitania of previous centuries.

At the end of 1897, he triumphantly arrived in Portugal to negotiate a government loan for the economic development of Mozambique. After that he visited the UK , France and Germany , delivered a series of lectures. Mousinho made plans to create a strong administrative and economic system in Mozambique that could compete with other colonial powers and provide the metropolis with a stable income and political prestige ^[1] .

In April 1898, Mousinho returned to Mozambique. Three months later, the government approved the loan he requested. But at the same time, Mousinho was removed from his posts - government officials were concerned about his activity and claims to independence. He soon returned to Portugal.

Joaquim Augusto Mousinho was included in the royal council, was appointed chief officer of the royal house and educator of Crown Prince Luis Felipe . In 1901 he was awarded the rank of lieutenant colonel.

In court circles, intrigues ensued against Mousinho. He was accused of atrocities committed in Africa, spreading baseless rumors about his relationship with the wife of King Amelia Orleans ^[2] . However, he retained high authority and massive popularity.

Mousinho became one of the leaders and the personal symbol of the 1895 generation - a group of Portuguese military and politicians who advocated the maximum tightening of colonial order and colonial exploitation, and the use of the Portuguese colonies as a resource base for the development of the metropolis. The leading ideologist of this trend was Antoniu Enes. At the same time, Mousinho, unlike the liberal Enes, was a supporter of a harsh military-monarchical regime in Portugal itself.

In order for the colonies to begin to generate income again, it was necessary to establish an iron dictatorship in Africa. The figures of the "generation" were not averse to ending liberalism in the metropolis ... In 1900, the "hero of the Mozambique campaign" Mousinho suggested that King Carlos I dissolve the parliament and establish a military dictatorship. After King's refusal, Mousinho committed suicide.

- ^[5]

The death of Mousinho on January 8, 1902 gave rise to various versions. However, assumptions about the murder are not confirmed by anything. Most researchers believe that he committed suicide in a state of passion for political reasons.

Mousinho biographers characterize his worldview as deeply pessimistic. The greatness of Portugal, in his opinion, remained in the past centuries, the present caused discontent, the future worried. There is indignation with which Mousinho treated the morals of the contemporary Portuguese elite, his indignation at corruption and intrigue ^[1] .

During the New State, Joaquim Augusto Mousinho was revered as the national hero of Portugal. His activity was seen as an example of the service of the nation and the implementation of the principles of luzotropicism . The image of Mousinho was especially cultivated in the army cavalry, he was considered the "patron" of this kind of troops. The "secular cult" of Mousinho - "soldier, patriot, traditionalist" - was an important element of the ideology and propaganda of Salazarism . In his speeches, Marcelou Cayetan Mousinho presented himself as the immediate political predecessor of the Salazar regime.

Monuments to Mousinho were erected in Lisbon, Battle, Lawrence Marches. The streets and squares of several Portuguese cities are named after him. In 1940, a 20 escudo bill was issued with a portrait of Mousinho.

Joaquim Augusto Mousinho was honored with several awards from Portugal and other European countries. He authored several essays on military-political issues, especially essays on the war in Mozambique.

Joaquim Augusto Mousinho was married to his cousin Maria José di Mashsareñas de Mendonza Galvan ^[3] . The widow survived her husband for almost half a century, and died in 1950 .