Pena in Lisboa, Portugal — Southwestern Europe (Iberian Peninsula)
Pai Paulino
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Father Paulino
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 20, 2024
1. Pai Paulino / Father Paulino Marker
Bahia, 1798-Lisboa, 1869
Figura popular na Lisboa Oitocentista, escravo liberto nascido no Brasil, participou no desembarque de Mindelo em 1832 como soldado das tropas liberais e foi Juiz perpétuo nas Irmandades Negras Franciscana de Jesus Maria José e dos Reis Magos até 1864. As irmandades atuavam como mediadoras de conflitos em que africanos estavam envolvidos e denunciavam situações de escravatura ilegal em Portugal. Caiador de profissão, disponibilizava os seus serviços no Largo de São Domingos e participava como, gaiteiro na procissão do Corpo de Cristo e nas lides tauromaquicas do Campo de Sant'Ana.
Paulino José da Conceição - Father Paulino
Bahia, 1798-Lisbon, 1869
A popular figure in nineteenth-century Lisbon, a freed slave born in Brazil, he participated in the landing of Mindelo in 1832 as a soldier with the Liberal troops and was a perpetual judge in the Franciscan Irmandades Negras Franciscana de Jesus Maria José e dos Reis Magos (“Black Brotherhoods of Jesus Maria José and the Three Wise Men”) until 1864. The brotherhoods acted as mediators in conflicts involving Africans and denounced situations of illegal slavery in Portugal. A whitewasher by trade, he offered his services in Largo de São Domingos and participated as a bagpiper in the Corpus Christi procession and in the bullfighting at Campo de Sant'Ana.
Erected 2024
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights. A significant historical date for this entry is March 12, 1869.
Location. 38° 42.908′ N, 9° 8.33′ W. Marker is in Lisboa. It is in Pena. It is on Largo São Domingos, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Largo São Domingos 14, Lisboa 1150-277, Portugal. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, in Europe, in the European Union, in Atlantic Europe, on the Iberian Peninsula, in the Schengen Area, and in the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Byzantine Empire, Portuguese colonies, and the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Igreja de São Domingos / “Church of Saint Dominic” (a few steps from this marker); Memorial às Vítimas do Massacre de 1506 / Memorial to the Victims of the 1506 Massacre (within shouting distance of this marker); A Ginjinha (within shouting distance of this marker); Amalia Rodrigues
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 20, 2024
2. Pai Paulino / Father Paulino statue and marker
The statue (created by artist Frank Ntaluma) and marker were unveiled on January 13, 2024.
Also see . . . Pai Paulino (Wikipedia, in Portuguese). Excerpt (in translation):
Pai Paulino, born Paulino José da Conceição (Brazil, 1798 - Lisbon, March 12, 1869) was a Brazilian freedman, blind in one eye, a great defender of the rights of Black people, an amateur bullfighter, a whitewasher in Rossio and a bagpiper in processions.(Submitted on March 8, 2025.)
Pai Paulino arrived in Portugal from Brazil with the liberal troops that landed in Mindelo. He belonged to the Marine Brigade, and was decorated for his bravery. In 1834, already in Lisbon, he was a picturesque figure in the city, a sought-after presence at the bullfights in Campo de Sant'Ana. His services as a whitewasher could be hired in Rossio, where it was possible to find him. A devout Catholic, he was a bagpiper in the Corpus Christi procession. As was the case with all blacks, he was buried in a grave in the Altode São João cemetery.Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 20, 20243. Pai Paulino / Father Paulino statue and marker - wide view
Credits. This page was last revised on March 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 286 times since then and 102 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 8, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
