In 1657, Henrique Dias, leader of the Black Regiment during the Pernambuco Restoration and hero of the Battle of Guararapes, traveled personally to Lisbon. Besides receiving from Queen Luisa de Gusmão the title of Knight of the Order of Christ and Master of the Field for his services in the war against the Dutch in Pernambuco, Dias requested another favor from the Queen of Portugal: that she grant his son-in-law, Pedro do Val do Vezo, a Portuguese man, the title of Knight of the Order of Christ and a salary of 200,000 réis, so that he could marry Dona Guiomar Henrique, her daughter.

Queen Luisa de Gusmão and the Overseas Council approved Henrique Dias' request; however, his son-in-law could only receive the title of Knight after his father-in-law's death. The marriage of his daughter to a Portuguese nobleman represented a clear social ascension for Henrique Dias and his family within the Portuguese nobility. His son-in-law, Pedro de Val de Vezo, inherited Henrique Dias' titles, which included the Commandery of Soure and the title of Knight of the Order of Christ. His other daughter, Benta Henriques, married Captain Amaro Cardigo of the Regiment of Black and Mulatto Men. Cardigo also claimed from the crown the title of Knight of the Order of Santiago, which had been promised by Luisa de Gusmão to Henrique Dias' sons-in-law.

According to historian Fernanda Olival: "The Portuguese Crown did not show an attachment to the idea of ​​purity of blood, something more common among other sectors of the elite of the time."

There is little documentation about Henrique Dias, one of the black heroes of the fight against the Dutch. Information only begins to appear in 1633, when he presented himself to General Matias de Albuquerque "to serve with some of his color in everything he determined," becoming the captain of the group and receiving the patent of governor of the crioulos, blacks, and mulattoes of Brazil.

It is known that he was born in Pernambuco, but the date of his birth is unknown. It is also unknown whether he was born a slave or a freedman, nor who his wife was. He had no sons, but four daughters, two of whom were named Guiomar and Benta.

He was granted by King John IV the commendation of the Mills of Soure, of the Order of Christ, which was vacant due to the death of Antônio Felipe Camarão, who had held it since 1641.

He spent his last years in Pernambuco, on June 7th or 8th, 1662, in Recife, and was buried at the expense of the Government in the Convent of Santo Antônio, in an unknown location.

**Source(s):** 

.- Restauradores de Pernambuco. By José Antônio de Mello, 1967. 

.- de Mello, José Antônio. (1954). *Henrique Dias: governador dos pretos, crioulos e mulatos do Estado do Brasil*. Published by University of Recife.

The Marriage of Henrique Dias' Daughters