The Lady of Maranhão: Ana Jansen in 19th-Century São Luís

Abstract

This article analyzes the historical trajectory and the construction of the social memory of Ana Joaquina de Castro Jansen Albuquerque in 19th-century São Luís. The text examines her social ascent from a single mother to a powerful matriarch and political leader within a context marked by patriarchy and slavery. It discusses the duality between the historical figure—who managed a vast patrimony and exercised public influence—and the legendary character, stigmatized in the popular imagination through the legend of the cursed carriage. The narrative highlights how Ana Jansen’s gender transgressions and power resulted in a controversial memory, oscillating between the recognition of her authority and the moral sanction of her behavior.