Cross and Crown: Church, state and jurisdictional conflict in colonial Maranhao

The jurisdictional boundaries between Church and state were never well defined. In the 18th century they became even more contentious following the rise to power of the Marquis of Pombal and his regalist policy which attempted to secularize the Portuguese state. Despite being distant from the metropole, the bishopric of Maranhao also experienced these conflicts. The tense relations between the authorities representing the Church and state in the north of the colony are the principal focus of this article. By looking at sources from the episcopal court, the crown court and the Inquisition the reasons for these jurisdictional conflicts will be looked at, as well as how ecclesiastical immunities were treated with contempt.