Christoph Linz

Christoph Linz von Dondorf (born 1529), also known in Brazil as Cristóvão Lins, is a German merchant known for exploring the Captaincy of Pernambuco, where he implemented the first engenhos and stablished the Lins family in Colonial Brazil. He was also part of the Potiguara War, and helped to expel, enslave and exterminate the Potiguaras and Caetés.

Byography

Cristoph Linz was born in 1529, Dorndorf, Augsburg-Land, Holy Roman Empire. He was a New Christian and worked for the Fugger family.

He arrived in Várzea do Capibaribe, During the invasion, he enslaved, expelled and exterminated the Potiguaras and Caetés. In 1608 Lins was appointed as alcaide-mor of Porto Calvo, the first Brazilian freguesia, and given a sesmaria by Duarte Coelho.

The territory between the rivers Manguaba, Camaragibe, Santo Antônio Grande and Tatuamunha was divided with Jorde de Albuquerque. His semaria covered where today are located the cities of Porto Calvo, Porto de Pedras, Camaragibe, Maragogi, Colônia Leopoldina, part of São Luís do Quitunde, maybe extending until Santo Antônio Grande River as its south frontier, and until Cabo de Santo Agostinho as its north frontier. He built Porto Calvo as a fortress to defend the territory from the Dutch. His engenhos in Alagoas are Buenos Aires in Camaragibe, the first engenho of Alagoas, Escurial, Morro de baixo, Morro do Meio and Maranhão in the region of Porto Calvo. He also had cattle.