Joaquim Silvério dos Reis

Joaquim Silvério dos Reis Montenegro Leiria Grutes (1756–1819) was a conspirator who betrayed the Inconfidência Mineira in exchange for having his taxes waived. He was the husband of Bernardina Quitéria de Oliveira Belo, who was a cousin of Francisco Antônio de Oliveira Lopes and aunt of Duque de Caxias and Conde de Tocantins.

Biography Joaquim Silvério dos Reis Montenegro Leiria Grutes was born in Monte Real, a parish in the Portuguese municipality of Leiria, in 1756. Being assigned to Brazil, he was a colonel in the cavalry division of the Minas Gerais province in Borda do Campo (today, Antonio Carlos). He was also a farmer and proprietor of several gold mines in the province of Minas Gerais, during a time where mining was its main economic activity. This new agency of the Royal Treasury called for the payment of the 'Quinto ' ("Fifth"), or a fifth of the total amount gold extracted.

As compensation for his plea, Joaquim issued a series of demands: a prize in gold, to be forgiven of his fiscal debts, to be named Treasurer of the provinces of Minas Gerais, Goias and Rio de Janeiro, a private mansion, a lifetime pension, the title of Fidalgo, the honour and uniform of the Portuguese Military Order of Christ and a meeting in Lisboa with the Prince Regent Dom João. It is uncertain if any of these demands were met.

Final years and death Joaquim suffered a series of attempts on his life in Brazil after his plea, being seen as a traitor for making the plea deal. He escaped to Lisbon, only return to Brazil in 1808, to the province of Maranhão, where his wife had roots. He died there in February 1819.