Royal Factory of Hemp Linen: from economic diversification to manufacturing challengesThe RealAbstract
Feitoria do Linho Cânhamo (RFLC) was the result of a Portuguese State policy in order to produce an essential raw material for the overseas empires of the period. In this paper, the administrative trajectory of this establishment is primarily addressed considering the administrative organization of the Portuguese State, but also considering the local authorities. For this purpose, the present work is based on documents produced by the RFLC administration, by the Viceroy Luís de Vasconcelos e Sousa, by the Governors of the Captaincy, by the Overseas Council and by the Secretaries of State for the Navy and Overseas. The analysis of these documents reveals that the administration of the RFLC was subordinated to both public and private institutions, limiting the power of the inspectors and relegating them to a role of adjuvants other than of administrators capable to develop into a project for the RFLC.
Keywords Brazil; Portugal; Hemp; Real Feitoria do Linho Cânhamo; History of economics.