THE IMPORTANCE OF FATHER ANCHIETA IN CONSTRUCTING THE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ESPIRITO SANTO/A IMPORTANCIA DO PADRE ANCHIETA NA CONSTRUCAO DA HISTORIA DO ESTADO DO ESPIRITO SANTO/LA IMPORTANCIA DEL PADRE ANCHIETA EN LA CONSTRUCCION DE LA HISTORIA DEL ESTADO DEL ESPIRITO SANTO

Father Anchieta, whose full name was Jose de Anchieta, was an important Jesuit missionary, writer and poet from the colonial period in Brazil. He was born in 1534, in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, and arrived in Brazil in 1553, where he dedicated a large part of his life to the catechesis of indigenous peoples and the founding of schools and missions in Brazilian territory, especially in the region that today comprises the State of Sao Paulo and the State of Espirito Santo. Anchieta is known for his intense missionary activity, for his defense of the rights of indigenous peoples against the abuses of colonizers, and for his literary production, which includes theological, grammatical and poetic works, such as the famous Autos de Sao Lourenco. The role of Father Anchieta in the history of the State of Espirito Santo is of great relevance and deserves detailed investigation. This study seeks to understand the historical importance of Father Anchieta in the formation and development of the State of Espirito Santo. The general objective is to analyze the impact of Father Anchieta's actions and influence on the construction of the state's history. As specific objectives, we intend to investigate their missionary, educational and cultural activities, in addition to examining their relationships with indigenous peoples and colonizers. The research problem asks: What was the role of Father Anchieta in the formation and consolidation of the historical identity of Espirito Santo? The methodology adopted was bibliographic in nature, involving analysis of primary and secondary sources related to the life and work of Father Anchieta, as well as historical studies on the colonial period in Brazil. The results point to the significant contribution of Father Anchieta in the dissemination of the Catholic faith, in the education of indigenous people and in the founding of villages and institutions that were fundamental for the colonization and social organization of Espirito Santo. It is concluded that his actions had a lasting impact on the history and cultural identity of the state, leaving a legacy that lasts to this day. Keywords: Father Anchieta; Espirito Santo; colonial history; religious. Padre Anchieta, cujo nome completo era Jose de Anchieta, foi um importante missionario jesuita, escritor e poeta do periodo colonial no Brasil. Nasceu em 1534, em Tenerife, nas Ilhas Canarias, e chegou ao Brasil em 1553, onde dedicou grande parte de sua vida a catequese dos povos