Bom Jesus, Rio Grande do Norte

Bom Jesus, a municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil). According to the IBGE, its estimated population in 2021 was 10,323 inhabitants. Its territorial area is 122 km².

The municipality was emancipated from Senador Elói de Souza through Law No. 2,794, on May 11, 1962.

It borders the municipalities of São Pedro (north), Macaíba, and Vera Cruz (east), Boa Saúde (south), and Senador Elói de Souza (west).

The municipal seat is at 5° 59’ 02” south latitude and 35° 34’ 53” west longitude. The altitude is 98 m above sea level, and the road distance to the capital is 46 km.

According to IDEMA, the region's soil presents characteristics of the types podzolic red yellow abruptic plinthic. The soil has regular aptitude for crops, being suitable for special long-cycle crops (cotton trees, sisal, cashew, and coconut).

Formation
The narrative of Bom Jesus's formation dates back to the 18th century, specifically December 4, 1754. At this time, a vast sesmaria (a type of land grant) stretching from Anta Esfolada, now known as the municipality of Nova Cruz, to the vicinity of Lagoa da Panela, was granted to José Vieira Afonso. A community formed in this territory, focused on livestock farming, cotton cultivation, as well as the production of subsistence crops including cassava, corn, and beans.

On February 7, 1820, the ownership rights of the sesmaria were transferred to José Félix do Rego Barros, who received them near Lagoa da Panela, which, according to some accounts, became known as Panelas during the 19th century. The name Panelas referred not only to the lagoon but also to the village, due to the presence of families who began making clay utensils near the lagoon, using the available raw material, which played a significant role in the occupation and growth of the area.

With regard to the name change from Panelas to the village, there are reports confirming this connection, such as that of an old resident of the municipality who stated in an interview in 1986 that:"'The city was called Panelas because of a family of indigenous caboclos who migrated from the backcountry of Paraíba and settled on the shores of the Lagoon, where they began producing clay utensils. Through this economic activity, a small pottery fair emerged on the shores of the Lagoon, giving rise to the name Lagoa das Panelas.'"The village of Panelas managed to develop economically to the point that by 1877, it was already considered an urban center with a fair and policing, located nine leagues from Natal. Later, the name Panelas was replaced by Capoeiras, although the popular designation continued to be Panelas.

In the 20th century, several events further fueled the growth of the village. In 1916, an automobile stop was established in the area, stimulating trade and social interactions. The transportation passing through the village represented prosperity and intensified growth. In 1917, the Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was built, becoming the patron saint of the municipality. In 1923, the first school was founded, playing a crucial role in the community's development. The first school, now known as Natália Fonseca, is a state school located in the center of the city of Bom Jesus.

In 1936, the old settlement of Panelas underwent a name change, adopting the current name, Bom Jesus. This change originated from a peculiar event of a religious nature:

The change of the name from Panelas to Bom Jesus occurred due to the influence of Frei Damião de Bozzano. During a mission he conducted, standing in front of the local chapel, Frei Damião expressed the conviction that the name of the place should be changed, arguing that the name Panelas seemed to contain a negative connotation, suggesting fragmentation or breakage. Given that the chapel was dedicated to the Heart of Jesus, he proposed that the new designation be Bom Jesus. This suggestion was forwarded for approval by the Legislative Assembly, through State Deputy Ezequiel Xavier Bezerra, a native of the village. The proposal was approved and promulgated as Law on November 10, 1936.

This name change, under the religious influence of Frei Damião, marked a significant moment in the history of the locality, culminating in the adoption of the name Bom Jesus, which continues to this day.

Communist Insurrection
On November 25, 1935, Monday, Bom Jesus was occupied by Communist Revolutionaries. The first occupation groups headed inland. The southern detachment, led by Lieutenant Oscar Mateus Rangel of the Military Police, the leader of the patrol involved in the killing of Otávio Lamartine, who had been released the day before from detention at the Military Police barracks, took control of the municipalities of São José de Mipibu, Arez, Goianinha, Canguaretama, and Pedro Velho, replacing the respective mayors and delegates. The northern group, under the command of student Benilde Dantas, a member of the Brazilian Communist Party, carried out the same procedures in Ceará-Mirim and Baixa Verde. The central group, designated for the Trairi-Seridó axis, headed for Panelas, now Bom Jesus, led by Army Sergeant Oscar Wanderley, taking control of the city and later Serra Caiada.

At this moment, they faced a column formed by civilians from Seridó, led by Dinarte Mariz and with the participation of some military police officers, including Captain Severino Elias. The loyalists, in smaller numbers, retreated to Serra do Doutor, where they awaited the rebels for what would be the final battle, on the 26th. From Serra Caiada, the detachment moved on the following day to Santa Cruz, where they received support from part of the population, especially the local supporters of the Social Alliance, determined the replacement of the mayor and delegate, and provided the necessary replenishment to continue to Seridó. At this point, the rebels controlled seventeen of the forty-one municipalities, corresponding to one-third of the state's geographical area.

It is still possible to see bullet marks on the Old Bridge, the former entrance to the city of Bom Jesus, with Dinarte Mariz leading a column of poorly armed and poorly munitioned backcountry men descended from Caicó towards this capital, engaging in the first combat with the rebels in Serra Caiada,

in which they were heavily defeated and shattered, leaving one dead, three wounded, nine prisoners, some military equipment, and a truck. The next day, the backcountry column occupied the village of Panelas, capturing 4 rebels in Panelas; the backcountrymen resisted during five hours of gunfire, ultimately retreating to the doctor's mountain due to a complete lack of ammunition. There, the backcountrymen fortified themselves, and the last and decisive battle took place, once again demonstrating the heroic and indomitable courage of the backcountry sons. In the battle, the insurgents suffered several casualties and retreated, abandoning weapons and ammunition along the roads.

At the end of November 1935, in Natal, Recife, and Rio de Janeiro, the Communist Revolt occurred, an uprising promoted by the National Liberation Alliance (ANL), an organization composed of communists, socialists, social democrats, anti-fascists, and dissatisfied military sectors, on behalf of the Brazilian Communist Party (PCB), then known as the Communist Party of Brazil. In Natal, the rebels established a revolutionary popular government on November 23, which lasted four days. At this time, Dinarte Mariz, leading a column of backcountry men with about 150 men, supported by army troops and police forces from neighboring states, participated in the repression of the rebel movement. On the 27th, with the defeat of the rebels, power returned to Governor Rafael Fernandes (1935-1943).