Alveal, Carmen Margarida OliveiraSousa, Kleber Cavalcante de2025-06-172025-06-172025-03-28SOUSA, Kleber Cavalcante de. O campo maçônico na Província do Rio Grande do Norte: a atuação de comerciantes, bacharéis, fazendeiros, militares e padres na Maçonaria e na política entre os anos de 1867-1875. Orientadora: Dra. Carmen Margarida Oliveira Alveal. 2025. 404f. Tese (Doutorado em História) - Centro de Ciências Humanas, Letras e Artes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, 2025.https://repositorio.ufrn.br/handle/123456789/63971The Freemasonry was one of the institutions present in 19th-century society, playing a proven role in Brazilian political and social life. It constituted a social field by bringing together men from various political and social perspectives, facilitating dialogue, and fostering agreements and arrangements among them. Masonic lodges were composed of bachelors of law, merchants, landowners, military personnel, and priests who met periodically under the protection of secrecy and the oaths of the order, allowing them greater political freedom in that monarchical society. In Rio Grande do Norte, the first Masonic lodge was founded in 1836, bringing together landowners, bachelors of law, military officers, and priests affiliated with opposing political groups in the province. These members were active in education, the press, justice, and provincial administration, with many holding positions as provincial deputies. By occupying these spaces, they engaged in politics and used available means to maintain or improve their positions, aiming to dominate these fields and expand their political power in the province. In the second half of the 1860s, Freemasonry in Rio Grande do Norte experienced a moment of strengthening with the fusion of two opposing factions that united to form the Loja Maçônica 21 de Março, which had more than 50 active members at the time. This unification provided greater cohesion to the Masonic field and improved its ability to confront the Catholic Church, a conflict that erupted in the following decade and became known as the "Religious Question." During the first half of the 1870s, there was a significant Masonic presence in various sectors of society, including dominant positions in politics and the press. This power was used to strengthen networks and alliances, which were among the great strengths of Masonic organization in the 19th century. In this sense, the Masonic Field was configured as both a social field and a field of power in the province of Rio Grande do Norte, contributing to the strengthening of political and family groups in positions of authority, such as the presidency of the Provincial Assembly, the vice-presidency of the province, municipal judges, prosecutors, police chiefs, directors of education, and other roles in provincial administration.pt-BRMoçonariaCampo maçônicoRio Grande do NortePolíticaSéculo XIXdoctoralThesisCIENCIAS HUMANAS::HISTORIA