Filipe Camarão

D. Antônio Filipe Camarão (c. 1580 – 24 August 1648) was an Indigenous soldier from the Potiguara tribe near the Rio Grande do Norte area of the Portuguese colony of Brazil.

He was born in the neighbourhood of Igapó, in Natal, or, according to some other historians, in the state of Pernambuco, or in Aldeia Velha.

On the occasion of his conversion to the Christian faith on 13 June 1612 (the feast day of Saint Anthony) he chose the Portuguese version of the name Antônio and the middle name of Filipe in honor of King Philip II of Portugal, adding the Portuguese version of his tribal name Poti.

Besides knowing perfect Portuguese, he was also well-versed in Latin because of his education in a missionary school led by Jesuit monks.

The last year of his life brought him to the top of his military career as leader of the right flank of the United Portuguese Army during the First Battle of Guararapes against General Arciszewski.

Portrait of Filipe Camarão, by Victor Meirelles , oil on canvas, ca. 1874–78, Museu Victor Meirelles