Escalvino

Luís Escalvino, also known simply as Escalvino (sometimes spelled Scalvino), was a capoeirista active in Salvador, Bahia, during the 1920s and 1930s. He is featured in "Mestres e capoeiras famosos da Bahia" together with Duquinha, sharing the ominous subtitle "Os irmãos terror" (The terror brothers). This pairing suggests they were either biological brothers or such close associates that they operated as a fearsome duo in Salvador's streets.

Escalvino was noted among the protected capoeiristas of his era - practitioners who had influential patrons in Salvador's society. This protection network was common during the First Republic, when capoeiristas often served as capangas (political henchmen) for powerful politicians and in return received a degree of protection from prosecution. The relationship was mutually beneficial: politicians gained enforcers for electoral disputes, while capoeiristas gained allies who could intervene when they faced legal trouble.

The "terror brothers" designation indicates that Escalvino and Duquinha together were particularly feared in Salvador's underworld. Whether this reputation came from political enforcement, street fighting, or a combination of both, their joint notoriety was significant enough to earn them a shared chapter in the historical record.

Escalvino was defended in court by Major Cosme de Farias, the legendary "rábula" (self-taught lawyer) who defended over 30,000 people including capoeiristas, thieves, prostitutes, gamblers, and the poor. Farias was known for his emotional appeals rather than strict legal arguments, portraying his clients as "defenseless people trusting in justice's righteousness".

Unlike some other capoeiristas from this era whose names survive only as mentions in lists, Escalvino's inclusion with a dedicated (shared) chapter in "Mestres e capoeiras famosos da Bahia" indicates that his story was considered significant enough to preserve for future generations.