Capopedia
ENPT

Person

Chico Três Pedaços

João Francisco Pires

1890s – ?

Born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

2

  • Life
  • Locations
  • decade or uncertain
  • no end date

Dated moments of this life, from the corpus.

João Francisco Pires, known as Chico Três Pedaços (meaning "Chico Three Pieces"), was one of the most notorious capoeiristas of early 20th century Salvador, Bahia. His nickname alone reveals something of his character - Mestre Pastinha noted that "just by the nicknames you can tell what they were like, how they fought".

His reputation as a valentão (tough guy) is documented through multiple court cases preserved in the Public Archive of the State of Bahia. In 1923, he was denounced for wounding police officer Ludgero Alves de Sant'Anna with a razor. On the night of July 23, 1927, in the historic center of Salvador (now the Pelourinho Historic Center), he was accused of injuring José Raymundo dos Santos with a cabeçada (headbutt) at a café called "Café Para Todos". Three witnesses testified against him, but a forensic examination contradicted the accusations, and he was acquitted.

In total, there are four legal processes against Três Pedaços in the state archives - one for theft and three for bodily harm. He was among the capoeiristas defended by Major Cosme de Farias, the legendary "rábula" (self-taught lawyer) who defended over 30,000 people including thieves, prostitutes, gamblers, and the poor. Farias employed emotional appeals rather than strict legal arguments, portraying his clients as "defenseless people trusting in justice's righteousness".

12

1

  1. Member of1

    Chico Três Pedaços was a member of Roda do Matatu Preto1930s – ?

    Part of the Matatu Preto Sunday training group in Salvador during the 1930s, alongside Aberrê, Onça Preta, Geraldo Chapeleiro, Totonho de Maré, Creoni, Paulo Barroquinha, and Barboza.

    Verified
    [1][2]

11

  1. Associated with11

    Chico Três Pedaços was associated with Bastião1920s – 1930s

    Both were valentões in Salvador who were defended by the legendary rábula Cosme de Farias during legal proceedings in the 1920s-1930s

    Likely
    [3][4]

  2. Chico Três Pedaços was associated with Escalvino1920s – 1930s

    Both were valentões in Salvador who were defended by the legendary rábula Cosme de Farias during legal proceedings in the 1920s-1930s

    Likely
    [3][4]

  3. Chico Três Pedaços was associated with Nozinho da Cocheira1920s – 1930s

    Both were valentões in Salvador who were defended by the legendary rábula Cosme de Farias during legal proceedings in the 1920s-1930s

    Likely
    [3][4]

  4. Chico Três Pedaços was associated with Samuel da Calçada1920s – 1930s

    Both were valentões in Salvador who were defended by the legendary rábula Cosme de Farias during legal proceedings in the 1920s-1930s

    Likely
    [3][4]

  5. Chico Três Pedaços was associated with Pedro Porreta1920s – 1930s

    Both were well-known valentões in Salvador who were defended by the legendary rábula Cosme de Farias during legal proceedings in the 1920s-1930s

    Likely
    [3][4]

  6. Chico Três Pedaços was associated with Creoni1935 –

    Fellow capoeiristas who trained together at Matatu Preto training circle

    Likely
    [1]

  7. Chico Três Pedaços was associated with Aberrê1935 –

    Fellow capoeiristas who trained together at Matatu Preto training circle

    Likely
    [1]

  8. Chico Três Pedaços was associated with Geraldo Chapeleiro1935 –

    Fellow capoeiristas who trained together at Matatu Preto training circle

    Likely
    [1]

1

  • Active in: Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

    1920 –

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statements
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with a source
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without a source
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disputed

Relations by confidence

  • Verified: 2
  • Likely: 10

Sources cited

  1. [1]Testimony of Washington Bruno da Silva (Mestre Canjiquinha), 1989, Mestre Canjiquinha cited 7 times
  2. [2]Velhos Mestres - Destaques, velhosmestres.com cited 2 times
  3. [3]Revista Capoeirando cited 5 times
  4. [4]Sankofa USP article on Cosme de Farias cited 5 times