Ataíde (Dr Joaquim de Menezes e)
Original title: Ataide (Dr. Joaquim de Menezes e)
Biography of the Augustinian friar and titular archbishop Joaquim de Menezes e Ataíde (1765–1828), vicar capitular and governor of the diocese of Funchal from 1811 to 1821, remembered for his political quarrels with the captain-general and his services to the Funchal Misericórdia.
This prelate was born in the city of Porto on 20 September 1765 and took his vows in the order of St Augustine in 1781. In his studies he showed exceptional talent, with a remarkable aptitude for letters. He was appointed in turn chronicler of the Infantado, rector of the college of Santo Agostinho in Lisbon, titular archbishop of Meliapor, and vicar capitular (administrator of the vacant diocese elected by the chapter) and governor of the diocese of Funchal.
His appointment as vicar capitular and governor of the diocese (governador do bispado, administering the see in the bishop's absence) of Funchal in July 1811 gave rise to a conflict between the chapter of our Cathedral, Funchal Cathedral (Sé), and the central government. The way he ran the affairs of this diocese was judged in different ways, not least because he became actively involved in political questions and waged a stubborn struggle with the then governor and captain-general of Madeira, Sebastião Xavier Botelho.
He rendered notable services to the Holy House of Mercy (Santa Casa da Misericórdia) of Funchal. It was to him that the construction of the Fundoa aqueduct, from São Roque to Funchal, was owed, as was the drafting of the hospital’s regulations, which in his time were held to be the most complete and perfect in the country. It was for this and other notable services that a life-size oil portrait of him was hung in the meeting room of the Holy House, where it still hangs today.
In 1821 he had to leave this diocese hurriedly, never to return, and in that same year he was appointed bishop of Elvas. In 1826 he was made a peer of the realm.
Fearing persecution by the government of Miguel I, he left Portugal to travel abroad in 1828, and died of the plague in Gibraltar on 5 November of that same year. He was a distinguished musician, whose compositions are still greatly appreciated today, and also a distinguished writer, as can be seen in the Diccionario Bibliographico of Inocêncio Francisco da Silva.
Almost all the poetic and dramatic compositions published by Luís José Baiardo, who served for some years as his secretary, are attributed to him.
O Jornal (‘The Newspaper’), of this city, published an interesting biography of Bishop Dom Friar Joaquim de Menezes e Ataíde.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 06-
Joaquim de Menezes e Ataíde was born in Porto.
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Joaquim de Meneses e Ataíde took vows in the Order of Saint Augustine.
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Dr Joaquim de Menezes e Ataíde was appointed vicar capitular and governor of the diocese of Funchal, causing a conflict between the cathedral chapter and the central government.
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Bishop Joaquim de Meneses e Ataíde hastily left the diocese of Funchal and was named bishop of Elvas.
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Dr Joaquim de Menezes e Ataíde was made a peer of the realm.
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Dr Joaquim de Menezes e Ataíde died of plague in Gibraltar after fleeing Miguelist persecution.
Place
Places mentioned · 07
Abroad
- Elvas
Portugal. Diocese of which he was named bishop in 1821.
Elvas is a fortress town and diocese in mainland Portugal. Several bishops of Funchal were transferred to its see, among them D. Lourenço de Távora in 1617 and D. José da Costa Torres in 1796, and Dr Joaquim de Menezes e Ataíde was named its bishop in 1821. It was the birthplace of the musician Duarte Joaquim dos Santos, José Gerardo Ferreira Passos and António Rogério Gromicho Couceiro, and Francisco João Róscio served there as a military engineer.
- Funchal
Seat of the diocese he governed and destination of the Fundoa aqueduct.
The capital of the archipelago and seat of the principal captaincy, where settlement began; it was made a vila c.1451–52. Its bay, the widest in the archipelago, lies between Ponta do Garajau and Ponta da Cruz and offers sheltered anchorage, though its harbour had never been studied oceanographically. The Elucidário discusses it as a health resort with climate data and records the January 1906 disturbances, the Danish prince's visit in May 1846 and recent volcanic cones in the area.
- Fundoa
Funchal. Source of the aqueduct he had built to Funchal.
Fundoa is one of the principal localities of São Roque parish, Funchal. It has a Rosary chapel built in 1668 and a former Jesuit residence. An 1817 water reservoir and aqueduct supplying Funchal, built by Dr Joaquim de Menezes e Ataíde, have their source there.
- Gibraltar
United Kingdom. Where he died of plague in 1828.
British port to which the Empress of Austria was escorted on leaving Madeira and to which Padre Macedo was deported in 1823. Dr Joaquim de Menezes e Ataide died of plague there in 1828. It was the base of the British forces that demanded the Bernarda.
- Lisbon
Portugal. Site of the Augustinian college of which he was rector.
The Portuguese capital, seat of the Relação court and of the Misericórdia whose privileges and statutes were extended to Funchal. Henrique Franco de Sousa studied at its Royal Academy of Fine Arts, and Luiz José Baiardo moved there in 1821.
- Porto
Portugal. Birthplace of Ataíde.
A Portuguese city, where the 1820 liberal revolution began and whose district is the only one denser than Funchal's. Several Madeirans studied at its medical school or Academia Politécnica, and some lived or died there. The editor of O Funchalense Liberal was hanged there, and Marítimo beat FC Porto there in 1922.
- São Roque
Funchal. Parish containing the Fundoa.
São Roque is a suburban parish of Funchal, separated from São Pedro and created under a royal charter of 1579; it is named after its original chapel of São Roque. The Elucidário traces the history of its parish church and lists its chapels, principal localities and population.
People
People mentioned · 05- D. Joaquim de Meneses e Ataíde1765–1828
Augustinian friar and titular archbishop of Meliapor who governed the diocese of Funchal (1811–21), later bishop of Elvas and peer of the realm.
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Author of the Diccionario Bibliographico, cited for Ataíde's writings.
- Luís José Baiardob. 1775
Ataíde's secretary for some years, who published poetic and dramatic works attributed to him.
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Portuguese king whose government's persecutions Ataíde feared, prompting his departure abroad in 1828.
- Sebastião Xavier Botelho1768–1840
Governor and captain-general of Madeira with whom Ataíde waged a prolonged political struggle.