Calheta (counts of)

In the article devoted to the municipality of Calheta (‘small cove’), we referred to the creation of the countship (condado) that had its seat in this town (vila), and to the reasons that led King Sebastian to establish it in the person of Simão Gonçalves da Câmara (see that entry), 5th captain-donatary of Funchal, by the royal decree (alvará régio) of 20 August 1576. This donatary styled himself: Count Simão Gonçalves da Câmara, of the council of the King Our Lord, captain and governor of justice in the island of Madeira, in the jurisdiction of Funchal, overseer of his treasury throughout the island and that of Porto Santo (‘holy harbour’), lord of the Desertas (‘deserted islands’), etc. Dr Gaspar Frutuoso adds that ‘the king in his Provisions styled him Dom (noble honorific) Simão Gonçalves, but he would not accept the Dom, nor allow it to his sons, who have it by right.

The second Count of Calheta was João Gonçalves da Câmara, 6th captain and donatary of Funchal, son of the first count, Simão Gonçalves da Câmara. João Gonçalves da Câmara was succeeded in the countship by his son Simão Gonçalves, who was born in Lisbon and never came to Madeira. He was the third count, and through his marriage to Dona Maria de Vasconcelos, heiress daughter of the first Count of Castelo Melhor, the countship of Calheta was thereby merged into the countship of Castelo Melhor.

From this marriage was born João Gonçalves da Câmara, who was the fourth Count of Calheta and who did not use the title of Count of Castelo Melhor, for a reason unknown to us. His sister, Dona Mariana de Vasconcelos e Alencastre, was the fifth Countess of Calheta and married the second Count of Castelo Melhor, her kinsman; the couple are considered the 9th captain-donataries of Funchal.

They were succeeded by their son Luiz de Vasconcelos (1636–1720), 6th Count of Calheta and 3rd Count of Castelo Melhor, the statesman and diplomat who rendered such important and distinguished services to our country. He was succeeded by Afonso de Vasconcelos, whose successor was José de Vasconcelos (1706–1769), 8th Count of Calheta, 4th Count and 1st Marquis of Castelo Melhor.

The immediate successors in the countship of Calheta and the marquisate of Castelo Melhor were António José de Vasconcelos e Câmara (1738–1801), Afonso de Vasconcelos (1783–1827), Antonio de Vasconcelos (1816–1858), João de Vasconcelos de Sousa e Câmara (1841–1878) and Dona Helena de Vasconcelos (1836–1900). She was the 13th Countess of Calheta and 6th Marchioness of Castelo Melhor, and may be regarded, albeit only honorifically, as the 17th donatary of Funchal.