Câmara (Dona Mariana de Alencastre e)
Original title: Câmara (D. Mariana de Alencastre e)
Daughter of the 3rd Count of Calheta who inherited the house and was considered 9th donatary of Funchal; she died in 1689.
She was also called Dona Mariana de Vasconcelos e Câmara Alencastre, and was the daughter of Simão Gonçalves da Câmara, 3rd Count of Calheta (‘small cove’) and 7th captain-donatary (capitão-donatário) of Funchal. When her brother João Gonçalves da Câmara, 8th donatary, died without issue, Dona Mariana de Alencastre succeeded to the house of the countship of Calheta and was regarded as the 9th donatary of Funchal. She was lady of the bedchamber to Queen Maria Francisca of Savoy, and an old manuscript says that she was zealous in defending and supporting the natives of the island, treating them all with special affection. She died on 15 April 1689 (see Alencastre and Calheta (Counts of)).
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 01Place
Places mentioned · 02
- Calheta
Seat of the countship she inherited.
Calheta is a town, parish and municipality on Madeira's south-west coast and one of the island's oldest settlements. The Elucidário covers its name, early settlers such as Pedro Berenguer, its church and many chapels, including one of a former Franciscan convent, and the 1834 riot.
- Funchal
Captaincy of which she was considered donatary.
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.
People
People mentioned · 04-
Heiress of the Calheta countship, regarded as 9th donatary of Funchal and defender of Madeirans.
- João Gonçalves da Câmara1414–1501
Her brother, 8th donatary, who died without issue.
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Queen of Portugal whom she served as lady of the chamber.
- Simão Gonçalves da Câmara1579–1580
3rd Count of Calheta and 7th captain-donatary of Funchal, her father.