Câmara (Simão Gonçalves da)
Original title: Camara (Simão Gonçalves da)
Simão Gonçalves da Camara, son of the 6th captain-donatary of Funchal, is regarded as the 7th captain-donatary, though he never came to Madeira or governed it, since from 1582 the captaincy was run by governors-general under Philippine rule. As 3rd Count of Calheta, his marriage brought the county into the house of Castelo Melhor.
He was the son of João Gonçalves da Câmara, 6th captain-donatary (capitão-donatário) of Funchal, and of Dona Maria de Alencastre. He was born in Lisbon and never came to this island. His father died in Almeirim at the beginning of June 1580, when he was only six months old. He may be regarded as the 7th captain-donatary of Funchal, although he never took up the government of the donatary captaincy (donataria), which from 1582 was administered by governors-general under Philippine rule. Nevertheless, he retained the title of captain-donatary of Funchal, as did many of his successors, as the warrant (provisão) of 10 October 1585 shows, and he enjoyed a considerable share of the substantial revenues that the donataries held in this archipelago. Simão Gonçalves da Câmara, who was the 3rd Count of Calheta (‘small cove’), married Dona Maria de Vasconcelos, daughter and heiress of the 1st Count of Castelo Melhor. For this reason the countship of Calheta was incorporated into the house of Castelo Melhor, which was later raised to a marquisate.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 03-
João Gonçalves da Câmara, sixth and last effective captain-donatary of Funchal, died at Almeirim.
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Under Philippine (Spanish) rule Madeira was governed by governors-general, beginning with João Leitão, who took over the administration of the whole archipelago; the captains-donatary were reduced to honorary status.
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A provision still styled Simão Gonçalves da Câmara captain-donatary of Funchal.
Place
Places mentioned · 04
Abroad
- Almeirim
Portugal. Where his father died in 1580.
Almeirim is a place in Portugal where the donatary João Gonçalves da Câmara died in 1580. The 1515 charter on levadas was also issued there.
- Calheta
Gives its name to the county he held as 3rd count.
Calheta is a town and municipality in western Madeira, created by royal charter of 1 July 1502. It later became the seat of a countship granted to the captains of Funchal and was reorganised as a concelho in 1835.
- Funchal
The captaincy of which he was titular 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.
- Lisbon
Portugal. Birthplace of Simão Gonçalves da Camara.
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.
People
People mentioned · 04- Simão Gonçalves da Câmara1579–1580
Born in Lisbon, titular 7th captain-donatary of Funchal and 3rd Count of Calheta, who never visited Madeira nor governed it.
- João Gonçalves da Câmara1541–1580
6th captain-donatary of Funchal and father of the subject; died at Almeirim in early June 1580.
- Maria Clementinad. 1867
Wife of Simão Gonçalves da Camara, daughter and heiress of the 1st Count of Castelo Melhor.
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Mother of Simão Gonçalves da Camara.