Castro (Dom Manuel de Portugal e)
Original title: Castro (D. Manuel de Portugal e)
Biography of D. Manuel de Portugal e Castro (1787–1854), governor and captain-general of Madeira from 1823 to 1827/28 after the restoration of absolutism, later viceroy of India. He returned to Madeira in 1853 as a royal envoy on the death of Princess D. Maria Amélia.
He was the governor and captain-general chosen for Madeira after John VI proclaimed himself absolute king. His appointment dates from July 1823, and he took office on 28 August following. On the 26th of that month he arrived in Funchal, accompanied by the 7th Infantry Regiment, a detachment of artillery and a special judicial commission (alçada) of six magistrates, which had come to investigate the conduct of persons hostile to absolute government. With great ceremony he had the foundations demolished of the monument that had been laid on 28 January 1822 in front of the church of the Sé, Funchal Cathedral. Yet in August 1826 he also celebrated the Constitutional Charter (Carta Constitucional) and representative government with great solemnity and pomp. His administration was good, and he did all in his power to restrain the excesses of the ministers of the commission, who committed no small number of arbitrary and oppressive acts in the exercise of their office.
The Ponte e Rampa de D. Manuel (Bridge and Ramp of King Manuel) were given his name because they were built during his governorship. He left Madeira on 6 May 1828.
In 1827 he was appointed viceroy of India, where he governed excellently. He left this island shortly after 27 April of that year, the day on which his successor, José Lúcio Travassos Valdez, arrived in Funchal.
In 1853 the naval steamer Infante D. Luiz brought to Madeira Dom Manuel de Portugal e Castro, as representative of Maria II, and the Baron of Foz, as representative of King Ferdinand. They came, in the name of Their Majesties, to offer their condolences to the Empress Dona Amélia on the death of Princess Dona Maria Amélia and to accompany the mortal remains of the ill-fated princess to Lisbon.
Dom Manuel de Portugal e Castro, son of the Marquis of Valença, was born on 5 November 1787 and died on 13 July 1854. He was a minister of state and a peer of the realm, and held other important posts.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 08-
D. Manuel de Portugal e Castro was born.
-
Funchal celebrated the first anniversary of the Constitution's proclamation with festivities, a thanksgiving sermon by Freitas Branco in the cathedral, and the laying by Governor D. Rodrigo António de Melo of the foundation stone of a constitutional monument in the Terreiro da Sé.
-
D. Manuel de Portugal e Castro, appointed in July 1823, took office as governor and captain-general of Madeira on 28 August and governed until 1825.
-
The frigate Amazonas arrived at Funchal with the new governor D. Manuel de Portugal e Castro, infantry regiment no. 7, artillery and the judicial alçada.
-
The Constitutional Charter was solemnly proclaimed and sworn in Funchal under governor D. Manuel de Portugal e Castro, with festivities and illuminations.
-
Governor D. Manuel de Portugal e Castro was appointed viceroy of India.
-
The new governor José Lúcio Travassos Valdez arrived in Funchal to succeed D. Manuel de Portugal e Castro.
-
D. Manuel de Portugal e Castro left Madeira, according to one statement.
-
D. Manuel de Portugal e Castro came to Madeira as Queen Maria II's envoy after the death of Princess Maria Amélia.
-
D. Manuel de Portugal e Castro died.
Place
Places mentioned · 05
Abroad
- Funchal
Where Castro arrived with troops and the alçada in August 1823.
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.
- Funchal Cathedral (the Sé)
Funchal. In front of it stood the foundations of the 1822 constitutional monument that Castro had demolished.
The Sé do Funchal is the cathedral of Funchal, in the parish of Sé. It was begun in 1493, became a parish seat in 1508 and a cathedral in 1514. It was the starting point of processions and the place of the vow to São Tiago, and bishops are buried there.
- India
Castro was appointed viceroy of India in 1827.
India is recorded as the place where several Madeirans served, including Lopo de Abreu, Pedro da Silva and the viceroy João Saldanha da Gama. The fame of Madeiran levada builders reached it. It is the native region of plants grown on Madeira, among them the mango, Hedychium gardnerianum, balsam and most bamboos.
- Lisbon
Portugal. Destination of the princess's remains in 1853.
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.
- Ponte e Rampa de Dom Manuel
Funchal. Bridge and ramp named after Castro because they were built during his government.
Bridge and ramp named after Castro because they were built during his government.
People
People mentioned · 09-
Representative of King D. Fernando who accompanied Castro to Madeira in 1853.
- D. Manuel de Portugal e Castro1787–1854
Governor and captain-general of Madeira (1823–1828) under the absolutist regime, later viceroy of India, minister of state and peer; subject of this entry.
-
Dowager Empress of Brazil who received royal condolences in Madeira on the death of her daughter in 1853.
-
King consort whose condolences were conveyed to Empress Amélia in 1853.
- John VId. 1826
King of Portugal whose proclamation as absolute monarch led to Castro's appointment as governor of Madeira.
- José Lúcio Travassos Valdez1787–1862
Castro's successor as governor of Madeira, who arrived in Funchal on 27 April 1827.
-
Queen of Portugal whom Castro represented on his 1853 mission to Madeira.
-
Father of D. Manuel de Portugal e Castro.
- Princess Maria Améliad. 1853
Princess who died in Madeira in 1853; Castro came to accompany her remains to Lisbon.