Leopoldina (Archduchess) 1Arrival and reception in Funchal
Leopoldina (Archduchess)
Original title: Leopoldina (Arquiduquesa)
Account of the visit to Funchal in September 1817 of Archduchess Leopoldina of Austria, on her way to Rio de Janeiro to marry the future Emperor Pedro I of Brazil (Pedro IV of Portugal). It describes her reception, the festivities held for her and a painting that commemorated her stay.
1Arrival and reception in Funchal
Pedro I of Brazil and IV of Portugal married first the Archduchess Leopoldina of Austria (1797–1826) and secondly Empress Amélie, founder of the Princess Maria Amélia Hospice (Hospício da Princesa Dona Maria Amélia).
On the morning of 11 September 1817 a squadron anchored at the landing place of Funchal. It consisted of the Portuguese ships of the line D. João VI and D. Sebastião and the Austrian frigate Augusta, and was commanded by Captain Henrique de Sousa Prego. It was bound for Rio de Janeiro, carrying Princess Leopoldina, who was on her way to marry the Crown Prince Dom Pedro, later Emperor of Brazil and King of Portugal.
The princess’s retinue was made up of the Marquis and Marchioness of Castelo Melhor, the Count and Countess of Lousã and the Count of Penafiel, who were Portuguese; and the Prince of La Tour e Taxis, Count Eltz, Count Bellegarde, Count Krassischs and the Austrian ambassador to Brazil, who were Austrians; as well as 11 servants.
The princess was given a splendid reception. She landed at an improvised wooden quay built at the Pontinha (‘little point’) and went to stay at the Palácio de São Lourenço (St Lawrence Palace).
On 12 September she dined at the Quinta do Palheiro do Ferreiro (‘blacksmith’s hayloft estate’) at the invitation of João de Carvalhal, who held a magnificent party there for the occasion.
On the 13th she visited the Monte, touring several quintas (country estates), and took an afternoon meal there at the house of the wealthy English merchant Roberto Page, who prepared a fine reception for the princess at Quinta Belmonte.
2Aftermath and memory of the visit
The governor and captain-general (capitão-general, military governor of Madeira) Florencio José de Melo and the bishop, Dom Joaquim de Meneses e Ataide, were commended by the government in Rio de Janeiro for the way in which they had received the Archduchess and for the displays of esteem and rejoicing held in Funchal during her stay on the island.
With the princess’s permission, the governor and captain-general charged Major José Caetano César de Freitas with accompanying her to Rio de Janeiro as the representative of the people of this archipelago, and with presenting their congratulations to the Prince Royal, Dom Pedro, on the occasion of his marriage.
In the mansion of the Counts of Calçada (‘paved way’), on the Rampa de Santa Clara, there was once an oil painting of Princess Leopoldina. In one corner of the canvas it bore the following words: ‘Archduchess Leopoldina, Princess Royal of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves, walking at the Quinta do Palheiro Ferreiro on 12 September 1817.’
At present this painting is the property of Mr Júlio Barros. Archduchess Leopoldina was, as is well known, the mother of Pedro II, Emperor of Brazil, and of Maria II, Queen of Portugal. She died in Rio de Janeiro on 11 December 1826.
In 1943 the distinguished writer Lieutenant-Colonel A. Artur Sarmento published an interesting pamphlet entitled A Princesa do Reino - Unido Portugal Brasil na Ilha da Madeira em 1817, about the visit of this illustrious princess to the island on her way to the city of Rio de Janeiro.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 03-
The squadron carrying Archduchess Leopoldina to Rio de Janeiro anchored at Funchal.
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Leopoldina was fêted at the Quinta do Palheiro at a party given by João de Carvalhal.
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Leopoldina visited the Monte and was received at the Quinta do Belo Monte.
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Archduchess Leopoldina died in Rio de Janeiro.
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A. Artur Sarmento published a pamphlet on Archduchess Leopoldina's visit to Madeira.
Place
Places mentioned · 08
Abroad
- Funchal
Port where Leopoldina's squadron anchored in 1817.
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.
- Monte
Funchal. Area Leopoldina toured on 13 September 1817.
Parish of Nossa Senhora do Monte above Funchal, at about 600 m, where leafing occurs later than in Funchal. It contains the localities of Jardim Botânico, Igreja and Marmeleiros and the Quinta de Sant'Ana. The Elucidário notes its many plants, such as acacias and Sonchus fruticosus.
- Pontinha
Machico. Where a makeshift wooden landing stage was built for Leopoldina to come ashore.
The Pontinha is the coastal projection at the western end of Funchal bay, originally called Ilhéus after two rocky islets later joined to the shore by walls and by the breakwater completed in 1889. The Elucidário traces its forts, chapel, lighthouse, passenger quay and road, storm damage in 1757 and 1892, and the maritime disinfection station there from 1901. It was the landing place of notable visitors such as the nuncio and the Archduchess Leopoldina. A locality of the same name is also listed among the main localities of Machico parish.
- Quinta Belmonte
Funchal. Robert Page's estate, where the archduchess was served a light meal.
Robert Page's estate, where the archduchess was served a light meal.
- Quinta do Palheiro
Funchal. Estate where Leopoldina dined and was entertained on 12 September 1817.
Estate of the Carvalhal family in São Gonçalo, Funchal. The 1st Count of Carvalhal died there and was first buried in its chapel, and the 2nd Count held famous parties there and received D. Luís. Archduchess Leopoldina dined there on 12 September 1817, King Carlos played tennis there in 1901, and gorse was first introduced there.
- Rampa de Santa Clara
Funchal. Site of the mansion of the Condes da Calçada, where the painting of Leopoldina once hung.
Site of the mansion of the Condes da Calçada, where the painting of Leopoldina once hung.
- Rio de Janeiro
Brazil. Destination of the voyage and place of Leopoldina's death.
Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil, appears in the Elucidário as the seat of the Portuguese court and as a city where many Madeirans lived, studied, taught, published and died. Among them were Paulo Perestrelo da Câmara, João de Oliveira Sá Camelo Lampreia and João da Silveira Caldeira, who headed the Mint there.
- São Lourenço Palace
Funchal. Where Leopoldina stayed during her visit.
The Palácio de São Lourenço, the governors' palace-fortress in Funchal, was the scene of beija-mão ceremonies, receptions, balls and dinners, and of the 1861 exhibition. The Elucidário records a great fire there in 1699, a natural history museum in 1850, and an attempt by soldiers to enter it in 1829. The Teatro Grande stood opposite it.
People
People mentioned · 13- Leopoldina, Arquiduquesa de Áustria1797–1826
Austrian archduchess and first wife of Pedro I of Brazil; she called at Madeira in 1817 on her way to her wedding in Brazil.
- Alberto Artur Sarmentob. 1878
Lieutenant-colonel and writer who published a pamphlet on Leopoldina's visit in 1943.
- D. Joaquim de Meneses e Ataíde1765–1828
Bishop of Funchal, praised for the reception given to Leopoldina.
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Second wife of Pedro I and founder of the Hospício da Princesa D. Maria Amélia in Funchal.
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Governor and captain-general of Madeira, praised by the government in Rio for his reception of the archduchess.
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Naval captain (capitão de mar e guerra) who commanded the squadron carrying Leopoldina in 1817.
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Owner of the Quinta do Palheiro, who gave a lavish party for Leopoldina there on 12 September 1817.
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Major sent with Leopoldina to Rio to congratulate Prince Pedro on behalf of the people of Madeira.
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Owner, at the time of writing, of the oil painting of Leopoldina.
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Daughter of Leopoldina and later Queen of Portugal.
+ 3 more
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Leopoldina's husband; she was travelling to Rio de Janeiro to marry him.
- Peter IId. 1706
Son of Leopoldina and later Emperor of Brazil.
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Wealthy English merchant who received Leopoldina at Quinta Belmonte on the Monte.