Leuchtenberg (Duke of)
Original title: Leuchtenberg (Duque de)
Account of the stay in Madeira (1849–50) of Prince Maximilian, Duke of Leuchtenberg, who came seeking relief from illness, and of the later visit (1886–87) of his son Prince Nicholas Maximilian.
The Duke's stay and his son's visit
On 23 August 1849 the Russian navy frigate Kamtchatka dropped anchor in our harbour, carrying Prince Maximilian, Duke of Leuchtenberg, brother of Prince Augusto, the first husband of Maria II, and of Dona Amélia, widow of Pedro IV. The ship had been placed in quarantine, and the prince was only able to land on 27 August, when he was given a splendid reception prepared by the civil governor of the time, the benevolent Councillor (conselheiro, honorary title of the royal council) José Silvestre Ribeiro.
The prince travelled through many parishes of Madeira and also visited Porto Santo (‘holy harbour’), proving an enthusiastic admirer of the natural beauty of our archipelago. He remained on this island until 23 April 1850, when he embarked for Russia. He left the fondest memories among us, not only for the great affability of his manner but also for the charitable feelings of which he gave eloquent proof on behalf of the poor of our land.
The Duke of Leuchtenberg, who was the son of the celebrated Prince Eugène Napoléon and son-in-law of Nicholas I, Emperor of Russia, had come to Madeira seeking relief from his ailments. On leaving, amid convulsive weeping, he declared that he had spent here some of the happiest and most peaceful days of his whole life.
His suite consisted of Prince Pierre Bagratin, Count of Ojarowski, Captain Pauchine, the secretary Eugène Mussar, the physician Dr S. Fischer and fifteen servants.
He resided at the Quinta das Angústias (‘sorrows’), where Queen Adelaide of England had also stayed before him, and where Princess Dona Maria Amélia died in 1853. He visited Porto Santo in 1850, travelling to that island on the Russian frigate Palas.
A son of Prince Maximilian, Prince Nicholas Maximilian, also Duke of Leuchtenberg, visited Madeira in 1886, arriving in the harbour of Funchal on 1 December and landing the following day. He was accorded the military honours to which he was entitled as a prince related to the royal houses of Portugal and Russia.
Prince Nicholas spent part of 1887 in Madeira, leaving for Europe on 16 June.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 05-
The Duke of Leuchtenberg arrived at Funchal aboard the Russian frigate Kamtchatka, landed after quarantine on 27 August, was received by José Silvestre Ribeiro, and resided at Quinta Lambert until April 1850.
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The Duke of Leuchtenberg visited Porto Santo aboard the frigate Palas.
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The Duke of Leuchtenberg left Madeira for Russia.
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Princess D. Maria Amélia, daughter of Empress Amélia, died of pulmonary tuberculosis at the Quinta das Angústias in Funchal.
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Prince Nicholas Maximilian, Duke of Leuchtenberg, arrived at Funchal.
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Prince Nicholas of Leuchtenberg left Madeira for Europe.
Place
Places mentioned · 04
Abroad
- Funchal
Port where both princes arrived.
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.
- Porto Santo
Island visited by the Duke in 1850.
An island of the archipelago, settled alongside Madeira and forming one of the three captaincies. It has always constituted a single parish, dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Piedade, whose church was repeatedly sacked. The Elucidário records the Moorish pirate raid of 1617, its own Misericórdia and a rainwater channel built on this drought-prone island.
- Quinta das Angústias
Funchal. Residence of the Duke during his stay.
Quinta das Angústias is an estate in Funchal where the Empress D. Amélia and the Duke of Leuchtenberg resided during their stays. The Conde de Lambert later bought it as his residence, and the Mirante de D. Guiomar belvedere stands on it.
- Russia
Destination of the Duke on leaving in 1850.
Russia appears in the Elucidário as a market for Madeira wine, the subject of a 1906 municipal representation, and a source of donations during the 1846–1847 famine. Agostinho de Ornelas de Vasconcelos was minister plenipotentiary there from 1894.
People
People mentioned · 15-
Son of Eugène de Beauharnais and son-in-law of Tsar Nicholas I who stayed in Madeira from August 1849 to April 1850 for his health.
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Brother of the Duke and first husband of Queen Maria II of Portugal.
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Member of the Duke's suite in Madeira.
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Sister of the Duke and widow of Pedro IV.
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The Duke's secretary during his Madeira stay.
- José Silvestre Ribeiro1807–1891
Civil governor of Funchal who organised the Duke's reception in 1849.
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Queen of Portugal whose first husband was the Duke's brother.
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Tsar of Russia and father-in-law of the Duke.
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Officer in the Duke's suite in Madeira.
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King of Portugal, late husband of the Duke's sister Amélia.
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Member of the Duke's suite in Madeira.
- Prince Imperiald. 1879
Father of the Duke of Leuchtenberg.
- Princess Maria Améliad. 1853
Princess who died at the Quinta das Angústias in 1853.
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Queen dowager of England who had earlier lived at the Quinta das Angústias.
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The Duke's physician during his Madeira stay.