Medicis (Dom Cosme de)
Original title: Medicis (D. Cosme de)
A traditionally wealthy Funchal resident who, with his guests, died when a sea cave east of the lazaretto collapsed; the site is still called furna de D. Cosme.
He lived in Funchal around the middle of the 18th century and was, according to tradition, a wealthy man. On one occasion he invited several friends to spend the day in a cave east of the spot where the lazaretto now stands, to enjoy various amusements. All of them met their death there when the ground above collapsed. The only survivor was a Black servant of Dom Cosme, who happened to be some distance from the cave; he brought to the city the news of the terrible catastrophe he had witnessed.
The place where the catastrophe occurred is known to seafarers as the Furna de D. Cosme.
From 1679 to 1684 Father Dom Zenóbio de Medicis, son of Dom Cosme de Medicis, attended the faculty of theology of the University of Coimbra (Universidade de Coimbra). It is therefore to be believed that the disaster happened long before the middle of the 18th century, since it is unlikely that this Dom Cosme de Medicis was still alive at that time.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 01Place
Places mentioned · 04
Abroad
- Funchal
Where D. Cosme lived.
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.
- Furna de Dom Cosme
Funchal. Sea cave named by mariners after the disaster.
Sea cave named by mariners after the disaster.
- Lazareto
Funchal. Landmark west of the cave where the disaster occurred.
The quarantine station (lazaretto) of Funchal. Plans in 1816 went unrealised and temporary sites were used before buildings were erected at the mouth of the Ribeira de Gonçalo Aires (1866–74). These were later used during epidemics and to hold political prisoners.
- University of Coimbra
Portugal. Where Zenóbio de Medicis studied theology.
The University of Coimbra, in mainland Portugal, was supported by Madeira through tithes and attended by many Madeirans. Several of them graduated there, mostly in law, and others, such as António da Gama and Vitúrio Lopes Rocha, also taught there. Júlio Augusto Henriques held its chair of botany.
People
People mentioned · 02-
Wealthy Funchal man who, according to tradition, died with his friends when a sea cave collapsed during an outing.
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Son of D. Cosme, studied theology at Coimbra 1679–1684, which suggests the disaster happened earlier than tradition holds.