Moniz (Dom João Henriques)
Original title: Moniz (D. João Henriques)
Biography of D. João Henriques Moniz, a Funchal-born priest persecuted for liberal sympathies in 1828–30 and deported to Cape Verde, where he later became governor of the bishopric and bishop. He died in 1847 shortly after arriving to take up his see, amid hostility and rumours of poisoning.
He was born in this city in the last quarter of the 18th century and was a close relative of Dr Lourenço José Moniz, Dr Patrício Moniz and Councillor (conselheiro, honorary title of the royal council) Jaime Moniz, all of whom are covered in this Elucidário. He graduated in canon law from the University of Coimbra (Universidade de Coimbra) and was ordained priest in the first quarter of the 19th century.
He was serving in this diocese as ecclesiastical promoter (diocesan prosecutor) when he was caught up in the special judicial commission (alçada) that came to this island in 1828. The following year he was sent under arrest to Lisbon, and from there he was deported in 1830 to the Cape Verde archipelago. He lived for some years on the island of Brava, where he carried out parish duties and rendered notable services to education by founding two schools.
When constitutional government was restored he did not return home, and in 1835 he was appointed governor of the diocese (governador do bispado, administering the see in the bishop’s absence) of Cape Verde. In 1841 he was nominated bishop of that diocese, but it was only in 1844 that he came to Lisbon to receive episcopal consecration.
His episcopate was very short, for he reached Cape Verde in February 1847 and died on 1 July of the same year. It was believed at the time that the setbacks and persecution he suffered as soon as he landed on the island of Santiago swiftly drove him to the grave. The cathedral chapter, which consisted of one black canon and one mulatto canon, refused to grant him possession of the bishopric, and the Governor, in the absence of legal possession, did not recognise him as prelate and refused to pay him the corresponding emoluments. Amid these struggles and sorrows he succumbed to an attack of pernicious fever and was buried in the cemetery of Praia, without receiving the civil and ecclesiastical honours to which his high rank entitled him. There were those who claimed that the prelate had been the victim of murder by poisoning, which was then attributed to a close relative of his.
Dom João Henriques Moniz had been elected substitute senator for Madeira for the legislative session of 1840 to 1842.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 07-
D. Miguel's judicial commission (alçada) came to Madeira, indicting 216 liberals and freemasons and imprisoning 101; some, like Nery and Agrela, were sent to Lisbon, while others fled or hid.
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D. João Henriques Moniz was deported from Lisbon to Cape Verde.
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D. João Henriques Moniz was appointed governor of the bishopric of Cape Verde.
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D. João Henriques Moniz was elected substitute senator for Madeira.
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D. João Henriques Moniz was nominated bishop of Cape Verde.
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D. João Henriques Moniz received episcopal consecration in Lisbon.
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D. João Henriques Moniz died of fever in Cape Verde, months after arriving there in February 1847.
Place
Places mentioned · 07
Abroad
- Brava
Cape Verde. Cape Verde island where he served as parish priest and founded two schools.
Brava is a name the Elucidário applies to two places: an East African city attacked by a Portuguese fleet, and an island of Cape Verde. On the Cape Verdean island D. João Henriques Moniz served as parish priest and founded two schools, and D. Patrício Xavier de Moura visited it often.
- Cape Verde
Archipelago of his deportation and later his diocese.
Cape Verde is an archipelago and Portuguese colony that served as a place of exile and deportation for Madeirans, including liberals in the 1820s, protesters against the dairy decrees and the 1936 rioters. Lowe visited it in 1864 and 1866. It shares one flowering-plant species with Madeira.
- Funchal
Birthplace of the bishop.
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. Where he was sent as a prisoner and later consecrated bishop.
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.
- Santiago
Cabo Verde. Island where he landed and faced persecution.
Santiago is the principal island of Cape Verde, whose naming Camões misattributed. D. Patrício Xavier de Moura visited it often, and D. João Henriques Moniz landed there and faced persecution.
- University of Coimbra
Portugal. Where he graduated in canon law.
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 · 04- D. João Henriques Monizd. 1847
Funchal-born priest deported to Cape Verde in 1830 who became bishop of Cape Verde and died there in 1847.
- Jaime Moniz1837–1917
Close relative of D. João Henriques Moniz, with his own entry in the Elucidário.
- Lourenço José Moniz1789–1857
Close relative of D. João Henriques Moniz, with his own entry in the Elucidário.
- Patrício Moniz1820–1898
Close relative of D. João Henriques Moniz, with his own entry in the Elucidário.