Oldenburg (Prince of)
Original title: Oldenburgo (Principe de)
Prince Nicolau Frederico Augusto of Oldenburg, a Russian lieutenant-general, lived in Madeira in 1884–1885 at the Quinta Vigia, becoming well known in Funchal for his lavish lifestyle, splendid parties and philanthropy.
Prince Nicholas Frederick Augustus of Oldenburg, a lieutenant-general in the Russian army, spent about two years in Madeira (1884–1885). He became very well known here for the lavish and grand life he displayed, for the dazzling parties held at his residence and also for the acts of philanthropy he frequently performed.
It was he who had published in Paris the French translation of Herculano’s novel Eurico, o Presbytero, made by the Viscountess of Nogueiras.
The Prince of Oldenburg lived at the quinta (country estate) ‘Vigia’ (‘lookout’) and had in his service two Cossacks, excellent horsemen, who were watched with curiosity by the people of Funchal whenever they rode out. He died in Geneva in January 1886.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 02Place
Places mentioned · 04
Abroad
- Funchal
City whose inhabitants watched the prince's Cossack horsemen with curiosity.
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.
- Geneva
Switzerland. City where the prince died in January 1886.
Foreign city (Geneva). Dr José de Almada represented Portugal at the League of Nations there, and Júlia Neto won a prize at its conservatoire. The Prince of Oldenburg died there in January 1886.
- Paris
France. City where the prince had the French translation of Eurico published.
The French capital, where Franco de Sousa settled and painted 'Ar livre', and where Juvenal Honório de Ornelas took his medical doctorate in 1834. Padre Luiz Gonçalves da Câmara studied there and met Loyola, and the Barão de Ornelas graduated, practised and died there.
- Quinta Vigia
Funchal. Estate where the prince resided during his stay in Madeira.
A state-owned estate in São Pedro parish, Funchal, noted for rare exotic trees, which served as a residence for Queen Adelaide, the Empress of Austria (1860–61) and the Prince of Oldenburg. It later became barracks of the Republican Guard, had a casino that issued tokens in 1901, and was hit by a shell in the 1916 bombardment.
People
People mentioned · 03-
Prince of Oldenburg and Russian lieutenant-general who lived in Madeira in 1884–1885, famed for his lavish parties and charity; he died in Geneva in January 1886.
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Portuguese author of the novel Eurico, o Presbytero, whose French translation the prince had published in Paris.
- D. Matilde Isabel de Sant'Ana e Vasconcelos Moniz de Bettencourt, Viscondessa das Nogueiras1805–1888
Translator of Herculano's Eurico, o Presbytero into French, a translation published in Paris at the prince's instigation.