Chancelaria Régia
Item
Country
PT
Name of institution (English)
Lisbon Municipal Archive
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
por
Contact information: postal address
Rua B, Bairro da Liberdade 3-6, 1070-017 Lisbon
Contact information: phone number
00351 218177200
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
arquivomunicipal@cm-lisboa.pt
Reference number
PT/AMLSB/CMLSBAH/CHR
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Royal Chancellery
Title (official language of the state)
Chancelaria Régia
Language of title
por
Creator / accumulator
Câmara Municipal de Lisboa
Date(s)
1214/1899
Language(s)
lat
por
Extent
467 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Satisfactory
Scope and content
This collection comprises royal determinations directed towards the administration of the city of Lisbon, contained in the "Livros de Reis" (Books of Kings) and codices of consultations, decrees and announcements. Here lies the oldest document of the Arquivo Municipal de Lisboa: the confirmation by King Afonso II in 1214 of Lisbon’s "foral" (city charter) granted by King Afonso Henriques.
The collection includes a broad kind of documents: contracts, exemptions, requests for the granting of privileges and favours, confirmation and annulment of licences, tax records, appointments to municipal offices, and sanitary measures, among others. Therefore, there are several mentions of the Jewish community and the "judiarias" (Jewish quarters) of Lisbon before the decree of expulsion (1496) throughout the Royal Chancellery books.
Scholars have given special attention to the "Livro dos Pregos", which contains copies made by the municipal chancellery of documents produced by the Royal Chancellery and related to the city of Lisbon (PT/AMLSB/CMLSBAH/CHR/0447). It includes copies of royal letters, Cortes (assembly of representatives of the estates of the realm) petitions, nominations, donations, granting and confirmation of privileges and favours, tax records, and contracts, among other documents related to Lisbon and its outskirts. 300 of its 313 folios contain records from before 1500. Therefore, it is an important source for the medieval history of Lisbon and its population, including the Jewish minority. In addition, most of the "Livro dos Pregos" records are copies of documents whose originals are missing.
Another series with interesting material for the study of Jewish communities is the "Livros de Cortes" (PT/AMLSB/CMLSBAH/CHR/006). These books gather copies of the decisions and debates delivered in "Cortes", advisory meetings promoted by the Crown with representatives of the three estates of the realm (nobility, clergy and the bourgeoisie), some of them related to the Jewish minority. For instance, the "Livro 1.º de Cortes" (PT/AMLSB/CMLSBAH/CHR/006/01) contains a deliberation decided in the Cortes of Coimbra in 1390 to confine the residence of the Jewish and Muslim minorities to specific quarters, the "judiarias" and "mourarias" (PT/AMLSB/CMLSBAH/CHR/006/01/015, fol. 66v).
The collection includes a broad kind of documents: contracts, exemptions, requests for the granting of privileges and favours, confirmation and annulment of licences, tax records, appointments to municipal offices, and sanitary measures, among others. Therefore, there are several mentions of the Jewish community and the "judiarias" (Jewish quarters) of Lisbon before the decree of expulsion (1496) throughout the Royal Chancellery books.
Scholars have given special attention to the "Livro dos Pregos", which contains copies made by the municipal chancellery of documents produced by the Royal Chancellery and related to the city of Lisbon (PT/AMLSB/CMLSBAH/CHR/0447). It includes copies of royal letters, Cortes (assembly of representatives of the estates of the realm) petitions, nominations, donations, granting and confirmation of privileges and favours, tax records, and contracts, among other documents related to Lisbon and its outskirts. 300 of its 313 folios contain records from before 1500. Therefore, it is an important source for the medieval history of Lisbon and its population, including the Jewish minority. In addition, most of the "Livro dos Pregos" records are copies of documents whose originals are missing.
Another series with interesting material for the study of Jewish communities is the "Livros de Cortes" (PT/AMLSB/CMLSBAH/CHR/006). These books gather copies of the decisions and debates delivered in "Cortes", advisory meetings promoted by the Crown with representatives of the three estates of the realm (nobility, clergy and the bourgeoisie), some of them related to the Jewish minority. For instance, the "Livro 1.º de Cortes" (PT/AMLSB/CMLSBAH/CHR/006/01) contains a deliberation decided in the Cortes of Coimbra in 1390 to confine the residence of the Jewish and Muslim minorities to specific quarters, the "judiarias" and "mourarias" (PT/AMLSB/CMLSBAH/CHR/006/01/015, fol. 66v).
Archival history
The Chancelaria da Cidade collection is part of the Câmara Municipal de Lisboa fonds, which comprises records related to the activity of the municipality of Lisbon from its creation in the late 12th century to the present. Since its origin, the Municipality of Lisbon has cared about the need to preserve its documentation. However, due to precarious management and poor organisation, many records were lost over the centuries.
The municipal registry was originally located in a building belonging to Martim de Bulhões (Saint Anthony's father) near the Cathedral, later known as Casa de Santo António (Saint Anthony's House), where it remained until the 16th century. In the 16th century, the archive followed the city council's constant change of facilities in the sequence of plagues. Between 1640 and 1647, it returned to the Cathedral's vicinity.
Since the 16th century, the documentation has been divided into codices, organised by theme or provenance. Between the late 17th century and the early 18th century, these codices were copied with the aim of preserving the originals.
In 1741, following the reunification of the Council Senate (which had been divided into Occidental and Oriental Senate), the archive moved to a building in Rossio, near the Royal Hospital of Todos-os-Santos, where the Occidental Senate had been headquartered. Later, it was transferred to another house next to the Inquisition Palace. During the Great Earthquake of 1755, most of the archive's collection was saved by an official of the Council Senate Secretary, Leandro da Costa Carvalho, and it was provisionally stored in a wooden shack in Campo de Santana (then in Lisbon's outskirts). Between 1757 and 1764, the Palácio dos Condes de Almada hosted the archive. After further location changes, the archive moved to the new building of the Paços do Concelho (Council Chambers) in 1774, where it stayed until being relocated again in 1780, together with the Council, to Casa da Índia and the Inquisition Palace. The archive ended up returning to the Paços do Concelho at the end of the 18th century. When a fire destroyed the building in 1863, the archive room was the only one that remained intact.
During the 19th century, the Arquivo Municipal de Lisboa collections were classified according to thematic and chronological criteria, indices were produced, and the codices were bound.
In the 1930s, the archive was divided: the historical archive remained in the Paços do Concelho, and the administrative archive (created in 1919) moved into the Arco do Cego neighbourhood. When a fire destroyed the Paços do Concelho again in November of 1996, the historical archive was transferred to a building adjacent to the archive in Alto da Eira. In 2004, its facilities were again changed to the Campolide neighbourhood.
The municipal registry was originally located in a building belonging to Martim de Bulhões (Saint Anthony's father) near the Cathedral, later known as Casa de Santo António (Saint Anthony's House), where it remained until the 16th century. In the 16th century, the archive followed the city council's constant change of facilities in the sequence of plagues. Between 1640 and 1647, it returned to the Cathedral's vicinity.
Since the 16th century, the documentation has been divided into codices, organised by theme or provenance. Between the late 17th century and the early 18th century, these codices were copied with the aim of preserving the originals.
In 1741, following the reunification of the Council Senate (which had been divided into Occidental and Oriental Senate), the archive moved to a building in Rossio, near the Royal Hospital of Todos-os-Santos, where the Occidental Senate had been headquartered. Later, it was transferred to another house next to the Inquisition Palace. During the Great Earthquake of 1755, most of the archive's collection was saved by an official of the Council Senate Secretary, Leandro da Costa Carvalho, and it was provisionally stored in a wooden shack in Campo de Santana (then in Lisbon's outskirts). Between 1757 and 1764, the Palácio dos Condes de Almada hosted the archive. After further location changes, the archive moved to the new building of the Paços do Concelho (Council Chambers) in 1774, where it stayed until being relocated again in 1780, together with the Council, to Casa da Índia and the Inquisition Palace. The archive ended up returning to the Paços do Concelho at the end of the 18th century. When a fire destroyed the building in 1863, the archive room was the only one that remained intact.
During the 19th century, the Arquivo Municipal de Lisboa collections were classified according to thematic and chronological criteria, indices were produced, and the codices were bound.
In the 1930s, the archive was divided: the historical archive remained in the Paços do Concelho, and the administrative archive (created in 1919) moved into the Arco do Cego neighbourhood. When a fire destroyed the Paços do Concelho again in November of 1996, the historical archive was transferred to a building adjacent to the archive in Alto da Eira. In 2004, its facilities were again changed to the Campolide neighbourhood.
Sources:
Administrative / Biographical history
The origins of the Municipality of Lisbon date back to 1179 when King Afonso I granted the "foral" (city charter) to Lisbon. Besides the territorial organisation, the "foral" also regulated the municipal administration. Then, the Concelho (Council) obtained well-delineated competencies and a defined legal framework. The Medieval administrative body was constituted by a "procurador do Concelho" (proctor), "alvazis" (judicial magistrates) and other magistrates with secondary functions, all of them under the dependence of the King. The "alcaide-mor" (chief provincial governor), who represented the Crown locally, was responsible for controlling and managing the "alvazis" and other municipal officers. The "homens bons", the most notable citizens, were also called to give their opinion on subjects relevant to the city's government. The place where this local elite met began to be called the Paço do Concelho (Council Chambers).
In 1221, the Cortes (national assembly, drawn from the nobility, the clergy, and the commoners, whose task was to advise the king on legislation) of Coimbra defined a specific legal framework to the municipality of Lisbon. During the reign of King Afonso III (1248-1279), the number of municipal officers with tax collection responsibilities increased, the "procurador do concelho" started to be elected by the "homens bons" and became their representative before the Crown and other institutions. At the time of King Afonso IV (kingship: 1325-1357), the offices of "juiz de fora" and "vereador" were created. The "juiz de fora" was a royal magistrate responsible for supervising and uniformising law enforcement in all Portuguese territory. The "vereadores" were other magistrates who replaced the functions previously exercised by the "alvazis". During the reign of King Fernando I (1367-1383), the "corregedor" became the principal city authority. With King João I (kingship: 1385-1433), the "vereação" (city council) was enlarged with four "procuradores dos mesteres" (guilds proctors), which contributed to the development and centralisation of the municipal economic management. This centralisation effort increased during the reign of King João II (1481-1495). In the early 16th century, after the Ordenações Manuelinas (King Manuel I Ordinances), the "vereadores" of Lisbon gained more autonomy and became free of hierarchical subjection to the Crown.
The first reference to the "Presidente da Câmara" (President of the City Council, the Mayor) position dates back to a royal letter of December 12, 1572, when King Sebastião I appointed a president and three "vereadores", which allowed a balance between legal functions and management competencies. However, the judicial dimension of the city council continued to prevail, so much so that, between 1609 and 1820, the city council was designated as "Tribunal do Senado" (Senate Court). The denomination of "Câmara Municipal de Lisboa" only dates back to the Liberal Revolution of 1820.
During the Iberian Union (1580-1640), centralisation was reinforced. The Crown directly appointed the leading positions of the municipal administration. In 1671, the Senate was reorganised, with the appointment of five "vereadores", two "desembargadores" (judges) and three noblemen appointed by the King who would exercise the presidency. King Pedro II (kingship: 1683-1706) also divided the Senate into two institutions with their own organisational structure: the Oriental Senate and the Occidental Senate. This division lasted until 1741, when the Senate was reunified and restructured. The leading municipal body combined one president, six "vereadores", one notary, two "procuradores da cidade" and four "procuradores dos mesteres". King José I kept this structure but added a Junta da Fazenda (Finance Board) to control the economic-financial activity of the municipality. Liberal constitutionalism after the Revolution of 1820 implemented the elective system in the Portuguese municipalities. Then, in December of 1822, the first council of a constitutional nature took office with one procurador and nine vereadores. After a forward and backward movement until 1834 and the end of the Liberal Wars, several administrative reforms were undertaken over the 19th century toward a progressive autonomy and elective character of the municipal power.
The implementation of the Republic in Portugal in 1910 brought new changes. In 1913, it was implemented the distinction between the Senado Municipal (Municipal Senate), a deliberative body elected by universal suffrage, and the Comissão Executiva (Executive Committee), an executive body elected by the Senado and composed of a president and eight "vereadores". After the coup d'état of May 28, 1926 that initiated the dictatorship period in Portugal, which would last until 1974, the Câmara Municipal de Lisboa was dissolved and replaced by an administrative committee appointed by the government. The elective system only returned after the Carnation Revolution in 1974. The Câmara Municipal became the executive body, and the Assembleia Municipal (Municipal Assembly) became the deliberative body of the municipality. This structure has remained until the present.
In 1221, the Cortes (national assembly, drawn from the nobility, the clergy, and the commoners, whose task was to advise the king on legislation) of Coimbra defined a specific legal framework to the municipality of Lisbon. During the reign of King Afonso III (1248-1279), the number of municipal officers with tax collection responsibilities increased, the "procurador do concelho" started to be elected by the "homens bons" and became their representative before the Crown and other institutions. At the time of King Afonso IV (kingship: 1325-1357), the offices of "juiz de fora" and "vereador" were created. The "juiz de fora" was a royal magistrate responsible for supervising and uniformising law enforcement in all Portuguese territory. The "vereadores" were other magistrates who replaced the functions previously exercised by the "alvazis". During the reign of King Fernando I (1367-1383), the "corregedor" became the principal city authority. With King João I (kingship: 1385-1433), the "vereação" (city council) was enlarged with four "procuradores dos mesteres" (guilds proctors), which contributed to the development and centralisation of the municipal economic management. This centralisation effort increased during the reign of King João II (1481-1495). In the early 16th century, after the Ordenações Manuelinas (King Manuel I Ordinances), the "vereadores" of Lisbon gained more autonomy and became free of hierarchical subjection to the Crown.
The first reference to the "Presidente da Câmara" (President of the City Council, the Mayor) position dates back to a royal letter of December 12, 1572, when King Sebastião I appointed a president and three "vereadores", which allowed a balance between legal functions and management competencies. However, the judicial dimension of the city council continued to prevail, so much so that, between 1609 and 1820, the city council was designated as "Tribunal do Senado" (Senate Court). The denomination of "Câmara Municipal de Lisboa" only dates back to the Liberal Revolution of 1820.
During the Iberian Union (1580-1640), centralisation was reinforced. The Crown directly appointed the leading positions of the municipal administration. In 1671, the Senate was reorganised, with the appointment of five "vereadores", two "desembargadores" (judges) and three noblemen appointed by the King who would exercise the presidency. King Pedro II (kingship: 1683-1706) also divided the Senate into two institutions with their own organisational structure: the Oriental Senate and the Occidental Senate. This division lasted until 1741, when the Senate was reunified and restructured. The leading municipal body combined one president, six "vereadores", one notary, two "procuradores da cidade" and four "procuradores dos mesteres". King José I kept this structure but added a Junta da Fazenda (Finance Board) to control the economic-financial activity of the municipality. Liberal constitutionalism after the Revolution of 1820 implemented the elective system in the Portuguese municipalities. Then, in December of 1822, the first council of a constitutional nature took office with one procurador and nine vereadores. After a forward and backward movement until 1834 and the end of the Liberal Wars, several administrative reforms were undertaken over the 19th century toward a progressive autonomy and elective character of the municipal power.
The implementation of the Republic in Portugal in 1910 brought new changes. In 1913, it was implemented the distinction between the Senado Municipal (Municipal Senate), a deliberative body elected by universal suffrage, and the Comissão Executiva (Executive Committee), an executive body elected by the Senado and composed of a president and eight "vereadores". After the coup d'état of May 28, 1926 that initiated the dictatorship period in Portugal, which would last until 1974, the Câmara Municipal de Lisboa was dissolved and replaced by an administrative committee appointed by the government. The elective system only returned after the Carnation Revolution in 1974. The Câmara Municipal became the executive body, and the Assembleia Municipal (Municipal Assembly) became the deliberative body of the municipality. This structure has remained until the present.
Access points: locations
Access points: corporate bodies
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The collection has an organic and functional organisation. Records are arranged chronologically.
Access, restrictions
Most of the documents are available for consultation in microfilm and/or digital format. The originals are only accessible to readers if there is no microfilmed or digital copy and its state of conservation is good.
Finding aids
Links to finding aids
Existence and location of originals
Some items are copies of original documents of the colection Chancelarias Régias of Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo (Lisbon).
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2021
Bibliography
Published primary sources
Linked resources
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