Coleção Pombalina
Item
Country
PT
Name of institution (English)
National Library of Portugal
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
por
Contact information: postal address
Campo Grande, 83, 1749-081 Lisbon
Contact information: phone number
00351 217982000
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
bn@bnportugal.gov.pt
Reference number
PBA.
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Pombaline Collection
Title (official language of the state)
Coleção Pombalina
Language of title
por
Creator / accumulator
Marquês de Pombal
Date note
15th century/19th century
Language(s)
por
eng
spa
Extent
758 books
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Satisfactory
Scope and content
The Pombalina collection comprises the Marquis of Pombal's archive, including documents related to his public functions, private life and intellectual production. Therefore, it includes records (in particular, correspondence) related to his diplomatic missions in London (1739-44) and Vienna (1745-49). As envoy extraordinary of the Portuguese crown, Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo contacted with Portuguese Jews living in both cities, such as Francis and Joseph Salvador, Jacob de Castro Sarmento, and Diego de Aguilar. These relations are reflected in his letters. Particularly interesting is a collection of annotations on Jewish religion and literature composed during his mission in London, which includes Hebrew documents from the Jewish congregation of London, such as an original ketubah between Moseh de Leon and Ester Nunes and a copy of the gett (divorce) letter of Jacob Nunes Chaves, both in 1741 (PBA. 684). These annotations were published by Carla Vieira (2015 and 2022).
Other highlights of this collection are the following:
PBA. 484: "Racional Discurso sobre desacertos de Portugal" (Rational discourse on Portugal's mismatches), an anonymous reflection on the Inquisition proceedings and the discrimination against new Christians in Portugal written by a Portuguese author in Rome and directed to Frei José de Lencastre, the General Inquisitor.
PBA. 635: documentation on a legal dispute involving Portuguese Jews and New Christians from Brazil and London (Maria Aires de Pina and her relatives).
PBA. 641: a 17th-century copy of Felipe d'Austria's account of Jewish ceremonies given to the Inquisition in 1587 (original document in Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo, Conselho Geral do Santo Ofício, maço 7, n.º 2542).
PBA. 649: Documents related to the law that abolished the distinction between New and Old Christians in Portugal in 1773.
PBA. 656: Carvalho's letters on Portuguese trade and the Anglo-Portuguese alliance, which include his reflections on the intervention of Sephardic/Converso networks in the Iberian empires. These letters were partially published by José Barreto (1986) and J. S. Silva Dias (1983).
PBA. 683: records on a plea against Jacob de Castro Sarmento for nonpayment of parish taxes in 1743.
PBA. 695: Pombal's late writings, namely his "Apologias" and "Inspecções", in which he evaluated the reforms he had implemented in Portugal during his government. In one of his "Inspecções", dedicated to Brazilian diamond mining and trade, Pombal reflects on the Jewish trade networks and their alleged control over the diamond business.
Other highlights of this collection are the following:
PBA. 484: "Racional Discurso sobre desacertos de Portugal" (Rational discourse on Portugal's mismatches), an anonymous reflection on the Inquisition proceedings and the discrimination against new Christians in Portugal written by a Portuguese author in Rome and directed to Frei José de Lencastre, the General Inquisitor.
PBA. 635: documentation on a legal dispute involving Portuguese Jews and New Christians from Brazil and London (Maria Aires de Pina and her relatives).
PBA. 641: a 17th-century copy of Felipe d'Austria's account of Jewish ceremonies given to the Inquisition in 1587 (original document in Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo, Conselho Geral do Santo Ofício, maço 7, n.º 2542).
PBA. 649: Documents related to the law that abolished the distinction between New and Old Christians in Portugal in 1773.
PBA. 656: Carvalho's letters on Portuguese trade and the Anglo-Portuguese alliance, which include his reflections on the intervention of Sephardic/Converso networks in the Iberian empires. These letters were partially published by José Barreto (1986) and J. S. Silva Dias (1983).
PBA. 683: records on a plea against Jacob de Castro Sarmento for nonpayment of parish taxes in 1743.
PBA. 695: Pombal's late writings, namely his "Apologias" and "Inspecções", in which he evaluated the reforms he had implemented in Portugal during his government. In one of his "Inspecções", dedicated to Brazilian diamond mining and trade, Pombal reflects on the Jewish trade networks and their alleged control over the diamond business.
Archival history
The Pombalina collection was acquired by the Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal from the Marquis of Pombal's heirs in a public auction in 1887. It is composed by the manuscript papers of Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo and his descendants.
Administrative / Biographical history
Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo (1699-1782) was born in Lisbon, in a noble family of modest means. In his youth, Carvalho studied Law at the University of Coimbra and served in the army before being appointed envoy extraordinary of the Portuguese crown to the court of London in 1738. During his time in England, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. Between 1745 and 1749, he served as envoy extraordinary in Vienna. After the death of King João V and the ascension of José I to the throne, Carvalho was promoted to Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs and War. In 1755, King José appointed him Secretary of State of Home Affairs. In the same year, the Great Earthquake, on November 1st, became an opportunity for Carvalho to reveal his leadership and strategic competencies. In the following years, Carvalho implemented economic and social reforms that profoundly changed the kingdom: the abolition of slavery in Portugal, the end of the public autos-da-fé and the distinction between New and Old Christians, the expulsion of the Jesuits, the reform of the University of Coimbra, the reorganisation of the army and the navy, the creation of commercial companies, and the development of the industry. Therefore, Carvalho became a reformer, responsible for modernising the administrative, economic, and ecclesiastical institutions and centralising the power in the crown. King José rewarded him with aristocratic titles: in 1759, Carvalho became the first Count of Oeiras and, later, in 1770, the first Marquis of Pombal - the title that would immortalise him.
The death of José I in 1777 represented a turning point in Pombal's political career. His reforms had attracted strong opposition in some sectors of Portuguese society, who, with the ascension of Queen Maria I to the throne, gained strength. The queen removed Pombal from his political offices. Despite his efforts to defend his position and policies, Pombal was forced to leave Lisbon and take refuge in his estate at Pombal, where he died on May 11, 1782. His remains were transferred to the Igreja da Memória, in Lisbon, in 1923.
The death of José I in 1777 represented a turning point in Pombal's political career. His reforms had attracted strong opposition in some sectors of Portuguese society, who, with the ascension of Queen Maria I to the throne, gained strength. The queen removed Pombal from his political offices. Despite his efforts to defend his position and policies, Pombal was forced to leave Lisbon and take refuge in his estate at Pombal, where he died on May 11, 1782. His remains were transferred to the Igreja da Memória, in Lisbon, in 1923.
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: corporate bodies
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
Records are arranged sequentially.
Access, restrictions
Part of the collection is digitalised and available online.
Finding aids
Existence and location of originals
The original Felipe d'Áustria's account (PBA. 641) is in Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo, Conselho Geral do Santo Ofício, maço 7, n.º 2542.
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2021
Bibliography
Published primary sources
Linked resources
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Fundo Rivara | Existence and location of copies |
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal | Collections (official language of the state) |