Ordem de Avis e Convento de São Bento de Avis
Item
Country
PT
Name of institution (English)
The National Archive of Torre do Tombo
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
por
Contact information: postal address
Alameda da Universidade, 1649-010 Lisbon
Contact information: phone number
00351 210037100
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
mail@dglab.gov.pt
Reference number
PT/TT/OACSB
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Order of Avis and Convent of São Bento of Avis
Title (official language of the state)
Ordem de Avis e Convento de São Bento de Avis
Language of title
por
Creator / accumulator
Convento de São Bento de Avis
Ordem de Avis
Date(s)
1215/1837
Language(s)
lat
por
Extent
36 books and 21 bundles
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Good
Scope and content
This fonds contains records from the Ordem de Avis (the common name of the Military Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz) in Portugal and from the Convent of São Bento de Avis, including documents regarding the churches of the Order, the Collegiate of São João Baptista de Coruche, letters of donation and privileges, copies of papal bulls, sentences, "alvarás" (licenses), "mercês" (favours), chancellery records, decrees, regulations, burial records, etc. The records are divided into six sections (each one with its own series) and one independent series divided into "maços" (bundles). The sections are the following: Regulamentos e Constituições (Regulations and constitutions), Orgãos dirigentes (Governing bodies), Comunidade (Community), Administração eclesiástica (Ecclesiastic administration), Património (Patrimony), Administração patrimonial (Administration of assets), Obras e inventários (Works and inventories), and Funções culturais (Cultural functions). The independent series gathers documents regarding the administration of assets, institutions of chantries and churches, donations, etc.
The oldest records of this fonds contain some scattered references to the Jewish minority in Portugal before the late 15th-century expulsion. Some examples are the following:
PT/TT/OACSB/001/0002/00210: sale of three stores next to the gate of the "judiaria" (Jewish quarter) of Lisbon. August 16, 1300.
PT/TT/OACSB/001/0008/00727: "emprazamento" (emphyteusis contract) of a vineyard in Valada, Santarém, owned by the Order of Aviz to Necim, a Jewish shoemaker, and his wife. December 29, 1410.
PT/TT/OACSB/001/0009/00798: "emprazamento" of houses in Santarém owned by the Order of Aviz. In this deed, one of the proctors of the Master of the Order was a Jew named Mestre Isaac. February 1411.
PT/TT/OACSB/001/0010/00855: lease contract of a plot of land in Lumiar, in the outskirts of Lisbon, between the Master of the Order of Aviz and a Jew named Moussem Amarilho. August 29, 1459.
PT/TT/OACSB/001/0010/00859: sentence from King João I against Moisem Çoffer and his wife Lidiça, concerning some houses in the Jewish quarter of Vila Viçosa. The houses had been leased to Çofer's grandfather, Moisem Galego. July 3, 1421.
PT/TT/OACSB/001/0010/00896: letter of sale and purchase of the synagogue and butchery of the Jews of Serpa at the time of their expulsion (1497-1502).
Digital copies of these and other documents from this fonds are available online.
The oldest records of this fonds contain some scattered references to the Jewish minority in Portugal before the late 15th-century expulsion. Some examples are the following:
PT/TT/OACSB/001/0002/00210: sale of three stores next to the gate of the "judiaria" (Jewish quarter) of Lisbon. August 16, 1300.
PT/TT/OACSB/001/0008/00727: "emprazamento" (emphyteusis contract) of a vineyard in Valada, Santarém, owned by the Order of Aviz to Necim, a Jewish shoemaker, and his wife. December 29, 1410.
PT/TT/OACSB/001/0009/00798: "emprazamento" of houses in Santarém owned by the Order of Aviz. In this deed, one of the proctors of the Master of the Order was a Jew named Mestre Isaac. February 1411.
PT/TT/OACSB/001/0010/00855: lease contract of a plot of land in Lumiar, in the outskirts of Lisbon, between the Master of the Order of Aviz and a Jew named Moussem Amarilho. August 29, 1459.
PT/TT/OACSB/001/0010/00859: sentence from King João I against Moisem Çoffer and his wife Lidiça, concerning some houses in the Jewish quarter of Vila Viçosa. The houses had been leased to Çofer's grandfather, Moisem Galego. July 3, 1421.
PT/TT/OACSB/001/0010/00896: letter of sale and purchase of the synagogue and butchery of the Jews of Serpa at the time of their expulsion (1497-1502).
Digital copies of these and other documents from this fonds are available online.
Archival history
Between 1791 and 1792, the 42 chancellery books of the Order of Aviz, also known as "livros de registo" (record books) or "chancelarias antigas" (old chancelleries), were sent to the Torre do Tombo by the Mesa da Consciência e Ordens (Board of Consciousness and Orders), following an order of the Conselho da Fazenda (Treasure Council). These books include records dated from the 16th century.
In 1826, the clerk of the Order of Aviz sent 21 books to the Torre do Tombo: 13 from the chancellery of the Order of Christ and eight from the chancellery of the Order of Aviz. The archive received more books from chancelleries of different military orders in 1833, including the Order of Aviz.
After the extinction of the military orders in 1834, part of their records ended up being transferred to the Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal (National Library). These records were only transferred to the Torre do Tombo in 1912. The records of the Convent of São Bento de Avis were held in the Secretariat of the Civil Government of Portalegre after its extinction in 1834. In 1850, they were moved to the Treasury Department of the district of Portalegre. Eleven years later, they entered the Torre do Tombo: a total of two large boxes with 12 volumes of documents dated prior to 1600.
In 1826, the clerk of the Order of Aviz sent 21 books to the Torre do Tombo: 13 from the chancellery of the Order of Christ and eight from the chancellery of the Order of Aviz. The archive received more books from chancelleries of different military orders in 1833, including the Order of Aviz.
After the extinction of the military orders in 1834, part of their records ended up being transferred to the Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal (National Library). These records were only transferred to the Torre do Tombo in 1912. The records of the Convent of São Bento de Avis were held in the Secretariat of the Civil Government of Portalegre after its extinction in 1834. In 1850, they were moved to the Treasury Department of the district of Portalegre. Eleven years later, they entered the Torre do Tombo: a total of two large boxes with 12 volumes of documents dated prior to 1600.
Administrative / Biographical history
Military orders were created in Portugal by virtue of the so-called "Reconquista" (Christian conquest of the Iberian Peninsula to the Muslims), in order to aid the military campaigns. In this context, the Order of Calatrava was established in 1158, with the approval of King Sancho III of Castille. Their members followed the rule of Saint Benedict and the regulations of the Order of Cistercians.
The Portuguese branch of this Order followed the conquest of Évora, when King Afonso Henriques gave the city to the friars who helped the annexation. They received the rule and regulations of the Order of Calatrava, and started to be known as the Freires de Évora (Friars of Évora) or the Milícia de Évora (Militia of Évora). In the 13th century, its headquarter moved to Avis. Their Convent was erected during the first half of the century.
Around 1363, King Pedro I granted the title of Master to his bastard son D. João, who would later become King João I of Portugal. Therefore, João I became also known as Master of Aviz. D. João separated the Milícia de Avis from the Order of Calatrava and instituted an autonomous order, under the control of the king: the Ordem de São Bento de Avis (Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz or simply Order of Aviz). Its first statutes date from 1412.
The Order of Aviz, as other military orders, played an essential role in the Portuguese overseas expansion. It became one of the most influential orders in the kingdom. The title of Master was always preserved within the royal family, and only nobility could join the Order. In 1551, a bull by Pope Julius III confirmed the annexation in perpetuum of the masters of other military orders to the Crown, except the Priory of Crato.
In the 17th century, the Convent of São Bento de Avis underwent various modifications and extensions. For instance, a new cloister and a new dormitory were added. Then, the original configuration of the building practically disappeared.
In 1789, at a time when religious orders were in their downfall, Queen Maria and Pope Pius VI tried to reform the Order of Aviz, but the result was its secularisation. In 1834, with the new Liberal regime, the Order was extinguished but later rose again as an honorific Order. Part of the building and assets of the Convent was sold to privates, and another part was acquired by the municipality of Avis.
The Portuguese branch of this Order followed the conquest of Évora, when King Afonso Henriques gave the city to the friars who helped the annexation. They received the rule and regulations of the Order of Calatrava, and started to be known as the Freires de Évora (Friars of Évora) or the Milícia de Évora (Militia of Évora). In the 13th century, its headquarter moved to Avis. Their Convent was erected during the first half of the century.
Around 1363, King Pedro I granted the title of Master to his bastard son D. João, who would later become King João I of Portugal. Therefore, João I became also known as Master of Aviz. D. João separated the Milícia de Avis from the Order of Calatrava and instituted an autonomous order, under the control of the king: the Ordem de São Bento de Avis (Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz or simply Order of Aviz). Its first statutes date from 1412.
The Order of Aviz, as other military orders, played an essential role in the Portuguese overseas expansion. It became one of the most influential orders in the kingdom. The title of Master was always preserved within the royal family, and only nobility could join the Order. In 1551, a bull by Pope Julius III confirmed the annexation in perpetuum of the masters of other military orders to the Crown, except the Priory of Crato.
In the 17th century, the Convent of São Bento de Avis underwent various modifications and extensions. For instance, a new cloister and a new dormitory were added. Then, the original configuration of the building practically disappeared.
In 1789, at a time when religious orders were in their downfall, Queen Maria and Pope Pius VI tried to reform the Order of Aviz, but the result was its secularisation. In 1834, with the new Liberal regime, the Order was extinguished but later rose again as an honorific Order. Part of the building and assets of the Convent was sold to privates, and another part was acquired by the municipality of Avis.
Sources:
Access points: locations
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The fonds is organised according to functional classes. The books of the old chancelleries of D. Maria I, D. João VI, D. Pedro IV, Infanta D. Maria and D. Miguel have a specific numbering.
Access, restrictions
Some documents need authorisation to be seen and under a restricted schedule. Digital copies of some documents are available online. The originals of those documents are not available for consultation.
Finding aids
Unpublished finding aids:
"Catálogos dos documentos da Ordem de Avis vindos da Repartição de Finanças de Portalegre" (Catalogues of documents from the Order of Avis that came from the Tax Office of Portalegre). 1951-1956. (C 638 and C 643).
"Índices alfabéticos dos 42 livros da Chancelaria Antiga da Ordem de São Bento de Avis, Próprios" (Alphabetical index of the 42 books of the Old Chancellery of the Order of Avis. Individuals), with annotations by Francisco Nunes Franklin, January 1, 1820. (L 385-387).
"Índice alfabético dos 42 livros da Chancelaria Antiga da Ordem de São Bento de Avis, topónimos e nomes comuns" (Alphabetical index of the 42 books of the Old Chancellery of the Order of Avis. Places and commons), with annotations by Francisco Nunes Franklin. (L 388-390).
"Índice da Chancelaria da Ordem de Avis, do reinado de D. Maria I, próprios e comuns" (Index of the Chancellery of the Order of Avis during the reign of Queen MariaI. Individuals and commons). (L 391).
"Índice da Chancelaria da Ordem de Cristo, Avis, São Tiago, Torre Espada e Conceição, do reinado de D. Pedro IV, próprios e comuns" (Index of the Chancellery of the Orders of Avis, Cristo, São Tiago, Torre Espada and Conceição, during the reign of King Pedro IV. Individuals and commons). (L 435).
"Índice da Chancelaria da Ordem de São Bento de Avis, do reinado de D. João VI, próprios e comuns" (Index of the Chancellery of the Order of São Bento de Avis during the reign of King João VI. Individuals and commons). (L 392).
"Índice das habilitações da Ordem de Avis" (Index of applications to the Order of Avis). (C 644-648).
"Inventário do cartório da Ordem de Avis" (Inventory of the registry of the Order of Avis).
"Inventário dos cartórios recolhidos da Biblioteca Nacional em 1912" (Inventory of the registries collected by the Biblioteca Nacional in 1912). (L 283).
"Índice dos documentos dos "Papeis Diversos"da Ordem de Avis" (Index of documents of "Papeis Diversos" (Miscellaneous records) of the Order of Avis). (C 649-653).
"Inventário de documentos relativos aos freires da Ordem de Avis existentes no Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo, organizado cronologicamente" (Inventory of documents related to the friars of the Order of Avis in the Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo, chronologically organised). (L 578).
"Índice (inventário) dos livros de diversos conventos, ordens militares e outras corporações religiosas guardadas no Arquivo da Torre do Tombo, conventos diversos, caderneta 1" (Ajuda a Avis) (Index and inventory of books from various convents, military orders and other religious institutions in Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo, diverse convents, booklet 1: Ajuda to Avis). (C 268).
Published finding aids:
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Inês de Sá, 2021
Bibliography
Published primary sources
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