Feitos da Coroa
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/FC
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Crown deeds
Title (official language of the state)
Feitos da Coroa
Language of title
por
Creator / accumulator
Arquivo da Casa da Coroa / Arquivo Nacional Torre do Tombo
Date(s)
1081/1801
Language(s)
lat
por
Extent
271 storage units (269 books and 12 files)
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Good
Scope and content
The Feitos da Coroa fonds gathers documentary series stored in the Arquivo da Casa da Coroa related to the activity of the so-called "juiz dos feitos da Coroa" (judge of the Crown's deeds) or "juiz dos feitos dos forais e dos direitos reais" (judge of the city charters and royal rights). This magistrate was responsible for the examination and judgement of affairs related to royal privileges, granting of charters and demarcation of the Crown's properties, mainly during the Medieval period. Therefore, the fonds includes charters, inquiries, royal sentences, inventories and other documentation concerning the royal patronage and royal chantries.
It is organised into seven series: 1) Forais (forals and related document, including 163 items); 2) Inquirições gerais (General inquiries) containing 24 books of inquiries ordered by kings Afonso II, Afonso II, Dinis and Afonso IV to ascertain the status of their assets, proprieties and jurisdictions); 3) Inquirições particulares (Particular inquiries, including eight documents); 4) Sentenças sobre direitos reais (Sentences about royal rights, containing one book and 4fourfiles); 5) Tombos e demarcações (Inventories and demarcations, gathering 61 books of propriety records, with its characteristics, number of residents, incomes, areas and limits, etc); 6) Padroado Real (Royal Patronage, with one book listing the churches and monasteries with royal patronage in Braga, Valença, Chaves, Vila Real and Torre de Moncorvo); and 7) "Capelas da coroa" (Crown chantries, comprising 10 books).
The Inquirições gerais and Tombos e demarcações series, in particular, contain documents with information related to the Medieval Jewish communities in Portugal. It is the case of the following records:
PT/TT/FC/002/4: the first book of “Inquirições” (inquiries) of King Afonso III, which includes the copy of a protection letter given by Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, to the Muslims of Lisbon, Almada, Palmela and Alcácer do Sal in 1170. This letter contains the first written evidence that confirms the existence of a Jewish community in Lisbon at the time.
PT/TT/FC/005/272: "Tombo das capelas, confrarias, hospitals e gafarias existentes na vila e comarca de Guimarães" (Inventory of the chantries, brotherhoods and hospitals in the town and district of Guimarães), dating from 1498-99, which includes records with information regarding the location of the "judiaria" (Jewish quarter) of Guimarães (fols. 41, 43, 132-135v, etc.).
PT/TT/FC/005/274: "Tombos das capelas, hospitais e albergarias de Santarém" (Inventory of chantries, hospitals and hostels in Santarém), dating from 1492 to 1506 and containing property records related to the local Jewish community.
PT/TT/FC/005/275: "Tombo dos bens e propriedades do concelho, das capelas, confrarias, hospitals e gafarias de Torres Novas" (Inventory of the assets and estates, chantries, brotherhoods and hospitals of the municipality of Torres Novas), dating from 1502 to 1515, which contains documentary evidence on the former Jewish community of Torres Novas.
PT/TT/FC/005/305: “Tombo dos bens móveis e de raiz em Lisboa e comarca da Estremadura tomados pela coroa aos cristãos-novos e doados pelo rei ao Hospital de Todos-os-Santos” (Inventory of the assets and estates in the district of Estremadura and Lisbon that were taken from New Christians and donated by the Crown to the Hospital of Todos-os-Santos), dating from 1507. Digital copies of this unit and the previous ones are available on the Torre do Tombo online database.
PT/TT/FC/003/510A: royal inquiry on the owners of buildings in Ponte de Lima in 1412, which includes mentions to some Jewish residents, in particular in Rua da Judiaria (Jewish quarter street). This document was published by Amélia Aguiar Andrade (1990).
It is organised into seven series: 1) Forais (forals and related document, including 163 items); 2) Inquirições gerais (General inquiries) containing 24 books of inquiries ordered by kings Afonso II, Afonso II, Dinis and Afonso IV to ascertain the status of their assets, proprieties and jurisdictions); 3) Inquirições particulares (Particular inquiries, including eight documents); 4) Sentenças sobre direitos reais (Sentences about royal rights, containing one book and 4fourfiles); 5) Tombos e demarcações (Inventories and demarcations, gathering 61 books of propriety records, with its characteristics, number of residents, incomes, areas and limits, etc); 6) Padroado Real (Royal Patronage, with one book listing the churches and monasteries with royal patronage in Braga, Valença, Chaves, Vila Real and Torre de Moncorvo); and 7) "Capelas da coroa" (Crown chantries, comprising 10 books).
The Inquirições gerais and Tombos e demarcações series, in particular, contain documents with information related to the Medieval Jewish communities in Portugal. It is the case of the following records:
PT/TT/FC/002/4: the first book of “Inquirições” (inquiries) of King Afonso III, which includes the copy of a protection letter given by Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, to the Muslims of Lisbon, Almada, Palmela and Alcácer do Sal in 1170. This letter contains the first written evidence that confirms the existence of a Jewish community in Lisbon at the time.
PT/TT/FC/005/272: "Tombo das capelas, confrarias, hospitals e gafarias existentes na vila e comarca de Guimarães" (Inventory of the chantries, brotherhoods and hospitals in the town and district of Guimarães), dating from 1498-99, which includes records with information regarding the location of the "judiaria" (Jewish quarter) of Guimarães (fols. 41, 43, 132-135v, etc.).
PT/TT/FC/005/274: "Tombos das capelas, hospitais e albergarias de Santarém" (Inventory of chantries, hospitals and hostels in Santarém), dating from 1492 to 1506 and containing property records related to the local Jewish community.
PT/TT/FC/005/275: "Tombo dos bens e propriedades do concelho, das capelas, confrarias, hospitals e gafarias de Torres Novas" (Inventory of the assets and estates, chantries, brotherhoods and hospitals of the municipality of Torres Novas), dating from 1502 to 1515, which contains documentary evidence on the former Jewish community of Torres Novas.
PT/TT/FC/005/305: “Tombo dos bens móveis e de raiz em Lisboa e comarca da Estremadura tomados pela coroa aos cristãos-novos e doados pelo rei ao Hospital de Todos-os-Santos” (Inventory of the assets and estates in the district of Estremadura and Lisbon that were taken from New Christians and donated by the Crown to the Hospital of Todos-os-Santos), dating from 1507. Digital copies of this unit and the previous ones are available on the Torre do Tombo online database.
PT/TT/FC/003/510A: royal inquiry on the owners of buildings in Ponte de Lima in 1412, which includes mentions to some Jewish residents, in particular in Rua da Judiaria (Jewish quarter street). This document was published by Amélia Aguiar Andrade (1990).
Archival history
The history of this fonds and its records can be traced back to the origins of the National Archive of Torre do Tombo. The first records followed the royal court all along its itinerancy, but the most important ones were stored in monasteries, such as Santa Cruz of Coimbra, Alcobaça, Lorvão or Arouca. It was only in the 14th century that the archive gained its physical headquarters in the Castle of São Jorge in Lisbon.
In the 18th century, the “guarda-mor” (chief warden) of the Torre do Tombo, João Pereira Ramos de Azeredo Countinho, organised an inventory of the archive’s collection, which was divided into six parts. Almost two centuries later, between 1950 and 1960, the director of the National Archive of Torre do Tombo, João Martins da Silva Marques, numbered the records of the fifth part of the inventory and named it Diversas Matérias (Diverse matters), which led to the creation of the Núcleo Antigo fonds. This fonds was dismantled at the beginning of the 21st century and gave rise to the Feitos da Coroa fonds, which gathered the records related to the “juiz dos feitos da Coroa”.
In the 18th century, the “guarda-mor” (chief warden) of the Torre do Tombo, João Pereira Ramos de Azeredo Countinho, organised an inventory of the archive’s collection, which was divided into six parts. Almost two centuries later, between 1950 and 1960, the director of the National Archive of Torre do Tombo, João Martins da Silva Marques, numbered the records of the fifth part of the inventory and named it Diversas Matérias (Diverse matters), which led to the creation of the Núcleo Antigo fonds. This fonds was dismantled at the beginning of the 21st century and gave rise to the Feitos da Coroa fonds, which gathered the records related to the “juiz dos feitos da Coroa”.
Administrative / Biographical history
The Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo is one of Portugal's oldest institutions. Its origins go back at least to the 14th century. The royal documents used to follow the itinerant medieval court, with only the most important documents being held at different monasteries. Once the court established itself in Lisbon, so did the royal archives. The first documental reference to a set location is from 1378. The archive was kept in one of the towers of São Jorge Castle, hence its name Torre do Tombo (Tower of the Archive). The "guarda-mor" (high-guardian) was responsible for its safekeeping.
Until 1755, the Torre do Tombo functioned as the Crown's archive, serving the king's administration and granting certificates to institutions and individuals. The oldest record reporting its organisation and content is from 1526: a letter from Tomé Lopes to King João III that mentions 149 books of Chancellery records and 47 of the so-called Leitura Nova (a compilation of copies of old documents ordered by King Manuel I).
In the 16th century, with the growing centralisation and the greater strength and complexity of the State, Torre do Tombo became a real State archive. Monarchs took notice of the archive, as they understood the importance of the relation between information and power. Some documents from other areas of the central administration were incorporated into the archive. Torre do Tombo became a reference, even serving as an example to Philip II of Spain when regulating the Archive of Simancas.
The first indexes of the archive were created during the 17th and 18th centuries, as the interest in these documents increased and their reorganisation was ongoing. A 1702 index, most likely created by João Duarte Lisboa, responsible for the archive’s reformation, reveals that, in 1656, the archive was arranged in 15 “armários” (cabinets). Twenty years later, the archive had five more “armários”.
In 1755, the tower of the castle was destroyed in the Great Earthquake. The documents were then temporarily saved in a woodshed and, two years later, partly transferred to the monastery of São Bento da Saúde in Lisbon. The papers were then reorganised, and several copies were made. The new organisation did not follow the old methods; instead, it followed the logic of the enlightened 18th century, favouring a methodical and chronological order. The confusion between sections, series, collections, and fonds is noticeable, and the archive's organic structure was unclear, which certainly illustrated how the Crown's institutions were arranged and functioned. Many documents were lost in this new reorganisation and, even with the information given by the indexes, the original structure is still somewhat unclear.
The 18th century also brought a new way of looking at history and a new value to these documents. That explains the incorporation of the Society of Jesus' records in 1768, following the expulsion of the Jesuits from Portugal. It was one of the first examples of the incorporation in the Crown's archives of documents produced by other institutions. After the Liberal Revolution, these incorporations became customary, collecting records of old courts and religious corporations. In 1823, the royal archive changed its name to Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo (National Archive of Torre do Tombo), making it clear that it was not only an archive of the Crown but of the whole nation. However, there was no active will or ability to enable its access and to explore its documents, as the focus was only on their compilation.
The beginning of the 20th century and the establishment of the Republic in 1911 did not bring many new developments, as well as the dictatorship (1926-1974). In the 1950s, an effort was made by the director, João Martins da Silva Marques, to reorganise the documentation, leading to the creation of the Núcleo Antigo (Old Core) collection. Throughout the 20th century, many collections and documents were added to the archive, coming from different public and private institutions.
In 1990, the archives moved to a new building made specifically for that purpose, where they are still located today. In more recent years, part of the fonds and collections were rearranged to match the original organisation. For instance, the Núcleo Antigo was disassembled, creating new fonds and collections, and incorporating other documents into already existing ones.
Until 1755, the Torre do Tombo functioned as the Crown's archive, serving the king's administration and granting certificates to institutions and individuals. The oldest record reporting its organisation and content is from 1526: a letter from Tomé Lopes to King João III that mentions 149 books of Chancellery records and 47 of the so-called Leitura Nova (a compilation of copies of old documents ordered by King Manuel I).
In the 16th century, with the growing centralisation and the greater strength and complexity of the State, Torre do Tombo became a real State archive. Monarchs took notice of the archive, as they understood the importance of the relation between information and power. Some documents from other areas of the central administration were incorporated into the archive. Torre do Tombo became a reference, even serving as an example to Philip II of Spain when regulating the Archive of Simancas.
The first indexes of the archive were created during the 17th and 18th centuries, as the interest in these documents increased and their reorganisation was ongoing. A 1702 index, most likely created by João Duarte Lisboa, responsible for the archive’s reformation, reveals that, in 1656, the archive was arranged in 15 “armários” (cabinets). Twenty years later, the archive had five more “armários”.
In 1755, the tower of the castle was destroyed in the Great Earthquake. The documents were then temporarily saved in a woodshed and, two years later, partly transferred to the monastery of São Bento da Saúde in Lisbon. The papers were then reorganised, and several copies were made. The new organisation did not follow the old methods; instead, it followed the logic of the enlightened 18th century, favouring a methodical and chronological order. The confusion between sections, series, collections, and fonds is noticeable, and the archive's organic structure was unclear, which certainly illustrated how the Crown's institutions were arranged and functioned. Many documents were lost in this new reorganisation and, even with the information given by the indexes, the original structure is still somewhat unclear.
The 18th century also brought a new way of looking at history and a new value to these documents. That explains the incorporation of the Society of Jesus' records in 1768, following the expulsion of the Jesuits from Portugal. It was one of the first examples of the incorporation in the Crown's archives of documents produced by other institutions. After the Liberal Revolution, these incorporations became customary, collecting records of old courts and religious corporations. In 1823, the royal archive changed its name to Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo (National Archive of Torre do Tombo), making it clear that it was not only an archive of the Crown but of the whole nation. However, there was no active will or ability to enable its access and to explore its documents, as the focus was only on their compilation.
The beginning of the 20th century and the establishment of the Republic in 1911 did not bring many new developments, as well as the dictatorship (1926-1974). In the 1950s, an effort was made by the director, João Martins da Silva Marques, to reorganise the documentation, leading to the creation of the Núcleo Antigo (Old Core) collection. Throughout the 20th century, many collections and documents were added to the archive, coming from different public and private institutions.
In 1990, the archives moved to a new building made specifically for that purpose, where they are still located today. In more recent years, part of the fonds and collections were rearranged to match the original organisation. For instance, the Núcleo Antigo was disassembled, creating new fonds and collections, and incorporating other documents into already existing ones.
Access points: locations
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The fonds is divided into seven series, each one with its specific numbering.
Access, restrictions
Some documents are available online. The originals of these documents are not available for consultation. To have access to some other records, permission is needed, and only during a restricted time.
Finding aids
Links to finding aids
Existence and location of copies
Existence and location of originals
Bibliography
Published primary sources
Linked resources
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo | Collections (official language of the state) |