Cabido da Sé de Coimbra
Item
Country
PT
Name of institution (English)
University of Coimbra Archive
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
por
Contact information: postal address
Rua de S. Pedro 2, 3000-370 Coimbra
Contact information: phone number
00351 239 859 855
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
auc-geral@auc.uc.pt
Reference number
PT/AUC/DIO/CSCBR
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Cathedral Chapter of Coimbra
Title (official language of the state)
Cabido da Sé de Coimbra
Language of title
por
Creator / accumulator
Cabido da Sé de Coimbra
Date(s)
1227/1879
Language(s)
lat
por
Extent
46 boxes, 1941 books, 24 bundles, 19 folders and 25 reels
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Satisfactory
Scope and content
The Cabido da Sé de Coimbra fonds includes documents related to or produced by the Cathedral Chapter of Coimbra, including records on its liturgical activity and estate administration, by-laws, ledgers, inventories of properties, copies of royal letters, etc. It also contains a collection of parchments (465 documents) with sentences, deeds, emphyteusis and sale contracts, papal documents, etc.
Here are some examples of documents where one can find references to the Jewish community of Coimbra and other localities under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Coimbra.
AUC- III-1.ªD-5-4-10, AUC- III-1.ªD-5-4-11, AUC- III-1.ªD-5-4-12, AUC- III-1.ªD-5-4-13 and AUC- III-1.ªD-5-4-14: "Cópia de documentos latinos" (Copies of Latin documents), a collection of Medieval records in Latin, which may contain references to the "judiaria" (Jewish quarter) and the Jewish community of Coimbra.
III-1.ªD-3-4-16 and III-1.ªD-3-4-17: Eighteenth-century copy of the "Livro Preto", the cartulary of the Cathedral of Coimbra, which contains mentions of the early settlement of Jews living in the area of the diocese of Coimbra. For instance, a deed of sale (doc. 492) of a parcel of land on June 15, 1099, refers to the locality of Enxofães (at present, in the municipality of Cantanhede) as being a "village of Jews" ("villa de Suffenes, qui est de illos hebreos"). In another document (no. 576) from June 16, 1145, in which the Council of Coimbra, with the support of King Afonso Henriques, updated the customary law regarding the city of Coimbra, Jews are mentioned as being involved in tanning and shoemaking activities.
Here are some examples of documents where one can find references to the Jewish community of Coimbra and other localities under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Coimbra.
AUC- III-1.ªD-5-4-10, AUC- III-1.ªD-5-4-11, AUC- III-1.ªD-5-4-12, AUC- III-1.ªD-5-4-13 and AUC- III-1.ªD-5-4-14: "Cópia de documentos latinos" (Copies of Latin documents), a collection of Medieval records in Latin, which may contain references to the "judiaria" (Jewish quarter) and the Jewish community of Coimbra.
III-1.ªD-3-4-16 and III-1.ªD-3-4-17: Eighteenth-century copy of the "Livro Preto", the cartulary of the Cathedral of Coimbra, which contains mentions of the early settlement of Jews living in the area of the diocese of Coimbra. For instance, a deed of sale (doc. 492) of a parcel of land on June 15, 1099, refers to the locality of Enxofães (at present, in the municipality of Cantanhede) as being a "village of Jews" ("villa de Suffenes, qui est de illos hebreos"). In another document (no. 576) from June 16, 1145, in which the Council of Coimbra, with the support of King Afonso Henriques, updated the customary law regarding the city of Coimbra, Jews are mentioned as being involved in tanning and shoemaking activities.
Archival history
In September 1863, most of the Cathedral Chapter of Coimbra's collection was transferred to the Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo. This transference followed the decree of October 2, 1862, which determined that the National Archives should incorporate all the documentation of Portuguese institutions dated before 1834, as well as the collections of extinct churches and religious organisations. Another part of the Cathedral Chapter's archive was incorporated in the Arquivo da Universidade de Coimbra's collection between 1917 and 1921.
We would like to thank Ana Maria Leitão Bandeira for the information regarding the incorporation of this fonds in the Arquivo da Universidade de Coimbra.
We would like to thank Ana Maria Leitão Bandeira for the information regarding the incorporation of this fonds in the Arquivo da Universidade de Coimbra.
Administrative / Biographical history
The Cabido da Sé (Cathedral Chapter) of Coimbra was a corporation or community of ecclesiastics who advised the bishop on the governance of the diocese. Its foundation is traditionally dated from 1086, but it is possible that the Cathedral Chapter already existed before. Its constitution was driven by Bishop D. Paterno, who assumed the bishopric of Coimbra in 1080.
The bull "Apostolicae sedis" on March 23, 1102, bestowed the administration of the dioceses of Viseu and Lamego on the Cathedral of Coimbra. The Bishop of Coimbra remained to head both dioceses until 1147.
Originally, the Cathedral Chapter of Coimbra was led by a "prepositus" or a prior, and canons lived in a community following the rule of St. Augustine. The Chapter was then composed of about ten canons. During the 12th century, the canons tended to leave the community life, and their number increased. At the beginning of the 12th century, they were already 30.
The Chapter also refined its hierarchisation over the 12th and 13th centuries. It became headed by a dean. Other dignities were the cantor, the "mestre-escola" (schoolmaster), the chief treasurer, and four archdeacons. A "cónego magistral" (master canon) was a doctor of Theology, and a "cónego doutoral" (doctor canon) had, at least, a degree in Canon Law. Another four canons also had the responsibility of teaching in the Seminary of Coimbra.
The diocese of Coimbra's income and estates were divided into two "mesas" (boards): two-thirds to the "Mitra Episcopal" (Episcopal board) and the one-third to the "Mesa Capitular" (Cathedral Chapter board). Therefore, the Chapter administered an extensive patrimony composed of donations by the Crown, the bishop and private donors. A prebendary managed the Chapter's estates and distributed their incomes among the Chapter's members.
In 1455, vicar general Afonso Vicente compiled the documents related to the responsibilities and rights of each class of ecclesiastics of the Cathedral of Coimbra and gave rise to the first statutes of the Chapter. Bishop D. João Soares granted new regulations in 1571, which remained until the 18th century with only a few updates. In 1741, the Chapter received new statutes by the initiative of Bishop D. Miguel da Anunciação.
The bull "Apostolicae sedis" on March 23, 1102, bestowed the administration of the dioceses of Viseu and Lamego on the Cathedral of Coimbra. The Bishop of Coimbra remained to head both dioceses until 1147.
Originally, the Cathedral Chapter of Coimbra was led by a "prepositus" or a prior, and canons lived in a community following the rule of St. Augustine. The Chapter was then composed of about ten canons. During the 12th century, the canons tended to leave the community life, and their number increased. At the beginning of the 12th century, they were already 30.
The Chapter also refined its hierarchisation over the 12th and 13th centuries. It became headed by a dean. Other dignities were the cantor, the "mestre-escola" (schoolmaster), the chief treasurer, and four archdeacons. A "cónego magistral" (master canon) was a doctor of Theology, and a "cónego doutoral" (doctor canon) had, at least, a degree in Canon Law. Another four canons also had the responsibility of teaching in the Seminary of Coimbra.
The diocese of Coimbra's income and estates were divided into two "mesas" (boards): two-thirds to the "Mitra Episcopal" (Episcopal board) and the one-third to the "Mesa Capitular" (Cathedral Chapter board). Therefore, the Chapter administered an extensive patrimony composed of donations by the Crown, the bishop and private donors. A prebendary managed the Chapter's estates and distributed their incomes among the Chapter's members.
In 1455, vicar general Afonso Vicente compiled the documents related to the responsibilities and rights of each class of ecclesiastics of the Cathedral of Coimbra and gave rise to the first statutes of the Chapter. Bishop D. João Soares granted new regulations in 1571, which remained until the 18th century with only a few updates. In 1741, the Chapter received new statutes by the initiative of Bishop D. Miguel da Anunciação.
Access points: locations
Access points: corporate bodies
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The fonds is organised into series, most of them with records chronologically arranged.
Finding aids
Pereira, Marcelino Rodrigues. "Catálogo de pergaminhos do Cabido da Sé de Coimbra". Coimbra: Arquivo da Universidade de Coimbra (Word file). Available for consultation in the archive.
Links to finding aids
Existence and location of originals
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2021
Published primary sources
Linked resources
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Arquivo da Universidade de Coimbra | Collections (official language of the state) |