Ordem de Santiago e Convento de Palmela
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
http://antt.dglab.gov.pt/contactos/
https://digitarq.arquivos.pt/
Contact information: email
mail@dglab.gov.pt
Reference number
PT/TT/OSCP
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Order of Santiago and Convent of Palmela
Title (official language of the state)
Ordem de Santiago e Convento de Palmela
Language of title
por
Creator / accumulator
Ordem de Santiago and Convento de Palmela
Date(s)
1184/1833
Language(s)
lat
por
Extent
361 books and 170 bundles
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Good
Scope and content
The Ordem de Santiago e Convento de Palmela fonds comprises documentation related to both the Order of Santiago and the Convent of Palmela, which was the headquarters of this military order in Portugal. The fonds contains records from the churches of the Order of Santiago, including property records, documents from the chancellery of the Order, papal bulls and briefs, annotations regarding negotiations with the Holy See, inventories of assets, budgets of the incomes of the Mastership of Santiago and Avis, privileges, donations, charters, regulations and byelaws, among others.
The fonds is organised into nine sections: A) regulations and constitutions (with 4 series: 1) papal bulls, regiments and privileges; 2) city charters; 3) royal orders; and 4) other royal documents; B) records related to the governing bodies (with 3 series: 1) decisions of the Cathedral Chapter; 2) Chancellery of the Master of the Order; and 3) “visitações” (visits); C) records related to the community of members (with 4 series: 1) “cartas de mercê” (letters of grace); 2) books of enrollment; 3) resignations; and 4) records of deaths); D) administration of the Order (with 3 series: 1) incomes and expenses; 2) chantries; and 3) Brotherhood of Nossa Senhora da Conceição); E) assets of the Order (with 4 series: 1) inventories of assets and incomes; 2) emphyteusis contracts; 3) ledgers; and 4) fragment; F) administration of the patrimony of the Order, with one series regarding incomes and expenses; G) secular jurisdiction (with 2 series); H) construction works and inventories (with 2 series); I) records related to the cultural activity of the Order (with 2 series: inventories of the archive and literary works). The fonds also includes two independent series: one gathering papal documents, regulations, wills, and other documentation mostly concerning assets and properties; and the other containing private documents.
The oldest records of the Ordem de Santiago e Convento de Palmela fonds include some scattered information on the Jewish communities in localities in the southern Tagus region, such as Palmela and Alcácer do Sal. Some examples are the following:
Livro (book) 357: deeds of properties belonging to the church of Santa Maria dos Mártires in Alcácer do Sal. It includes a deed of sale of houses outside the walls of Alcácer do Sal to Faim Caldeirão and his wife Ester. July 26, 1437 (fols. 5v-6). This document was published by Maria Teresa Lopes Pereira (2007).
Livro 358: deeds of properties of the Order in Alcácer do Sal in 1480. Some records mention Jewish residents in the Ribeira (the riverside area), where the "judiaria" (Jewish quarter) was located: Faim Mael (fol. 2), Lázaro (fol. 6v), Alcofinha (fol. 9).
Maço (bundle) 1, no. 24: letter of attorney given by Jamila, a Jewish woman, to her husband Moisés Vivas, to pay a house rent due to the Order of Santiago. The house was located in the Jewish quarter of Alcácer do Sal. Dated from 1426, this document is the oldest known evidence of the Jewish quarter of Alcácer do Sal.
Maço 1, no. 27: "aforamento" (emphyteusis contract) of houses in the Ribeira of Alcácer to Salomão Namias, a Jew, for 30 soldos per year. The houses were close by the house where a Jew named Lázaro lived. January 8, 1441.
Maço 1, no. 46: extract of the report of a "visitação" (visit) to churches in 1428, belonging to the Order of Santiago. It includes an instruction to Jews and Moors not to work on Sundays, except inside their homes. Another direction commanded that, in localities without "judiarias" or "mourarias" (Jewish and Muslim quarters), they should remain inside their homes whenever the blessed sacrament was transported or when there were processions through the streets.
Maço 2, no. 50: the Order of Santiago gives a "sesmaria" some "sapais" and a "lezíria" (marshlands) in Alcácer do Sal to Moisés Latão, "criado de El-Rei" (servant of the king). 1480.
The fonds also includes the chancellery records of the Orders of Santiago and Avis. The first book (PT/TT/OSCP/B/002/00001) contains the confirmation of José Moisés as the notary of the Jewish “comuna” (commune) of Alcácer do Sal by Prince D. João (future King João II) in 1478 (fol. 102v). After the expulsion of the Jews from Portugal, some Jewish converts were able to achieve high social status and enter military orders. It was the case of António de Paz, a New Christian who became a Knight of the Order of Avis by a provision given on 11 December, 1540 (PT/TT/OSCP/B/002/00003).
The fonds is organised into nine sections: A) regulations and constitutions (with 4 series: 1) papal bulls, regiments and privileges; 2) city charters; 3) royal orders; and 4) other royal documents; B) records related to the governing bodies (with 3 series: 1) decisions of the Cathedral Chapter; 2) Chancellery of the Master of the Order; and 3) “visitações” (visits); C) records related to the community of members (with 4 series: 1) “cartas de mercê” (letters of grace); 2) books of enrollment; 3) resignations; and 4) records of deaths); D) administration of the Order (with 3 series: 1) incomes and expenses; 2) chantries; and 3) Brotherhood of Nossa Senhora da Conceição); E) assets of the Order (with 4 series: 1) inventories of assets and incomes; 2) emphyteusis contracts; 3) ledgers; and 4) fragment; F) administration of the patrimony of the Order, with one series regarding incomes and expenses; G) secular jurisdiction (with 2 series); H) construction works and inventories (with 2 series); I) records related to the cultural activity of the Order (with 2 series: inventories of the archive and literary works). The fonds also includes two independent series: one gathering papal documents, regulations, wills, and other documentation mostly concerning assets and properties; and the other containing private documents.
The oldest records of the Ordem de Santiago e Convento de Palmela fonds include some scattered information on the Jewish communities in localities in the southern Tagus region, such as Palmela and Alcácer do Sal. Some examples are the following:
Livro (book) 357: deeds of properties belonging to the church of Santa Maria dos Mártires in Alcácer do Sal. It includes a deed of sale of houses outside the walls of Alcácer do Sal to Faim Caldeirão and his wife Ester. July 26, 1437 (fols. 5v-6). This document was published by Maria Teresa Lopes Pereira (2007).
Livro 358: deeds of properties of the Order in Alcácer do Sal in 1480. Some records mention Jewish residents in the Ribeira (the riverside area), where the "judiaria" (Jewish quarter) was located: Faim Mael (fol. 2), Lázaro (fol. 6v), Alcofinha (fol. 9).
Maço (bundle) 1, no. 24: letter of attorney given by Jamila, a Jewish woman, to her husband Moisés Vivas, to pay a house rent due to the Order of Santiago. The house was located in the Jewish quarter of Alcácer do Sal. Dated from 1426, this document is the oldest known evidence of the Jewish quarter of Alcácer do Sal.
Maço 1, no. 27: "aforamento" (emphyteusis contract) of houses in the Ribeira of Alcácer to Salomão Namias, a Jew, for 30 soldos per year. The houses were close by the house where a Jew named Lázaro lived. January 8, 1441.
Maço 1, no. 46: extract of the report of a "visitação" (visit) to churches in 1428, belonging to the Order of Santiago. It includes an instruction to Jews and Moors not to work on Sundays, except inside their homes. Another direction commanded that, in localities without "judiarias" or "mourarias" (Jewish and Muslim quarters), they should remain inside their homes whenever the blessed sacrament was transported or when there were processions through the streets.
Maço 2, no. 50: the Order of Santiago gives a "sesmaria" some "sapais" and a "lezíria" (marshlands) in Alcácer do Sal to Moisés Latão, "criado de El-Rei" (servant of the king). 1480.
The fonds also includes the chancellery records of the Orders of Santiago and Avis. The first book (PT/TT/OSCP/B/002/00001) contains the confirmation of José Moisés as the notary of the Jewish “comuna” (commune) of Alcácer do Sal by Prince D. João (future King João II) in 1478 (fol. 102v). After the expulsion of the Jews from Portugal, some Jewish converts were able to achieve high social status and enter military orders. It was the case of António de Paz, a New Christian who became a Knight of the Order of Avis by a provision given on 11 December, 1540 (PT/TT/OSCP/B/002/00003).
Archival history
Between 1791 and 1792, 38 books of the chancellery of the Order of Santiago were sent to the archive of Torre do Tombo. Another group of 17 books from the chancellery of the Order, corresponding to the reign of Maria I, entered the archive in 1820. The books from the reign of Pedro IV were delivered in 1833. Some documents from the Convent of Palmela entered the archive in 1883. At the time, it was noticed that some records were missing, while several others had not been sent. With the extinction of Military Orders, following the implementation of the Republic (1910), part of the remaining records was given to the Direcção Geral dos Próprios Nacionais (General Directorate of National Assets) and stored in the Biblioteca Nacional (National Library). In 1912, they were transferred to Torre do Tombo. Many books of the collection are truncated.
Administrative / Biographical history
The Order of Santiago started as a confraternity in Cáceres. It was created in 1170 under the patronage of the King of Léon, D. Fernando II. In the following year, the confraternity gained the patronage of the Archbishop of Santiago, hence its name, and attained military functions which led to its Iberian success.
The Order of Santiago da Espada was established in Portugal in 1172. Similar to other military orders, it had an important role during the “Reconquista” (Christian conquest of the Iberian Peninsula to the Muslims). The lands granted to the Order of Santiago were located in strategic locations in order to control Muslim assaults, plan attacks and create and foster settlements in the Setúbal Peninsula. In addition, by choosing an area far from the frontier with León, the Portuguese Crown made a strategic move in order to gain autonomy from the Castilian Order of Santiago.
The first years of the Order in Portugal were challenging due to the poor administration of the Portuguese convents. In 1288, with the support of King Dinis, a papal bull allowed the Portuguese branch to have its own Master and, thus, gain more independence from the Castile. The first city charters were given by the Order to Canha in 1235 and Setúbal in 1249. In 1236, the Order received the patronage of the Bishops of Palmela, Almada, Alcácer and Sesimbra. In 1452, a papal bull recognised the independence of the Portuguese branch of the Order from the Castilian one. After that, a convent was built in Palmela to become the main base of the Order. In 1551, the masterships of the military orders were put under the control of the Crown and started to be supervised by the Mesa da Consciência e Ordens (Board of Consciousness and Orders), a council constituted exactly for this purpose.
In 1789, Queen Maria I turned the Order of Santiago into an honorific order, whose titles were granted to those who served at the top of the judicial system. Later, her son, King Luís, changed the attribution of the title to those who excelled and contributed to the areas of Science, Humanities and Arts. The Order was extinguished with the implementation of the Republic in Portugal (1910), but it was re-established only a few years later, in 1918, as an honorific order.
The Order of Santiago da Espada was established in Portugal in 1172. Similar to other military orders, it had an important role during the “Reconquista” (Christian conquest of the Iberian Peninsula to the Muslims). The lands granted to the Order of Santiago were located in strategic locations in order to control Muslim assaults, plan attacks and create and foster settlements in the Setúbal Peninsula. In addition, by choosing an area far from the frontier with León, the Portuguese Crown made a strategic move in order to gain autonomy from the Castilian Order of Santiago.
The first years of the Order in Portugal were challenging due to the poor administration of the Portuguese convents. In 1288, with the support of King Dinis, a papal bull allowed the Portuguese branch to have its own Master and, thus, gain more independence from the Castile. The first city charters were given by the Order to Canha in 1235 and Setúbal in 1249. In 1236, the Order received the patronage of the Bishops of Palmela, Almada, Alcácer and Sesimbra. In 1452, a papal bull recognised the independence of the Portuguese branch of the Order from the Castilian one. After that, a convent was built in Palmela to become the main base of the Order. In 1551, the masterships of the military orders were put under the control of the Crown and started to be supervised by the Mesa da Consciência e Ordens (Board of Consciousness and Orders), a council constituted exactly for this purpose.
In 1789, Queen Maria I turned the Order of Santiago into an honorific order, whose titles were granted to those who served at the top of the judicial system. Later, her son, King Luís, changed the attribution of the title to those who excelled and contributed to the areas of Science, Humanities and Arts. The Order was extinguished with the implementation of the Republic in Portugal (1910), but it was re-established only a few years later, in 1918, as an honorific order.
Access points: locations
Access points: corporate bodies
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
The access of some records need permission and only during a restricted time.
Finding aids
Unpublished finding aids available in Torre do Tombo:
"Guia remessa da documentação da Mesa de Consciência e Ordens" (Delivery note of
the Mesa de Consciência e Ordens documentation). (L 377).
the Mesa de Consciência e Ordens documentation). (L 377).
"Índice alfabético do livro 3 da Chancelaria Antiga da Ordem de Santiago" (Alphabetical index of book 3 of the Old Chancellery of the Order of Santiago). (C 732-733).
"Índice alfabético dos 38 livros da Chancelaria Antiga da Ordem de Santiago" (Alphabetical index of the 38 books of the Old Chancellery of the Order of Santiago). (C 436-441).
"Índice da Chancelaria da Ordem de Santiago, do reinado de D. João VI, e D. Pedro IV, próprios e comuns" (Index of the Chancellery of the Order of Santiago of the reign of D. João VI and D. Pedro IV, persons and institutions) (C 443).
"Índice dos 17 livros da Chancelaria da Ordem de Santiago, do reinado de D. Maria I" (Index of the Chancellery of the Order of Santiago of the reign of D. Maria I). (C 442).
"Índice das habilitações da Ordem de Santiago" (Index of the qualifications to the Order of Santiago) (L 444 and C 734-741).
"Índice dos livros de diversos conventos, ordens militares e outras corporações religiosas" (Index of books from various convents, military orders and other religious institutions) . (C 268), pp. 236-241.
"Índice (inventário) dos livros de diversos conventos, ordens militares e outras corporações religiosas guardadas no Arquivo da Torre do Tombo, conventos diversos" (Inventory of books from various convents, military orders and other religious institutions kept in the Archive of Torre do Tombo, diverse convents), "caderneta" (booklet) 4 (São Tiago). (C 271).
"Inventário de documentos relativos aos freires da Ordem de Avis existentes no Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo" (Inventory of documents related to friars of the Order of Avis in the National Archive of Torre do Tombo). (L 578), p. 338.
"Relação de documentos vindos da Direcção-Geral dos Próprios Nacionais" (Inventory of documents come from the Direcção-Geral dos Próprios Nacionais), letters L-V. (C 280), fol. 38.
"Relação de livros e documentos pertencentes ao extinto Convento de Palmela que, em virtude da Portaria do Ministério da Fazenda de 20 de Março de 1865, foram transferidos do cartório da Repartição da Fazenda do distrito de Lisboa para o Arquivo da Torre do Tombo, em 9 de Maio de 1883" (Inventory of books and documents belonging to the extinct Convent of Palmela that, after the decree of the Ministry of Finance on March 20, 1865, were transferred from the registry of the Department of Finance of the District of Lisbon to the Archive of Torre do Tombo on May 9, 1883). (L 287), pp. 9-10.
Published finding aids:
Links to finding aids
Bibliography
Published primary sources
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo | Collections (official language of the state) |