Convento de Nossa Senhora do Carmo de Lisboa
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/CNSCRL
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Convent of Nossa Senhora do Carmo of Lisbon
Title (official language of the state)
Convento de Nossa Senhora do Carmo de Lisboa
Language of title
por
Creator / accumulator
Convento de Nossa Senhora do Carmo de Lisboa
Date(s)
1384/1834
Language(s)
por
Extent
94 books
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Good
Scope and content
The Convento de Nossa Senhora do Carmo fonds comprises documentation related to and produced by this convent since the 14th century. It includes lists of monks, inventories, deeds of chantries, records of masses, financial and property records, sentences, etc.
The fonds includes several records related to David Negro, a rich court Jew and "almoxarife dos dízimos reais" (receiver-general of the royal tithes) during the reign of King Fernando I (1367-1383), as the convent was the last recipient of his estate. During the 1383-1385 dynastic crisis, Negro's estate was seized by D. João de Avis (later King João I) after he had been accused of treason for taking the side of the widow of King Fernando I, D. Leonor de Teles, and later of the King of Castille. D. João ended up giving Negro's estate to Constable Nuno Álvares Pereira, for his services during the war. Later, the Constable donated it to the Convent of Nossa Senhora do Carmo. Therefore, some books contain several references to David Negro, especially references to his properties that ended up in possession of the convent. Some examples are the following:
Liv. (book) 13, fols. 2-3: The abbot and the Convent of Santa Maria do Carmo "emprazam" (lease by emphyteusis contract) to Lopo Fernandes Franco, a vineyard with an olive grove in Fonte Romã, in the Quinta de Camarate (estate in the outskirts of Lisbon), which formerly belonged to David Negro. October 16, 1444.
Liv. 14: This book contains several other deeds of "emprazamento" (emphyteusis contract) and donations, dating from 1424 to 1431, of plots of the Quinta de Camarate that had belonged to David Negro. This estate included houses, olive groves, vineyards, cereal farms, scrublands, and oil and wine presses. One of these properties, a vineyard in Charneca, was rented to David Gabay, a Jewish merchant who lived in the Judiaria Grande (Great Jewish quarter) of Lisbon (fols. 11-12).
Other records of this book report Gabay's certifications related to former Negro's properties, belonging to the Quinta de Camarate, that he had leased in Lisbon and outskirts, (fols. 20-24).
Liv. 15: Most of this book is related to former David Negro's estates. It contains deeds of "emprazamento", "aforamento" (emphyteusis contracts) and sale of estates in the Quinta de Camarate, Sacavém, Frielas and Unhos. The majority of these estates had been acquired directly by Negro or through his attorney, Judas Franco, in the 1370s and early 1380s. For instance, on October 25, 1373, Franco leased a vineyard in Olival de Godinho (Lisbon's outskirts) to a Christian couple for 20 soldos and two dozen eggs per year (fols. 1v-2v). On January 13, 1375, Negro acquired a farm, an olive grove and some vineyards in various locations in the outskirts of Sacavém and Lisbon (fols. 7-7v). Later, on November 3, 1376, he bought a house with a dovecote, half of a farm and a winepress in Camarate. The book also comprises the accusation presented by Constable Nuno Álvares Pereira against David Negro (fols. 25-26). This book is in poor condition of conservation, which hampers the interpretation of most of its contents. However, some of these records were transcribed and published by Pedro de Azevedo (1903).
In addition to the documentation related to David Negro, this fonds comprises information regarding other Jews who lived in Lisbon.
For instance, a record in liv. 13 (fols. 3-4) reports the "emprazamento" of some houses in the Judiaria Grande made by the convent to Josepe Abranavel and his brother Hia Abranavel, both merchants and residents in Lisbon. Before this contract, the houses had been leased to Donça, probably a Jewish woman.
Josepe and Hia Abravanel presented two letters from King Afonso V given to them in September 1441, as well as another letter with a privilege given by the king to the Jewish "comuna" (commune) of Lisbon. February 7, 1445.
We would like to thank Dr Mário Farelo for the information regarding these records.
The fonds includes several records related to David Negro, a rich court Jew and "almoxarife dos dízimos reais" (receiver-general of the royal tithes) during the reign of King Fernando I (1367-1383), as the convent was the last recipient of his estate. During the 1383-1385 dynastic crisis, Negro's estate was seized by D. João de Avis (later King João I) after he had been accused of treason for taking the side of the widow of King Fernando I, D. Leonor de Teles, and later of the King of Castille. D. João ended up giving Negro's estate to Constable Nuno Álvares Pereira, for his services during the war. Later, the Constable donated it to the Convent of Nossa Senhora do Carmo. Therefore, some books contain several references to David Negro, especially references to his properties that ended up in possession of the convent. Some examples are the following:
Liv. (book) 13, fols. 2-3: The abbot and the Convent of Santa Maria do Carmo "emprazam" (lease by emphyteusis contract) to Lopo Fernandes Franco, a vineyard with an olive grove in Fonte Romã, in the Quinta de Camarate (estate in the outskirts of Lisbon), which formerly belonged to David Negro. October 16, 1444.
Liv. 14: This book contains several other deeds of "emprazamento" (emphyteusis contract) and donations, dating from 1424 to 1431, of plots of the Quinta de Camarate that had belonged to David Negro. This estate included houses, olive groves, vineyards, cereal farms, scrublands, and oil and wine presses. One of these properties, a vineyard in Charneca, was rented to David Gabay, a Jewish merchant who lived in the Judiaria Grande (Great Jewish quarter) of Lisbon (fols. 11-12).
Other records of this book report Gabay's certifications related to former Negro's properties, belonging to the Quinta de Camarate, that he had leased in Lisbon and outskirts, (fols. 20-24).
Liv. 15: Most of this book is related to former David Negro's estates. It contains deeds of "emprazamento", "aforamento" (emphyteusis contracts) and sale of estates in the Quinta de Camarate, Sacavém, Frielas and Unhos. The majority of these estates had been acquired directly by Negro or through his attorney, Judas Franco, in the 1370s and early 1380s. For instance, on October 25, 1373, Franco leased a vineyard in Olival de Godinho (Lisbon's outskirts) to a Christian couple for 20 soldos and two dozen eggs per year (fols. 1v-2v). On January 13, 1375, Negro acquired a farm, an olive grove and some vineyards in various locations in the outskirts of Sacavém and Lisbon (fols. 7-7v). Later, on November 3, 1376, he bought a house with a dovecote, half of a farm and a winepress in Camarate. The book also comprises the accusation presented by Constable Nuno Álvares Pereira against David Negro (fols. 25-26). This book is in poor condition of conservation, which hampers the interpretation of most of its contents. However, some of these records were transcribed and published by Pedro de Azevedo (1903).
In addition to the documentation related to David Negro, this fonds comprises information regarding other Jews who lived in Lisbon.
For instance, a record in liv. 13 (fols. 3-4) reports the "emprazamento" of some houses in the Judiaria Grande made by the convent to Josepe Abranavel and his brother Hia Abranavel, both merchants and residents in Lisbon. Before this contract, the houses had been leased to Donça, probably a Jewish woman.
Josepe and Hia Abravanel presented two letters from King Afonso V given to them in September 1441, as well as another letter with a privilege given by the king to the Jewish "comuna" (commune) of Lisbon. February 7, 1445.
We would like to thank Dr Mário Farelo for the information regarding these records.
Archival history
In 1834, the Convent of Nossa Senhora do Carmo was transferred to the Direcção Geral dos Próprios Nacionais (Directorate General of National Assets). Together with the documentation of the Province of the Carmelite Order, the monastery's records entered the Torre do Tombo in two moments: books 1 to 25 were incorporated in 1867, and books 28 to 105 and bundle 52 in 1894. On May 9, 1883, the documents of the Carmelite convents of Lisbon, as well as records from other convents and monasteries, were transferred from the Repartição da Fazenda do Distrito de Lisboa (Treasure Department of Lisbon District) to the Torre do Tombo.
Part of the records of this fonds was integrated into the so-called "Colecção Especial" (Special Collection). However, between 1938 and 1990, this documentation was gradually incorporated in the respective fonds, with the aim of reconstructing the original registries. Then, the records were arranged chronologically and organised into bundles of about 40 documents each, numbered sequentially. In the late 1990s, the documentation was subject to archival processing by Torre do Tombo's technicians and external experts. Then, it was adopted an organisation of the fonds according to religious orders, instead of the previous geographical organisation by place where the monasteries and convents were located. Therefore, the Ordem do Carmo fonds was constituted, comprising all convents of the Carmelite Order. Until 2002, the records of the Province of the Carmelite Order were part of the Convento do Carmo fonds. Then, they were separated, and the Convento do Carmo fonds was reorganised into documentary series, following the original sequence when possible. The bundles were gathered into specific series, the "Documentos vários" (Miscellaneous documents).
Part of the records of this fonds was integrated into the so-called "Colecção Especial" (Special Collection). However, between 1938 and 1990, this documentation was gradually incorporated in the respective fonds, with the aim of reconstructing the original registries. Then, the records were arranged chronologically and organised into bundles of about 40 documents each, numbered sequentially. In the late 1990s, the documentation was subject to archival processing by Torre do Tombo's technicians and external experts. Then, it was adopted an organisation of the fonds according to religious orders, instead of the previous geographical organisation by place where the monasteries and convents were located. Therefore, the Ordem do Carmo fonds was constituted, comprising all convents of the Carmelite Order. Until 2002, the records of the Province of the Carmelite Order were part of the Convento do Carmo fonds. Then, they were separated, and the Convento do Carmo fonds was reorganised into documentary series, following the original sequence when possible. The bundles were gathered into specific series, the "Documentos vários" (Miscellaneous documents).
Administrative / Biographical history
The Convent of Nossa Senhora do Carmo of Lisbon, also known as Convent of Nossa Senhora do Monte do Carmo, was a male monastery founded in the 14th century. Constable D. Nuno Álvares Pereira gave orders to build it in 1389, following a bull of Pope Urban VI. In 1395, the monastery was confirmed by Pope Boniface IX, but the construction works only finished in 1422.
The first Carmelites arrived in the convent in 1397. They came from the Convent of Nossa Senhora do Carmo of Moura (in Alentejo, southern Portugal), and the Constable entrusted to them the management of the Monastery. When the Province of the Carmelite Order of Portugal was instituted in 1423, the Monastery was delivered to it in order to become its headquarters.
In 1551, the Monastery housed about 70 monks. It had six brotherhoods dedicated to Nossa Senhora do Carmo (Our Lady of Mount Carmel), Nossa Senhora da Piedade (Our Lady of Piety), Vera Cruz (True Cross), Santa Luzia (Saint Lucy), Santa Ana (Saint Anne) and São Roque (Saint Roch). The Earthquake of 1755 seriously damaged the Monastery.
In 1834, the Liberal government extinguished religious orders in Portugal, and the Monastery was extinct. Its assets and incomes were incorporated in the National Treasure. In 1836, the building was converted into military facilities. Already in the 20th century, the Quartel do Carmo gained prominence during the Carnation Revolution in 1974, as it was there that President Marcelo Caetano surrendered to the revolutionary forces. At present, it houses an archeological museum, the Museu Arqueológico do Carmo.
The first Carmelites arrived in the convent in 1397. They came from the Convent of Nossa Senhora do Carmo of Moura (in Alentejo, southern Portugal), and the Constable entrusted to them the management of the Monastery. When the Province of the Carmelite Order of Portugal was instituted in 1423, the Monastery was delivered to it in order to become its headquarters.
In 1551, the Monastery housed about 70 monks. It had six brotherhoods dedicated to Nossa Senhora do Carmo (Our Lady of Mount Carmel), Nossa Senhora da Piedade (Our Lady of Piety), Vera Cruz (True Cross), Santa Luzia (Saint Lucy), Santa Ana (Saint Anne) and São Roque (Saint Roch). The Earthquake of 1755 seriously damaged the Monastery.
In 1834, the Liberal government extinguished religious orders in Portugal, and the Monastery was extinct. Its assets and incomes were incorporated in the National Treasure. In 1836, the building was converted into military facilities. Already in the 20th century, the Quartel do Carmo gained prominence during the Carnation Revolution in 1974, as it was there that President Marcelo Caetano surrendered to the revolutionary forces. At present, it houses an archeological museum, the Museu Arqueológico do Carmo.
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: corporate bodies
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
This fonds includes a subfonds dedicated to the Confraria (confraternity) de São Francisco de Paulo, containing a book with a list of its members in 1707-1734. The rest of the records of this fonds are organised into 22 sections: Profissões (Professions); Pautas de religiosos (Lists of clerics); Recibos das capelas (Receipts of chantries); Cobrança de foros das capelas (Collection of chantries' incomes); Escrituras das capelas (Scriptures of the chantries); Registos de missas (Record of masses); Obrigações de missas (Obligations of masses); Relação de propriedades (List of properties); Tombos comuns (Record of the convent's estates); Tombos de escrituras (Records of scriptures); Prazos (Emphyteusis contracts); Sentenças (Sentences); Padrões de juro (Public debt instruments); Recibos (Receipts); Receita e despesa (Income and expense); Receita e despesa da sacristia (Income and expense of the sacristy); Receita e despesa das quintas (Income and expense of the estates); Cobrança de foros (Collection of emphyteusis contracts); Juros (Interests); Pagamento de ordenados (Payment of salaries); Índices (Indexes); Apontamentos (Notes).
Access, restrictions
No restrictions, except for records in poor condition or available in digital format.
Finding aids
Unpublished finding aids available in Torre do Tombo:
"Inventário das Corporações Religiosas, desintegrado da antiga Colecção Especial, em 24 de Julho de 1978" (Inventory of religious organisation's collections that were desintegrated from the former Colecção Especial on July 24, 1978). (L 208).
"Relação de documentos vindos da Direcção-Geral dos Próprios Nacionais, em 14 de Maio de 1894" (Inventory of documents that came from the Direcção-Geral dos Próprios Nacionais on May 14, 1874). Topographical organisation: L. (C 279), fols. 84-116.
"Relações de documentos enviados pela Direcção Geral dos Próprios Nacionais" (Inventory of documents sent by the Direcção-Geral dos Próprios Nacionais". (C 269), fols. 22-45.
"Relações dos documentos dos Conventos do Carmo de Lisboa, do Carmo Descalço de Carnide, da Congregação do Oratório, de São Domingos de Lisboa, de São Francisco de Lisboa, de Nossa Senhora da Luz, de São Francisco de Xabregas (com indicação dos números dos documentos incorporados) 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" (Inventories of the documents from the Convents of Carmo of Lisboa, Carmo Descalço of Carnide, Congregação do Oratório, São Domingos of Lisbon, São Francisco of Lisbon, Nossa Senhora da Luz, São Francisco of Xabregas (with indication of the references of the incorporated documents) that, after the decree of the Ministry of Finance on March 20, 1865, were transferred from the registry of the Revenue Department of the District of Lisbon to the Archive of Torre do Tombo on May 9, 1883) (C 325).
Published finding aids:
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Inês de Sá and Teresa Oliveira, 2021
Bibliography
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