Casa de Povolide

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/CPV

Type of reference number

Archival reference number

Title (English)

House of Povolide

Title (official language of the state)

Casa de Povolide

Language of title

por

Creator / accumulator

Casa de Povolide

Date note

15th century/20th century

Language(s)

por

Extent

139 boxes, 165 bundles and 16 books

Type of material

Textual Material

Physical condition

Good

Scope and content

The Casa de Povolide fonds comprises documentation produced by or related to the House of the Counts of Povolide, particularly records regarding genealogical matters and acquisition and management of properties and incomes. It includes genealogical records, records related to the possession of goods and rights, and administration documents, such as licenses, donations, wills, ordinances, sales, purchases, emphyteusis contracts, rolls of properties, sentences, records of “morgadios” (entails), etc. The documentation mentions several locations, mainly in central and southern Portugal, such as Lisbon, Povolide, Atouguia da Baleia, Trancoso, Fonte do Louro, Évora, Casal de Santinheira, Tinhoseira, Azeitão, Pinhel, Paradela, Santar, Peniche, Loures, Santarém, Santa Maria de Antimes, Moimenta da Beira, and Cães de Baixo. The fonds also includes inventories of goods like jewellery, silverware, furniture, clothes, and memoirs and letters from members of the house of Povolide. As to Jewish-related documentation, it should be highlighted a deed in which Fernão Gil, the prince's treasurer, exchanges a house in the "judiaria" (Jewish quarter) for a rural property with a vineyard and olive trees near Fonte do Louro, in the outskirts of the city (maço 25, doc. 6). The deed is dated May 30, 1433, and has attached the copy of the "aforamento" (emphyteusis contract) of the aforementioned house that Gil had contracted with Josepe Bom Judeu on behalf of the Jewish "comuna" (commune) on May 2, 1432. This contract includes the power of attorney given to Bom Judeu by the Jewish “comuna” of Lisbon, written by its notary, Joane Zaaboca, in the synagogue of the Judiaria Velha (old Jewish quarter) on April 1, 1432. The “comuna” was represented by several members, whose names are listed: Abraão de Narbon and Necim Fayom, both merchants and rabbis of the comuna; Abrahão Valencim; Michael and Josepe Amado; Josepe Vidal; Isaque Arame; Cerlema Colcheiro; Mousem Muam; Judas Abraque and Judas Abraão Dino. The deed was witnessed by Abraão Huys, Josepe Necim and Navarro Porteiro.
We thank Pedro Pinto for bringing this document to our attention.

Archival history

The archive of the House of Povolide was transferred to Aveiras de Baixo (about 60 km from Lisbon) after the marriage of Pedro José Maria do Rosário da Silva Telo e Noronha, Count of Aveiras and Povolide, in 1940. In 1982, the Instituto Português do Património Cultural (Portuguese Institute of Cultural Patrimony) purchased the archive to José Maria da Silva Telo de Noronha, member of the family and heir of the collection. The records entered the National Archive of Torre do Tombo on January 27, 1983.

Administrative / Biographical history

The first Lord of Povolide was João Lourenço Ferreira Amado (b. 1395), whose title was granted by King João I for his military services in the North African military campaigns. His son, Pedro Lourenço Ferreira (b. 1420), was known as the “Mata-Judeus” (the Jews' Killer). The origin of this name dates back to the time when he was the lord of the "judiaria" (Jewish quarter) of Trancoso. The members of the Povolide family served the Crown for years.
The title of Count of Povolide was finally granted to Tristão da Cunha de Ataíde e Melo (1655-1722). He was son of the Lord of Povolide and nephew of the Count of Pontével. Tristão was the president of both the Misericórdia of Lisbon and of the Council of the King. His son Luís Vasques da Cunha Ataíde presided the Junta do Tabaco (council that supervised the tobacco trade) and his grandson José da Cunha Grã de Ataíde e Melo (1734-1792) was governor and “capitão-general” (general captain) of Pernambuco and Bahia, president of the Senate of Lisbon and governor of Brazil. The autonomy of the House ended shortly after, as the fourth Count of Povolide died without children in 1833. The Counts of Valadares took over the representation of the House, following the marriage of the sister of the fourth Count of Povolide with D. Pedro António de Noronha, eighth Count of Valadares. However, his son died with no direct heirs and both Houses went under the wing of the Marquis of Vagos and Counts of Aveiras. Their patrimony included assets in Povolide; Castro Verde; Paradela; the “reguengos” (royal demesnes) of Cais, Passos and Moimenta; and estates in Barda, Pinhel, Codeceiro and Vale da Madeira.

Access points: locations

Access points: corporate bodies

Access points: subject terms

Access points: document types

System of arrangement

The records are arranged according to organic and functional criteria.

Access, restrictions

No restrictions, except for records in poor condition or available in digital format.

Finding aids

Links to finding aids

Author of the description

Inês de Sá, 2021

Item sets

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is part (item) of
Title Alternate label Class
Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo Collections (official language of the state)