Colegiada de Santiago de Coimbra
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 210 037 100
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/CSTC
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Collegiate of Santiago of Coimbra
Title (official language of the state)
Colegiada de Santiago de Coimbra
Language of title
por
Creator / accumulator
Colegiada de Santiago de Coimbra
Date(s)
11th century/16th century
Language(s)
lat
por
Extent
3 books and 18 bundles (861 documents)
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Satisfactory
Scope and content
The Colegiada de Santiago de Coimbra fonds comprises documentation related to or produced by this collegiate of Coimbra. It contains "aforamentos" and "emprazamentos" (emphyteusis contracts), donations, sale deeds, letters of attorney, papal bulls, wills, etc. Among its records, it is possible to find some pieces of evidence on the Jewish community of Coimbra before the late-15th-century expulsion. Two examples are the following:
PT/TT/CSTC/M09/416, document from December 11, 1354: "Emprazamento" (emphyteusis contract) of a house in the street of the Cathedral of Coimbra to Rabi Salomão, a Jewish bookbinder. The same house had been leased to Abraão Pesaçam, a Jewish goldsmith. Published in Gomes (2013).
PT/TT/CSTC/M08, document from June 4, 1390: "Emprazamento" (emphyteusis contract) of a store in the Judiaria of Coimbra to Salomão Marcos, which had been leased to another Jew, Abraão Guedelha.
PT/TT/CSTC/M09/416, document from December 11, 1354: "Emprazamento" (emphyteusis contract) of a house in the street of the Cathedral of Coimbra to Rabi Salomão, a Jewish bookbinder. The same house had been leased to Abraão Pesaçam, a Jewish goldsmith. Published in Gomes (2013).
PT/TT/CSTC/M08, document from June 4, 1390: "Emprazamento" (emphyteusis contract) of a store in the Judiaria of Coimbra to Salomão Marcos, which had been leased to another Jew, Abraão Guedelha.
Archival history
In 1848, following the law of June 16 and the instruction of September 17, the assets and incomes of all collegiates in Portugal were applied to the maintenance of seminaries. Another law on December 27, 1849, determined that the documents of the collegiates should be stored in the registry of the seminary that received their assets and incomes. The archive, assets and incomes of the Collegiate of Santiago were transferred to the seminary of Coimbra.
In 1862, a government order established that the documents dated before 1600 should be incorporated into the National Archive of Torre do Tombo. As a result, the records of the Collegiate of Santiago gathered in the seminary of Coimbra were transferred to the Torre do Tombo in the following year. Some of these records were included in the so-called "Colecção Especial" (special collection). Between 1938 and 1990, the documents of this collection were gradually reorganised with the aim of recreating the original fonds. They were chronologically ordered and gathered into bundles of 40 documents each, numbered sequentially. At the end of the 1990s, the organisation by the locality was replaced by an arrangement by diocese.
In 1862, a government order established that the documents dated before 1600 should be incorporated into the National Archive of Torre do Tombo. As a result, the records of the Collegiate of Santiago gathered in the seminary of Coimbra were transferred to the Torre do Tombo in the following year. Some of these records were included in the so-called "Colecção Especial" (special collection). Between 1938 and 1990, the documents of this collection were gradually reorganised with the aim of recreating the original fonds. They were chronologically ordered and gathered into bundles of 40 documents each, numbered sequentially. At the end of the 1990s, the organisation by the locality was replaced by an arrangement by diocese.
Administrative / Biographical history
Collegiates were communities of clerics and laymen with the mission of ensuring the religious cult in churches. The Collegiate of Santiago was under the wing of the bishop of Coimbra.
Like other collegiates, it was headed by a prior and composed of a number of "raçoeiros" (literally, who received a ration) or "beneficiários" (beneficiaries), who were generally clerics. The prior was responsible for nominating the "raçoeiros". They carried out liturgical functions, such as taking part in the choir and praying for the worshippers who had left donations to the collegiate, among others. In addition, they also had the responsibility of managing the properties and incomes of the church. The "prioste", which was chosen among the "raçoeiros", had the function of managing the collegiate's assets and distributing its incomes.
The Church of São Tiago was built at the end of the 12th century, close to the most important door of Coimbra's city walls, the Porta da Almedina. Throughout the centuries, it underwent a few alterations. The Collegiate was named after the church; yet, the reason behind the name is still a mystery. Some attribute it to the supposed apparition of the apostle James (Santiago in Portuguese) before the conquest of Coimbra by the King of Léon, Fernando Magno, in 1064. Another theory supports that the name of the church is related to the fact that its location was, and still is, a point of passage and housing for pilgrims headed to Santiago de Compostela.
In 1848, most collegiates were extinguished by the Liberal government, especially those that could not subsist on their income only. Many collegiates were not able to endure as, since 1834, their primary source of revenue, the "dízimo" (tithe), was abolished. Thus, the Collegiate of Santiago was extinguished at that time.
Like other collegiates, it was headed by a prior and composed of a number of "raçoeiros" (literally, who received a ration) or "beneficiários" (beneficiaries), who were generally clerics. The prior was responsible for nominating the "raçoeiros". They carried out liturgical functions, such as taking part in the choir and praying for the worshippers who had left donations to the collegiate, among others. In addition, they also had the responsibility of managing the properties and incomes of the church. The "prioste", which was chosen among the "raçoeiros", had the function of managing the collegiate's assets and distributing its incomes.
The Church of São Tiago was built at the end of the 12th century, close to the most important door of Coimbra's city walls, the Porta da Almedina. Throughout the centuries, it underwent a few alterations. The Collegiate was named after the church; yet, the reason behind the name is still a mystery. Some attribute it to the supposed apparition of the apostle James (Santiago in Portuguese) before the conquest of Coimbra by the King of Léon, Fernando Magno, in 1064. Another theory supports that the name of the church is related to the fact that its location was, and still is, a point of passage and housing for pilgrims headed to Santiago de Compostela.
In 1848, most collegiates were extinguished by the Liberal government, especially those that could not subsist on their income only. Many collegiates were not able to endure as, since 1834, their primary source of revenue, the "dízimo" (tithe), was abolished. Thus, the Collegiate of Santiago was extinguished at that time.
Access points: locations
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
There is a specific numbering for each type of installation unit (books and bundles). One of the bundles gathers the records that once were part of the Special Collection.
Access, restrictions
No restrictions, except for records in poor condition or available in digital format.
Finding aids
Upublished finding aids available in the archive:
"Inventário das Corporações Religiosas, desintegrado da antiga Colecção Especial , em 24 de Julho de 1978" (Inventory of Religious Organisations, extracted from the former Special Collection on July 24, 1978). (L 208).
"Inventário dos pergaminhos e códices pertencentes às Colegiadas de São Bartolomeu, de São Cristóvão, de São Tiago, de São João de Almedina, de Santa Justa, de São Pedro, do Salvador, todas de Coimbra, recolhidos no Seminário Episcopal desta cidade que, em virtude do Decreto de 2 de Outubro de 1862 e Portaria de 9 de Julho de 1863, foram transferidos para o Arquivo da Torre do Tombo, em 15 de Setembro de 1863" (Inventory of the parchments and codices belonging to the Collegiates of São Bartolomeu, São Cristóvão, São Tiago, São João de Almedina, Santa Justa, São Pedro, Salvador, all from Coimbra, collected in the Seminary of this city, that were transferred to the Arquivo da Torre do Tombo on September 15, 1863). (L 288).
Links to finding aids
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo | Collections (official language of the state) |