Cabido da Sé de Viseu
Item
Country
PT
Name of institution (English)
Viseu District Archive
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
por
Contact information: postal address
Largo de Santa Cristina, 3504-515 Viseu
Contact information: phone number
00351 232003200
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
mail@advis.dglab.gov.pt
Reference number
PT/ADVIS/DIO/CVIS
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Cathedral Chapter of Viseu
Title (official language of the state)
Cabido da Sé de Viseu
Language of title
por
Creator / accumulator
Cabido da Sé de Viseu
Date(s)
1341/1918
Language(s)
por
lat
Extent
36 linear metres (60 boxes and 879 books)
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Satisfactory
Scope and content
The Cabido da Sé de Viseu fonds comprises documentation relating to the administration and general activity of the Cathedral Chapter of Viseu. The Foros (privileges and entitlements) series contains the oldest documents of this fonds, including records since 1430, therefore, before the expulsion of Jews and Moors from Portugal. Thus, the first 11 books, dated between 1430 and 1490, include some scattered documents on the Jewish community living in Viseu. For instance, the book of the Cathedral Chapter's income in 1462 (PT/ADVIS/DIO/CVIS/011/0002)
mentions a Jew from Viseu named Benamy who, that year, paid the rent of houses in the "judiaria" (Jewish quarter) to the Chapter on behalf of a Christian called António Anes.
The Foros series also includes records of Jews converted to Christianity after the expulsion and general conversion. The book of the Cathedral Chapter income in 1501-1502 (PT/ADVIS/DIO/CVIS/011/0013) contains a reference to a convert named Fernão Lopes whose name, before the conversion, was Salomão Adida. In 1501, he and his brother (formerly named Isaque Adida) had a house in the Rua Nova "aforada" (with an emphyteusis contract) to the Cathedral Chapter (fol. 63). Several other similar references to converted Jews could be found throughout this book and others of this series from the early 16th century.
mentions a Jew from Viseu named Benamy who, that year, paid the rent of houses in the "judiaria" (Jewish quarter) to the Chapter on behalf of a Christian called António Anes.
The Foros series also includes records of Jews converted to Christianity after the expulsion and general conversion. The book of the Cathedral Chapter income in 1501-1502 (PT/ADVIS/DIO/CVIS/011/0013) contains a reference to a convert named Fernão Lopes whose name, before the conversion, was Salomão Adida. In 1501, he and his brother (formerly named Isaque Adida) had a house in the Rua Nova "aforada" (with an emphyteusis contract) to the Cathedral Chapter (fol. 63). Several other similar references to converted Jews could be found throughout this book and others of this series from the early 16th century.
Archival history
This fonds was incorporated in the Arquivo Distrital de Viseu at the time of its foundation, in 1932, coming from the registry of the Chapter Cathedral of Viseu.
Administrative / Biographical history
The Cabido da Sé de Viseu (Cathedral Chapter of Viseu) was a corporation or community of ecclesiastics who advised the bishop on the governance of the diocese. Over the centuries, the Cabido took on different functions established in different synodal constitutions and by-laws.
The Cathedral Chapter of Viseu's history dates back to before the restoration of the diocese in 1147. Indeed, there was already a group of clerics living with the priest of the church of Santa Maria in 1110. At this time, the church was already designated as "ecclesia Sancte Marie episcopalis sedis visensis", but its diocesan administration remained subordinated to the bishop of Coimbra until 1147, when D. Odório, the priest of Santa Maria, was appointed bishop of Viseu.
Initially, the Cathedral Chapter was headed by a prior, and the canons lived in a communal household. After the restoration of the diocese, a process of hierarchisation began, as well as the progressive abandonment of the community life. The first mentions of a "deão" (dean) as head of the Viseu Chapter date back to the late 12th century. Then, other dignities were also instituted: the archdeacon, the cantor, the "mestre-escola" (schoolmaster), and the treasurer. Thirty prebends were created, thus establishing a numerus clausus for the entrance of new canons into the Cathedral Chapter. It led to the division of the diocese's income and estates between two "mesas" (boards) following the example of the Braga Cathedral: 2/3 of the revenue belonged to the bishop and 1/3 to the Chapter.
Over the centuries, the Cathedral Chapter continued to exercise the mission of advising the bishop on the government of the diocese and administrating the diocese in the case of "sede vacante" or in the absence of the bishop, which was quite frequent during the Medieval and Early Modern times.
The Cathedral Chapter of Viseu's history dates back to before the restoration of the diocese in 1147. Indeed, there was already a group of clerics living with the priest of the church of Santa Maria in 1110. At this time, the church was already designated as "ecclesia Sancte Marie episcopalis sedis visensis", but its diocesan administration remained subordinated to the bishop of Coimbra until 1147, when D. Odório, the priest of Santa Maria, was appointed bishop of Viseu.
Initially, the Cathedral Chapter was headed by a prior, and the canons lived in a communal household. After the restoration of the diocese, a process of hierarchisation began, as well as the progressive abandonment of the community life. The first mentions of a "deão" (dean) as head of the Viseu Chapter date back to the late 12th century. Then, other dignities were also instituted: the archdeacon, the cantor, the "mestre-escola" (schoolmaster), and the treasurer. Thirty prebends were created, thus establishing a numerus clausus for the entrance of new canons into the Cathedral Chapter. It led to the division of the diocese's income and estates between two "mesas" (boards) following the example of the Braga Cathedral: 2/3 of the revenue belonged to the bishop and 1/3 to the Chapter.
Over the centuries, the Cathedral Chapter continued to exercise the mission of advising the bishop on the government of the diocese and administrating the diocese in the case of "sede vacante" or in the absence of the bishop, which was quite frequent during the Medieval and Early Modern times.
Access points: locations
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The fonds is organised into 25 series and a section of miscellaneous documents (Documentos Avulsos) divided into 59 series. Records are arranged chronologically.
Access, restrictions
Access is subject to the physical condition of the records.
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Mariana Lourenço dos Reis, 2021
Bibliography
Linked resources
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Arquivo Distrital de Viseu | Collections (official language of the state) |