Câmara Municipal do Porto
Item
Country
PT
Name of institution (English)
Porto Municipal Historical Archive
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
por
Contact information: postal address
Rua da Alfândega 10, 4050-029 Porto
Contact information: phone number
00351 222060400
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
dmah@cm-porto.pt
Reference number
The fonds comprises different reference numbers: A-PUB, TG and PERG
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Municipality of Porto
Title (official language of the state)
Câmara Municipal do Porto
Language of title
por
Creator / accumulator
Câmara Municipal do Porto
Date note
Since the 13th century
Language(s)
por
Extent
315.35 linear metres (5,302 books, 466 files and 5 boxes)
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Satisfactory
Scope and content
The Câmara Municipal do Porto fonds comprises documents produced by or related to the Municipality of Porto from the 13th century until the present times. It includes the Vereações, Próprias and Pergaminhos collections that are individually described in this database. Besides these collections, the fonds contains other series and documents with relevant material related to the Jewish community of Porto and surrounding localities. They are the following:
Cofre dos Bens do Concelho series: composed of 25 books, it comprises records on regular incomes (such as rents, fines, taxes, etc.) and general expenses (for instance, wages, fees, pensions, public works, etc.) of the Municipality of Porto. The first two books of these series contain records from the 15th century, where it is possible to find some pieces of evidence on the Jewish community of Porto. They include mentions to "aforamentos" (emphyteusis contracts) of lands and houses in the "judiaria" (Jewish quarter) both to Jews and Christians. Some records also reveal how the Jewish community tended to expand its area of residence outside the original "judiaria" of Olival. The increase in references to "aforamentos" to Jews after 1482-83 demonstrates the demographic evolution of the community in the last quarter of the 15th century.
Livro A (TG-c/3): Book from 1614 with copies of letters, licenses, royal provisions, and other documents whose originals were part of other series of the Câmara Municipal do Porto fonds (some of them are in the Pergaminhos collection). Other documents were copied in the "Livro grande" (see below) and in the "Livro da contenda entre a cidade e o conde de Penaguião" (Book of the dispute between the city and the Count of Penaguião). The copied records date from 1317 to 1580. They include a letter by King Afonso V dated from November 3, 1459, that mentions Jacob Baruc, the Jewish "rendeiro" (tenant) of the Alfândega (customs house) of Porto's incomes (fol. 132).
Livro B (TG-c/2): Book from 1614 with copies of sentences and grievances on several subjects, petitions to Cortes, by-laws, letters, provisions, and other royal records whose originals were part of other series of the Câmara Municipal do Porto fonds (some of them are in the Pergaminhos collection). Other documents were copied in the "Livro grande" (see below) and in the "Livro da demanda do bispo D. Pedro" (Book of the demand of Bishop D. Pedro). The copied records date from 1390-1524. They contain a sentence by King João I against the Jewish Comuna (Commune) on April 9, 1397. This sentence is related to a dispute between the Comuna and the City Council of Porto regarding the payment of the annual rent of 200 maravedis velhos (currency) for the Judiaria Nova (new Jewish quarter) of Olival. Another version of this sentence was copied in a document from September 20, 1414, which is part of the Pergaminhos collection (PERG-241(D 13)). Other documents regarding the same contention could be found in the Pergaminhos collection (published by Barros Basto, op. cit., pp. 51-53, 57-58) and in the Livro Grande.
Livro grande (TG-c/3): Book from 1453 containing copies of privileges, donations and enquiries regarding the city of Porto and its area of jurisdiction, composed in the Torre do Tombo under the responsibility of the Portuguese chronicler Fernão Lopes (1380-1458), who signed the book. The copied records date from 1120 to 1457. They include a permit given by King Afonso IV that allowed the Jews with wealth evaluated up to 500 pounds to leave Portugal to trade without letters of license from the king. However, they were required to present guarantors to reimburse the king if they did not return (fl. 34v). This document was transcribed and published in Corpus Codicum (vol. 1, pp. 96-97). Other documents related to the Jewish communities could be found in folios 46v and 48. The first is an order by King João I on March 3, 1388, that no Christian stays in the Judiaria Nova (New Jewish quarter), except when the king goes there. The other is a sentence dated July 6, 1394, in which the monarch permitted the Jewish comuna of Porto to pay the annual rent of the judiaria nova with a new currency, as it was established in the Cortes (the national assembly) of Braga in 1387. Both documents were published by Barros Basto (1929).
Digital copies of the books above are available online on the Arquivo Histórico Municipal do Porto database.
Autos e sentença de dúvidas e jurisdição entre o bispo e a cidade (A-PUB/5514): Decrees regarding the pleadings between Bishop D. Pedro Afonso and the Cathedral Chapter of Porto on the one side, and King Afonso IV and the City Council on the other side, on the jurisdiction of the city of Porto in 1354. It includes copies of documents since 1120. Some pleadings are related to the Jewish community of Porto (fols. 31, 279 and 284). These records were transcribed and published in Corpus Codicum (vol. 2).
Cofre dos Bens do Concelho series: composed of 25 books, it comprises records on regular incomes (such as rents, fines, taxes, etc.) and general expenses (for instance, wages, fees, pensions, public works, etc.) of the Municipality of Porto. The first two books of these series contain records from the 15th century, where it is possible to find some pieces of evidence on the Jewish community of Porto. They include mentions to "aforamentos" (emphyteusis contracts) of lands and houses in the "judiaria" (Jewish quarter) both to Jews and Christians. Some records also reveal how the Jewish community tended to expand its area of residence outside the original "judiaria" of Olival. The increase in references to "aforamentos" to Jews after 1482-83 demonstrates the demographic evolution of the community in the last quarter of the 15th century.
Livro A (TG-c/3): Book from 1614 with copies of letters, licenses, royal provisions, and other documents whose originals were part of other series of the Câmara Municipal do Porto fonds (some of them are in the Pergaminhos collection). Other documents were copied in the "Livro grande" (see below) and in the "Livro da contenda entre a cidade e o conde de Penaguião" (Book of the dispute between the city and the Count of Penaguião). The copied records date from 1317 to 1580. They include a letter by King Afonso V dated from November 3, 1459, that mentions Jacob Baruc, the Jewish "rendeiro" (tenant) of the Alfândega (customs house) of Porto's incomes (fol. 132).
Livro B (TG-c/2): Book from 1614 with copies of sentences and grievances on several subjects, petitions to Cortes, by-laws, letters, provisions, and other royal records whose originals were part of other series of the Câmara Municipal do Porto fonds (some of them are in the Pergaminhos collection). Other documents were copied in the "Livro grande" (see below) and in the "Livro da demanda do bispo D. Pedro" (Book of the demand of Bishop D. Pedro). The copied records date from 1390-1524. They contain a sentence by King João I against the Jewish Comuna (Commune) on April 9, 1397. This sentence is related to a dispute between the Comuna and the City Council of Porto regarding the payment of the annual rent of 200 maravedis velhos (currency) for the Judiaria Nova (new Jewish quarter) of Olival. Another version of this sentence was copied in a document from September 20, 1414, which is part of the Pergaminhos collection (PERG-241(D 13)). Other documents regarding the same contention could be found in the Pergaminhos collection (published by Barros Basto, op. cit., pp. 51-53, 57-58) and in the Livro Grande.
Livro grande (TG-c/3): Book from 1453 containing copies of privileges, donations and enquiries regarding the city of Porto and its area of jurisdiction, composed in the Torre do Tombo under the responsibility of the Portuguese chronicler Fernão Lopes (1380-1458), who signed the book. The copied records date from 1120 to 1457. They include a permit given by King Afonso IV that allowed the Jews with wealth evaluated up to 500 pounds to leave Portugal to trade without letters of license from the king. However, they were required to present guarantors to reimburse the king if they did not return (fl. 34v). This document was transcribed and published in Corpus Codicum (vol. 1, pp. 96-97). Other documents related to the Jewish communities could be found in folios 46v and 48. The first is an order by King João I on March 3, 1388, that no Christian stays in the Judiaria Nova (New Jewish quarter), except when the king goes there. The other is a sentence dated July 6, 1394, in which the monarch permitted the Jewish comuna of Porto to pay the annual rent of the judiaria nova with a new currency, as it was established in the Cortes (the national assembly) of Braga in 1387. Both documents were published by Barros Basto (1929).
Digital copies of the books above are available online on the Arquivo Histórico Municipal do Porto database.
Autos e sentença de dúvidas e jurisdição entre o bispo e a cidade (A-PUB/5514): Decrees regarding the pleadings between Bishop D. Pedro Afonso and the Cathedral Chapter of Porto on the one side, and King Afonso IV and the City Council on the other side, on the jurisdiction of the city of Porto in 1354. It includes copies of documents since 1120. Some pleadings are related to the Jewish community of Porto (fols. 31, 279 and 284). These records were transcribed and published in Corpus Codicum (vol. 2).
Archival history
The Câmara Municipal do Porto is the original fonds of the Arquivo Histórico Municipal do Porto.
Administrative / Biographical history
The origin of Porto's municipal administration dates back to the 13th century, when the city was under the authority of the bishop. The oldest document preserved in the Municipality of Porto fonds is a letter from 1286 sent by king D. Dinis to the prosecutor of the city council with a copy of the city charter (1123) attached.
In the mid-14th century, the municipal administrative structure already included "vereadores" (councilmen), judges, and prosecutors. Such structure became more and more complex throughout the following centuries. Also, the activity and functions of the city council were progressively regulated.
From 1369 to 1834, the Municipality of Porto's jurisdiction comprised the so-called "Termo do Porto", which included the territory currently corresponding to the municipalities of Matosinhos, Vila Nova de Gaia, Maia, Gondomar, Paredes, Penafiel and Santo Tirso. After 1834 and throughout the Liberal regime, the city council's jurisdiction, structure, and responsibilities were reformed. The position of "Juiz de fora" was replaced by the president of the Municipality. Also, the number of councilmen increased from 4 to 9, and the city services' organisation became more sophisticated.
After the implementation of the Republic in Portugal (1910), the city council suffered constant changes. After the 28 May 1926 coup d’état, the city council was dissolved and replaced by an administrative committee composed of military staff. Following the new Administrative Code of 1936-1940, the municipal administration's leadership was formed by the president nominated by the government and 12 elected councilmen. After the Revolution of 1974 and the Republic's new Constitution in 1976, the municipal administration was again organised. The Assembleia Municipal (Municipal Assembly) and Câmara Municipal (City Council) became the Municipality's representative bodies, both elected by universal suffrage.
In 1980, the Arquivo Histórico Municipal do Porto was founded and began to host all the documentation produced by the Municipality of Porto and various private archives and fonds.
In the mid-14th century, the municipal administrative structure already included "vereadores" (councilmen), judges, and prosecutors. Such structure became more and more complex throughout the following centuries. Also, the activity and functions of the city council were progressively regulated.
From 1369 to 1834, the Municipality of Porto's jurisdiction comprised the so-called "Termo do Porto", which included the territory currently corresponding to the municipalities of Matosinhos, Vila Nova de Gaia, Maia, Gondomar, Paredes, Penafiel and Santo Tirso. After 1834 and throughout the Liberal regime, the city council's jurisdiction, structure, and responsibilities were reformed. The position of "Juiz de fora" was replaced by the president of the Municipality. Also, the number of councilmen increased from 4 to 9, and the city services' organisation became more sophisticated.
After the implementation of the Republic in Portugal (1910), the city council suffered constant changes. After the 28 May 1926 coup d’état, the city council was dissolved and replaced by an administrative committee composed of military staff. Following the new Administrative Code of 1936-1940, the municipal administration's leadership was formed by the president nominated by the government and 12 elected councilmen. After the Revolution of 1974 and the Republic's new Constitution in 1976, the municipal administration was again organised. The Assembleia Municipal (Municipal Assembly) and Câmara Municipal (City Council) became the Municipality's representative bodies, both elected by universal suffrage.
In 1980, the Arquivo Histórico Municipal do Porto was founded and began to host all the documentation produced by the Municipality of Porto and various private archives and fonds.
Access points: locations
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
Records are arranged sequentially.
Access, restrictions
Access without restrictions, except for documents in poor physical condition or available in digital format.
Finding aids
Index of the "Livro Grande", available in the archive's reading room.
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Carla Vieira and Rui Queirós de Faria, 2021
Bibliography
Published primary sources
Linked resources
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Arquivo Histórico Municipal do Porto | Collections (official language of the state) |