Monday 31 January 2022

Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, Marquis of Pombal | Timeline

Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal and 1st Count of Oeiras (13 May 1699 – 8 May 1782), known as the Marquis of Pombal (Marquês de Pombal), was a Portuguese statesman and diplomat who effectively ruled the Portuguese Empire from 1750 to 1777 as chief minister to King Joseph I. A liberal reformer influenced by the Age of Enlightenment, Pombal led Portugal's recovery from the 1755 Lisbon earthquake and modernized the kingdom's administrative, economic, and ecclesiastical institutions. During his lengthy ministerial career, Pombal accumulated and exercised autocratic power. (Intro from Wikipedia)

May 13, 1699 - Lisbon, Portugal - Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo is born
January(?) 1(?), 1708 - Lisbon - His father, Manuel de Carvalho e Ataíde (1668-1720) is nominated for the prestigious position of cavalry officer of the Court
October 27, 1708 - Lisbon - King John V marries Anna Maria of Austria, daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I
January(?) 1(?), 1715(?) - Coimbra - Studies Law, at the Faculty of Laws and at the Faculty of Canons of the University of Coimbra
March 15, 1720 - While in Coimbra(?) - His father dies in Lisbon, aged 43
January(?) 1(?), 1721(?) - Coimbra(?) - Serves in the army where he reaches the rank of corporal
January 23, 1723 - Lisbon - Carvalho e Melo marries D. Teresa de Noronha e Bourbon Mendonça e Almada, with whom he had lived in Lisbon
January(?) 1(?), 1724 - Gramela, N. of Pombal, central Portugal - He retires from Lisbon to a family farm in the "Coimbra countryside", where he would stay for 7 years taking care of its administration.
October 24, 1733 - Lisbon - Conference of the Royal Academy of Portuguese History. Carvalho e Melo is elected to the Academia dos Ilustrados (Academy of the Illustrated) =(START)
July 19, 1738 - Lisbon - Carvalho e Melo is accepted as a family member of the Holy Office, an important step towards social recognition
October 2, 1738 - Lisbon - Carvalho e Melo is named Ambassador to London. Bullfight at Junqueira with the presence of the royal family
October 8, 1738 - Lisbon - Carvalho e Melo sails for London on board the british ship "King of Portugal"
October 19, 1738 - London, England - Arrives in London, where his cousin and predecessor awaited him
November 29, 1738 - London - Carvalho e Melo is officially received in London
January 7, 1739 - While in London - Teresa de Noronha, first wife of Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, dies in Lisbon.
March 5, 1739 - London - Carvalho e Melo delivers the credentials of Portuguese ambassador in London
November 16, 1739 - London - Letter to D. Luís da Cunha
May 15, 1740 - London - Elected Fellow of the Royal Society
May 8, 1741 - London - Letter from D. Luís da Cunha, about the problem of Hungary and the need to proceed negotiations with Prussia
May 10, 1742 - While in London - King John V has a bout of paralysis at the age of 52 that leaves him partially paralyzed on the left side of his body
May 23, 1742 - While in London - Consort queen Maria Anna de Austria takes over the regency of the Kingdom while the king recovers
January(?) 1(?), 1743 - London - Carvalho e Melo asks permition to returns to Lisbon for being ill
November 21, 1743 - Lisbon, Portugal - Carvalho e Melo returns to Lisbon
August 22, 1744 - Lisbon - He is called to the Royal Palace, where he learns of the mission that would be entrusted to him
September 14, 1744 - Lisbon - Carvalho e Melo receives instructions to take royal letters to the Emperor and Queen of Hungary, receiving monetary assistance from the crown for travel expenses
October 8, 1744 - Lisbon - Carvalho e Melo leaves for Vienna, via London, in order to inform George II of his mission in Austria.
Deember 1(?), 1744 - London - He disembarks first in London to attend to embassy business and to follow the India Company's plan that insisted on proceeding.
May(?) 1(?), 1745 - The Hague, Netherlands - Passage through The Hague on the way to Vienna
June(?) 1(?), 1745 - Hannover, Germany - Passage through Hannover on the way to Vienna
July 17, 1745 - Vienna, Austria - Arrives in Vienna
September 13, 1745 - Frankfurt, Germany - Accompanies Maria Theresa (future Holy Roman Empress) and the Court to Frankfurt for the imperial election. Francis III Stephen is elected Holy Roman Emperor
December 13, 1745 - Vienna - Carvalho e Melo and Eleonore Ernestina, Countess of Daun sign the nuptial contract
December 18, 1745 - Vienna - Carvalho e Melo marries Eleonore Ernestine Eva Wolfganga Gräfin von und zu Daun auf Sassenheim und Callaborn (Countess of Daun)
May 31, 1746 - Vienna - Letter to Marco António de Azevedo Coutinho, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and War: "In the instructions with which I left that court, the King ordered me to be called a simple wayfarer. In the letters of belief he named me, whoever wrote, emissary. And this resulted in two things. First, that when I arrived here, to make up for the lack of means, which I did not have in my faculties, I said that, in fact, I was a traveler, and had left my home in England , because my mission in this court was restricted to an object, which could not be of long duration. Second, that the said word emissary caused this court notable strangeness, seeming to it absolutely new, and not finding it in accordance with the gravity of the case. business, which I came to deal with"
August 8, 1746 - Vienna - Letter to Marco António de Azevedo Coutinho, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and War: "The situation in which I spoke to the Empress was and is such that her interests can decide, not only on the conservation of the house in Austria, but on the freedom of the whole of Europe if general peace is achieved as had hitherto been projected, and if the States of the House of Austria are divided by it; if the two maritime powers (England and Holland) do a public confession of their present impotence, to support the indivisibility of the same States and their greater future impotence, after the aforementioned States were once divided: in such a case all the treaties, which we have hitherto made for the purpose of our conservation, on one hand would be useless to support us, because in spite of them they would be obliged to do what France wanted; on the other hand, they would remain in force to afflict us; because England and Holland, as long as they are not completely annihilated, always continue to enjoy their observance, and to do us the vexations that they bring with it. If, on the other hand, those allies of ours increase their power and strength, through our alliance with Spain, everything remains, at least, in the old state"
October 18, 1746 - Vienna - Empowered to negotiate and sign agreements concerning mediation between Rome and Vienna after the death of Philip V of Spain
May 1(?), 1748 - Vienna - Expresses the desire to return to Portugal, complaining of having run the risk of going blind
November 15, 1748 - Vienna - Letter to Marco António de Azevedo Coutinho, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and War: "With the negotiation of mediation between the crowns of Rome and Vienna at that time, mediation that was to be negotiated eight hundred leagues from Lisbon, in the climate of Germany much colder than that of England, where my health was ruined and a mediation that did not promise the slightest hope of being effective, against the strong and already clear opposition of the ministries, with whom it should be negotiated; presenting, I mean, this remote and almost impossible negotiation, demonstrated the facts that there was no lack of someone to inculcate me for it... There is, in political books, and in the examples of ministerial history, intrigue more trivial and shabby than that in which similar commissions are promoted, very remote and extremely difficult. , the ministers that some particular interest seeks to remove from the shadow of the throne and ruin the master's concept..The aforementioned gruesome means had the aim of excluding me from the establishment of the aforementioned Oriental Company, so that I could not have the smallest part in it."
May 31, 1749 - While in Vienna - King John V finally requests him to end his Envoyship
August 30, 1749 - Vienna - Carvalho e Melo holds his farewell audience in Vienna
September 3, 1749 - Vienna - Carvalho e Melo departs for Lisbon, via France and Spain
December 20(?), 1749 - Lisbon, Portugal - Arrives in Lisbon
May 19, 1750 - Lisbon - Marco António de Azevedo Coutinho, diplomat and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and War, dies in Lisbon.
July 31, 1750 - Lisbon - King John V dies, aged 60. Regent Queen Maria Anna of Austria gives up power to their eldest son Joseph I of Portugal
August 1, 1750 - Lisbon - Joseph I ascends to the throne of Portugal
August 2, 1750 - Lisbon - The new King, Joseph I, names Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo as one of his three ministers
August 5, 1750 - Lisbon  - Carvalho e Melo is designated to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and War
September 7, 1750 - Lisbon - Solemn act of the acclamation of King Joseph
September 25, 1750 - Lisbon - Letter from ex-ambassador Manuel Teles da Silva, Count of Tarouca, in Vienna
January(?) 1(?), 1751 - Lisbon - Founds Banco Real (Royal Bank) and establishes a new structure to manage the collection of taxes, centralized by the Real Fazenda de Lisboa (Royal estate of Lisbon), under its direct control
February 5, 1751 - Lisbon - The "Junta", summoned by Carvalho e Melo, gives the unanimous opinion that negotiations for the implementation of the Treaty of Madrid should be broken off.
September 21, 1751 - Lisbon - Instructions by Carvalho e Melo for the mission to demarcate the southern borders of Brazil with the Spanish possessions, directed by Gomes Freire de Andrade, future 1st Count of Bobadela.
January(?) 1(?), 1753 - Lisbon - Creation of the Company of Commerce of Portuguese Asia, aimed at controlling and promoting commercial activity with the Portuguese State of India and with China, strengthening the practice of mercantilism in the kingdom
August 14, 1754 - Lisbon - The Queen-Mother Maria Anna of Austria dies, aged 70
June 7, 1755 - Lisbon - Creation of the Grão Pará and Maranhão General Company
Earthquake, Tsunami and fires in Lisbon, 1755
November 1, 1755 - Lisbon - Great Lisbon Earthquake at 09h30 in the morning on "All SaintsDay". It lasted "lasted from three and a half to six minutes, causing fissures 5 metres (16 ft) wide in the city center. Survivors rushed to the open space of the docks for safety and watched as the sea receded, revealing a plain of mud littered with lost cargo and shipwrecks. Approximately 40 minutes after the earthquake, a tsunami engulfed the harbor and downtown area, rushing up the Tagus river "so fast that several people riding on horseback ... were forced to gallop as fast as possible to the upper grounds for fear of being carried away." It was followed by two more waves. Candles lit in homes and churches all around the city for All Saints' Day were knocked over, starting a fire that developed into a firestorm which burned for hours in the city, asphyxiating people up to 30 metres (98 ft) from the blaze" (wikipedia). The catastrophe causes about 50,000 deaths
November 2, 1755 - Lisbon - Carvalho e Melo consults the cardinal-patriarch of Lisbon on the fate to be given to the bodies of those killed in the earthquake
November 3, 1755 - Lisbon - Letter from ex-Ambassador Manuel Teles da Silva, Count of Tarouca, in Vienna
November 8, 1755 - Lisbon - New earthquake in Lisbon
November 11, 1755 - Lisbon - New earthquake in Lisbon
November 14, 1755 - Lisbon - Issues orders to rebuild "Ribeira das Naus" (Navy arsenal on the Tagus River)
November 18, 1755 - Lisbon - Carvalho e Melo, as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, officially informs Portuguese diplomats abroad of the earthquake
December 11, 1755 - Lisbon - New earthquake in Lisbon
December 21, 1755 - Lisbon - New earthquake in Lisbon
December 24, 1755 - Lisbon - Presentation by the chief engineer of the Kingdom Manuel da Maia of the first plan for the reconstruction of Lisbon
April 9, 1756 - Lisbon - Manuel da Maia tasks a group of engineers with studying an urbanization plan for the western part of the city.
May 6, 1756 - Lisbon - Carvalho e Melo is appointed Secretary of State of Internal Affairs of the Kingdom, also known as Prime-Minister, after the death of Pedro da Mota e Silva
July 16, 1756 - Lisbon - The General Company of Agriculture of the Vineyards of High Douro is created on the initiative of the Marquis of Pombal. Its creation was part of an environment of overproduction and crisis in the quality of Port wine. This chaotic state was mainly due to an attempt at easy profit. In order to maintain the level of exports to England, at a time of underproduction, the Douro farmers choose to weaken the final product, admitting wines from other wine regions and adding elderberries, among other harmful products. Exports fall drastically, degenerating into a crisis
August 31, 1756 - Lisbon - Carvalho e Melo takes over as State Secretariat of the Kingdom's businesses
October 1(?), 1756 - Lisbon - Father Gabriel Malagrida, an italian jesuit, publishes an opuscule in Lisbon, pointing the 1755 Lisbon's earthquake as a divine punishment for the spiritual negligence of the portuguese people and its Court
November 1, 1756 - Lisbon - Carvalho e Melo resents Malagrida's implicit criticism of the government, and persuades King Joseph to banish him to Setúbal and to have all Jesuits removed from the Court
February 23, 1757 - While in Lisbon - In Porto, about 5,000 insurgents besiege the house of Bernardo Duarte de Figueiredo, judge administrator of the Douro Company
May 1(?), 1757 - Lisbon - In Pará (Brazil), laws are published that extinguish the missions and in which the Indians of Brazil are declared free
May 3, 1757 - Lisbon - The Directory Law is issued, proposing the regulation of various colonial practices, establishing educational criteria, workforce management and relations between indigenous and settlers
August 27, 1758 - Lisbon - Mourning in the Court: Queen Maria Bárbara, King Joseph's sister, dies in Spain. The Directory Law is confirmed
September 3, 1758 - Lisbon - King Joseph I was riding incognito in a carriage traveling along a side street on the outskirts of Lisbon. He would return to the Ajuda tents for a night with his lover the “little marquess” Távora D.Teresa Leonor. Along the way, the carriage is intercepted by three masked men, who shoot at the occupants. The King is shot in the arm and shoulder but survives. Although probably innocent, the Távora family, which included the Duke of Aveiro and the Count of Alvor - Carvalho and Melo's political enemies - are implicated and arrested with their families soon after. The sentence ordered the execution of all, including women and children. Only the interventions of Queen Mariana and Princess Maria (future Queen Maria I) saved most of them.
September 7, 1758 - Lisbon - King Joseph resumes the government due to his complete recovery
December 12, 1758 - While in Lisbon - The Marquis of Távora, his two children, and the Count of Atouguia, his son-in-law, are arrested and imprisoned in the cages in the animal yard of the Palace of Belém. The Duke of Aveiro, his wife and children, as well as some of the his servants, are imprisoned in his palace in Azeitão
December 14, 1758 - Lisbon - The marquises of Távora, mother and daughter-in-law, and the countess of Atouguia are arrested and sent to different convents
December 18, 1758 - Lisbon - The defendants are declared “pilgrims, vagabonds, not belonging to any civil society and deprived of the birthplace and denomination of Portuguese”, as had been requested by the Judge of the People and the House of the Twenty Four
December 22, 1758 - Lisbon - Due to the attack on the king, searches are carried out in the Jesuit Houses.
January 11, 1759 - Lisbon - Several Jesuits are arrested, among them Father Gabriel Malagrida, being sent to the Junqueira fort
The execution of the Távoras
January 13, 1759 - Belém, Lisbon - The Távora family is gruesomely tortured and executed in public (with the Court present). The events greatly affected the future queen, who began feeling an intense hatred towards the Prime Minister Carvalho e Melo
January 19, 1759 - Lisbon - Order is given to take the goods of the priests of the Society of Jesus
April 19, 1759 - Lisbon - Creation of the Commerce Class, initiating the reform of education
June 6, 1759 - Lisbon - Carvalho e Melo is made "Count of Oeiras" by royal letter
June 28, 1759 - Lisbon - To remedy the deficiency of structures and teachers, through a charter dated June 28, 1759, the government instituted the Royal Classes, serving the elementary teaching of Letters and Humanities, as well as providing classes in Latin Grammar, Greek and Rhetoric. . This document highlighted the "pernicious" character of the Jesuit teaching method, stating that one of the objectives of the changes was to bring the Portuguese system closer to that in practice in the more civilized nations of Europe. In addition, the position of Director of Studies was created, which should supervise the progress of the reforms, and the admission of professors by competition was defined.
August 13, 1759 - Lisbon - Creation of the General Company of Pernambuco and Paraíba (Brazil)
September 3, 1759 - Lisbon - The law of expulsion is published, in which the members of the company of Jesus (jesuits) are declared "corrupted, deplorably alienated from their holy institute... Rebels, traitors, adversaries and aggressors..." against the royal person and his States, being  "denatured, proscribed and exterminated", and having to be expelled from all Portugal and its domains.
September 16, 1759 - Lisbon - The 133 members of the Society of Jesus who were detained at Quinta de Azeitão, in the Duchy of Aveiro, were embarked on the brig "São Nicolau", bound for Civittavechia, port of the Papal States, and others on the brig "São Boaventura", which departs for Genoa
July 22, 1760 - Lisbon - The "Gazeta de Lisboa" (Lisbon Gazette) resumes its publication, after having stopped its publication due to the earthquake of 1755.
February 1(?), 1761 - Lisbon - The Count of Oeiras prohibits the importation of slaves into mainland Portugal and India, not for humanitarian reasons, which were foreign to their nature, but because they were necessary labor in Brazil. At the same time, it stimulated the trade in black slaves to that colony, and two companies were founded, with the support and direct involvement of the Marquis of Pombal - the Companhia do Grão-Pará e Maranhão and the Companhia Geral de Pernambuco and Paraíba - whose activities The main one was precisely the slave trade, mostly Africans, to Brazilian lands.
February 12, 1761 - Lisbon - Signing of the Treaty of Pardo, in which Portugal and Spain agreed to annul the Treaty of Demarcation of Santo Ildefonso of 1750, and to return to the previous situation, with Portugal maintaining the Sacramento Colony, on the estuary of the River Plate, and the Spaniards the region of the Missions Jesuits on the Uruguay River.
March 7, 1761 - Lisbon - The Count of Oeiras creates the Colégio dos Nobres (College of the Nobles)
September 19, 1761 - Lisbon - The transport of slaves from ports in Africa, America and Asia to Portugal is prohibited, and the slave trade in Portugal is prohibited, with the intention that the slaves do not leave Brazil.
September 21, 1761 - Lisbon - Finding the works attributed to Malagrida as heretical, he was sentenced to death. The italian jesuit is strangled at the garrotte in Rossio Square. His corpse is then burned on a bonfire and the ashes are thrown into the Tagus river
December 22, 1761 - Lisbon - The Count of Oeiras creates the General Treasury by charter, as the top institution of the Portuguese tax administration aimed at centralizing the current management of public accounts.
March 11, 1762 - Lisbon - General Tirawley, former british ambassador in Lisbon, returns to his post to inform George III about portuguese preparations for war with Spain and France
March 16, 1762 - Lisbon - The ambassadors of France and Spain deliver to the Portuguese Government a "pro-memory" demanding that Portugal adhere to the Bourbon Family Pact, signed in 1761, and exclude from its ports the ships of the British and their allies in exchange for the protection of their domains overseas. Spanish forces begin to concentrate on the borders
March 20, 1762 - Lisbon - The Portuguese Government refuses the offer of cooperation by the two countries in the defense of Portuguese overseas domains, effectively rejecting adherence to the Family Pact.
April 1, 1762 - Lisbon - In a new "pro-memory" the ambassadors of France and Spain demand that the Portuguese Government participate in the war against Great Britain, informing that Spanish troops will invade Portuguese territory if Portugal does not prevent the use of Portuguese ports by British ships
April 5, 1762 - Lisbon - The Portuguese Government refuses to collaborate with France and Spain in the war against Great Britain.
April 16, 1762 - Lisbon - Bearing in mind that since 1754 the Portuguese Army had been reduced to half of its statutory numbers, the Marquis of Pombal ordered an increase in the number of infantry, cavalry and artillery regiments.
April 23, 1762 - Lisbon - The French and Spanish ambassadors deliver to the Portuguese government a third and final "pro-memory", in an ultimatum style, demanding the closure of ports to the British and their allies.
April 25, 1762 - Lisbon - Portugal responds negatively to the ultimatum, effectively making war inevitable
April 30, 1762 - While in Lisbon - The commander of the Spanish forces concentrated around Zamora, General Nicolás de Carvajal y Lancaster, Marquis of Sarriá, issues a proclamation to the Portuguese, stating that the objective of the invasion of Portugal was to benefit the Portuguese.
April 27, 1762 - Lisbon - The spanish and french ambassadors abandon Lisbon
May 2, 1762 - Lisbon - Letter to the Field Marshal João de Almada, Governor of the Arms of the City of Porto, indicating the tactics to be followed to face the invasion of the Castilians, which is expected to be carried out between Bragança and Miranda, with the aim of reaching Porto.
May 5, 1762 - While in Lisbon - Spanish forces enter Portugal via the Trás-os-Montes border and head towards Miranda do Douro, which is besieged.
May 6, 1762 - Lisbon - British auxiliary forces disembark in Lisbon, under the command of General George Townshend, later Viscount and Marquis Townshend
May 8, 1762 - While in Lisbon - The explosion of a powder magazine during a bombardment causes 400 deaths in Miranda do Douro, leading to the surrender of the town, which on that day is occupied by the Spanish army
May 16, 1762 - While in Lisbon - The city of Bragança surrenders and is occupied by the Spanish army
May 18, 1762 - Lisbon - King Joseph I declares WAR against Spain and France
May 21, 1762 - While in Lisbon - The city of Chaves is occupied by the spanish army
June 15, 1762 - Lisbon - Spain declares WAR on Portugal and the publication of the "Gazeta de Lisboa" is suspended
July 3, 1762 - Lisbon - By British appointment, William of Schaumburg-Lippe, the Count of Lippe, arrives in Lisbon with the aim of commanding the Portuguese-British army.
July 10, 1762 - Lisbon - William, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe, is appointed marshal-general of the Portuguese-British army.
July 20, 1762 - While in Lisbon - France declares WAR on Portugal
July 23, 1762 - While in Lisbon - The spanish take Cidade Rodrigo unopposed
August 25, 1762 - While in Lisbon - A new front opens with the entry of Spanish forces of the Marquis of Sarriá across the Beiras border, which take the town of Almeida
October 29, 1762 - While in Lisbon - The Sacramento Colony (Uruguay)surrenders and is occupied by Spanish forces
October 31, 1762 - Lisbon - Letter to Pombal from the Army Secretary - "and [the number of deserters] would be higher, they say, if they were not afraid of [being killed by] our irregulars"
November 3, 1762 - While in Lisbon - At Escalos de Cima, Penamacor and Monsanto, the portuguese, under Hamilton, rout a retreating spanish cavalry force, while the british of Fenton sweep another retreating spanish corps from Salvaterra. A provisional peace treaty is signed at Fontainebleau between the kingdoms of Portugal, Great Britain, France and Spain.
November 22, 1762 - While in Lisbon - The Spanish general, Count of Aranda, proposes an armistice
December 1, 1762 - While in Lisbon - An armistice is signed between the Portuguese-British and Franco-Spanish armies commanded, respectively, by the Count of Lippe and by General Pedro Pablo Abarca de Bolea, Count of Aranda.
February 10, 1763 - While in Lisbon - A peace treaty (Treaty of Peace of Paris) is signed in Paris, whereby Spain returns to Portugal the cities/towns of Chaves e Almeida and the Sacramento Colony on the estuary of the River Plate.
February 25, 1763 - Lisbon - The peace treaty is ratified by King Joseph I of Portugal
March 25, 1763 - Lisbon - Peace is proclaimed in Lisbon between the Kingdoms of Portugal, Spain and France
January 1, 1765 - Lisbon - Earthquake in Lisbon
September 10, 1765 - Lisbon - Abolition of the fleets of Rio de Janeiro and Bahia, giving rise to freedom of commerce between all domains of the Portuguese Empire
September 13, 1765 - Lisbon - Earthquake in Lisbon
The Marquis of Pombal
and the city of Lisbon, 1766
February 19, 1766 - Lisbon - Inaugural opening of the Royal College of Nobles, with the greatest solemnity, with the entire royal family and court attending the ceremony
February 5, 1768 - Lisbon - Creation of the Royal Censorship Table, with the aim of transferring from the hands of the Church to the direct control of the State the censorship of books and publications considered to be disturbing in religious, political and civil matters that entered Portugal, a function that until then was the responsibility of the Inquisition , applying pecuniary and corporal penalties against those who transgress the rules.
May 18, 1768 - Lisbon - The statutes of the Royal Censorship Table, charged with organizing a general index of all prohibited books, is approved
December 24, 1768 - Lisbon - The Royal Print, the future National Press, is created
March 10, 1769 - While in Lisbon - Mazagon fortress in southern Morocco is abandoned. It was the last Portuguese possession on the Moroccan coast. Its population is evacuated by two ships and sent to Brazil, where the town of "Vila Nova de Mazagão" (New Town of Mazagão) is established
October 16, 1769 - Lisbon - Receives the title of Marquis of Pombal, aged 71
December 1(?), 1770 - Lisbon - The Board of Literary Welfare is created, with the objective of investigating the causes of the decay of the University of Coimbra. Less than a year later, the Board presents the conclusions and those responsible: the Jesuits
June 1(?), 1771 - Lisbon - The «Real Fábrica da Cordoaria» (Ropework Royal Factory) is created to manufacture cables, weave sails and flags for the Navy
September 6, 1771 - Lisbon - A mentally ill man throws a stone at him in the street as he passes by
August 28, 1772 - Lisbon - The Marquis of Pombal is appointed Plenipotentiary and Lieutenant of the University of Coimbra, with the determination to inspect it
September 15, 1772 - Lisbon - The Marquis of Pombal leaves Lisbon for Coimbra to visit the University
September 22, 1772 - Coimbra - Arrives in Coimbra to personally supervise the University's renovation
October 24, 1772 - Coimbra - Leaves Coimbra for Lisbon
December 21, 1772 - Lisbon - Letter to  the Pope (Ganganelli) insisting in the suppresion of the "Company of Jesus"
January 15, 1773 - Lisbon - Creation of the Admiralty and the "General Company of the Real Fisheries of the Kingdom of the Algarve", which are granted privileges and guarantees such as the monopoly in the exploitation of fisheries throughout the Algarve province
May 25, 1773 - Lisbon - He enacts a law that extinguishes the differences between Old Christians (Catholics without suspicion of Jewish ancestors) and New Christians, making all previous decrees and laws that discriminated against New Christians and imposed criteria of "blood cleansing" invalid.
July 21, 1773 - While in Lisbon - Pope Clement XIV makes the "Company of Jesus" extinct
September 9, 1773 - Lisbon - The news of the extinction of the "Company of Jesus" is published in Lisbon. The city puts up lamps. There are manifestations of rejoicing in the streets, in the churches and in the Court. King Joseph writes to the Pope to thank
December 30, 1773 - While in Lisbon - Foundation of the town of Vila Real de Santo António by royal letter
January 2, 1774 - Lisbon - First meeting of the Chamber Senate, at the new Palace of Rossio in Lisbon, with the presence of the Marquis of Pombal, Secretary of State and of the court.
February 10, 1774 - Lisbon - The Marquis of Pombal orders the Viceroy of India to extinguish the Inquisition of Goa
June 6, 1775 - Terreiro do Paço, Lisbon - During 3 days, the inauguration of the equestrian statue of Joseph I is celebrated. During the morning, a bomb is discovered in the carriage that was supposed to take Pombal to the Royal Palace. The blame fell on a Neapolitan - Gianbatista Pelle - who, despite not having confessed, was severely judged for the crime of "lèse-majesté"
October 12, 1775 - Cordoaria Square, Junqueira, Lisbon - Pombal signs the sentence for the man who put the bomb in his carriage - "may [Gianbatista Pelle] be driven in a car, fire insignia, in the Cordoaria Square, at the site of Junqueira, and there, alive, his hands are to be cutted off, and afterward be taken and dismembered by four horses, and his body broken into pieces, which will be consumed with fire until they are reduced to ashes, which will be thrown to the wind; and this for conjuring with other partners against the life of the most illustrious and most excellent Marquis of Pombal, prime-minister and secretary of state, immediate to the royal person, and his lieutenant"
November 29, 1776 - Lisbon - With King Joseph seriously ill, his daughter Maria assumes the regency of Portugal
February 24, 1777 - Sintra - King Joseph I dies
March 1, 1777 - Lisbon - Pombal requests his resignation from Princess Regent Maria and bids farewell to the Government
March 4, 1777 - Lisbon - The Marquis of Pombal is removed from public office
March 5, 1777 - Lisbon - Pombal abandons the Court
March 6, 1777 - Oeiras - Letter to his firstborn son, expressing his sadness and pain
March 15, 1777 - Pombal - Pombal and family arrive at his manor house, where they receive numerous visits from creditors
February 25, 1778 - While in Pombal - Queen Maria I extinguishes the Grão-Pará and Maranhão General Company
October 1(?), 1779 - Pombal - Interrogated (until January 1780) in a legal process of accusation of abuse of power, corruption and other types of fraud. The Marquis of Pombal defends himself by declaring that he had never acted without the King's permission.
August 16, 1781 - While in Pombal - Queen Maria I confirms the accusations against the former Prime-minister and has a decree published declaring Pombal "defendant and deserving of an exemplary punishment", but because the Marquis had asked her to "pardon, hating the reckless excess that he had committed" refering to "the corporal penalties that should have been imposed on him", in attention to the Marquis's state of health, the Queen confirms only his exile
May 8, 1782 - Pombal - Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo dies, aged 82 =(END)

Monday 17 January 2022

Prince Henry the Navigator (Infante D. Henrique)

The "real" Henry the Navigator
Dom(*) Henrique of Portugal, Duke of Viseu (4 March 1394 – 13 November 1460), better known as Prince Henry the Navigator (Infante Dom Henrique), was a central figure in the early days of the Portuguese Empire and in the 15th-century European maritime discoveries and maritime expansion. Through his administrative direction, he is regarded as the main initiator of what would be known as the Age of Discovery. Henry was the fourth child of the Portuguese King John I, who founded the House of Avis. After procuring the new caravel ship, Henry was responsible for the early development of Portuguese exploration and maritime trade with other continents through the systematic exploration of Western Africa, the islands of the Atlantic Ocean, and the search for new routes. He encouraged his father to conquer Ceuta (1415), the Muslim port on the North African coast across the Straits of Gibraltar from the Iberian Peninsula. He learned of the opportunities offered by the Saharan trade routes that terminated there, and became fascinated with Africa in general; he was most intrigued by the Christian legend of Prester John and the expansion of Portuguese trade. He is regarded as the patron of Portuguese exploration. (Intro from Wikipedia)

(*) honorific prefix used in Portugal during the time of the Monarchy, equivalent of the english "Sir"

March 4, 1394 - Porto, Portugal - Infante D. Henrique (Prince Henry) of Portugal is born
March 2, 1408 - Évora, Portugal - John I settles in Évora for the Courts of Évora
April 7, 1408 - Évora - The court obtains a series of revenues to allow the 3 eldest children to set up their own Houses, with autonomy and each one having an individualized body of servants.
April 17, 1411 - Viseu, Portugal - Moves to live with the Court in Viseu
October 31, 1411 - While in Viseu - In Ayllon, representatives of Portugal and Castile sign a peace agreement between the two countries
August(?) 1(?), 1414 - Torres Vedras, Portugal - Council with Nun'Álvares Pereira, former Constable of Portugal during the wars of 1383-1385 =(START)
July 18, 1415 - Odivelas, Portugal - His mother, Philippa of Lancaster, receives communion and later at night has a vision "of our Lady to give her strength to accomplish the journey". She gives the last blessing to the infants, names them knights of Christ and offers them the swords with which they should fight on the journey to Ceuta
July 19, 1415 - Odivelas - Philippa of Lancaster dies, aged 55
Prince Henry in armour
with his trademark beard
and Arms of Duke of Viseu
(Jerónimos Monastery)
July 25, 1415 - Lisbon, Portugal - An army of 19,000 to 20,000 knights and soldiers (including english, galician and biscay) sail to Ceuta
July 28, 1415 - Lagos, Portugal - Stopover at Lagos, south coast of Portugal. The Prince and the men are informed that the objective of the expedition is the conquest of Ceuta
August 2, 1415 - Faro, Portugal - After setting sail from Lagos, the fleet is hit by a violent storm and is forced to anchor at Faro for 7 days
August 13, 1415 - Off Ceuta | Algeciras - The fleet appears for the first time off Ceuta, but incomplete, as a storm dispersed part of its units. Armada regroups in Algeciras
August 19, 1415 - Algeciras, Spain - The surprise effect was lost and Ceuta had received considerable reinforcements, however John I could not return to the kingdom in such an inglorious way because that would bring him discredit throughout Christendom. Assembling the Council, the King announces that they would return to Ceuta
August 21, 1415 - Ceuta - The portuguese armada arrives at Ceuta and the army lands
August 22, 1415 - Ceuta - Ceuta falls in portuguese hands - The three princes of the "Illustrious generation" - Duarte, Henry and Peter, are armed as knights
September 1(?), 1415 - Tavira, Portugal - King John lands at Tavira. He names Prince Peter as Duke of Coimbra and Prince Henry as Duke of Viseu
September 5(?), 1415 - Lisbon - King John I and the Princes return to Lisbon
October 23, 1415 - Lisbon - Letter to the Duke of Bourbon politely refusing the invitation for the princes and 16 other knights to participate in a tournament with him, because it was hoped to launch a new offensive in North Africa against the Moors of Fez soon
February 16, 1416 - Lisbon(?) - The King grants him the mayorship of Viseu. The documents of that day already refer to him as "Duke of Viseu and Lord of Covilhã"
February 18, 1416 - Lisbon(?) - He is charged of the government of Ceuta. It was up to him to organize, in the kingdom, the maintenance of that stronghold in Morocco
October 24, 1416 - Batalha - Transfer of the body of Philippa of Lancaster from Odivelas to the Batalha Monastery
January(?) 1(?), 1418 - Ceuta - Returns to Ceuta
January(?) 1(?), 1419 - While in Ceuta(?) - Prince Henry is appointed governor of the Southern Province of Algarve
May 25, 1420 - Tomar, Portugal - A representative of John I presents in Florence the application for the attribution of the Government of the Order of Christ to Prince Henry. He gains appointment as the Grand Master of the Military Order of Christ, the Portuguese successor to the Knights Templar, which had its headquarters at Tomar, in central Portugal. Prince Henry held this position for the remainder of his life, and the Order was an important source of funds for his ambitious plans, especially his persistent attempts to conquer the Canary Islands, which the Portuguese had claimed to have discovered before the year 1346
October 20, 1420 - Tomar - Obtains from the crown an authorization to hold a free fair in Tomar
November 24, 1420 - While in Tomar - Pope Martin V issues a Bull giving perpetual character to the appointment
January 18, 1424 - While in Tomar - The King gives him the Lordship of Alcáçovas
January 21, 1424 - While in Tomar - The King donates houses and land in Ribeira de Santarém, where the Duke of Viseu would install a soap-works
April 15, 1426 - Tomar - Letter to the judges and good men of Tomar on the norms to be observed in the collection of firstfruits and tithes
May 19, 1426 - Tomar - Gathers the General Chapter of the Military Order of Christ in Tomar
June 9, 1426 - Tomar - Letter to Pope Martin V
January(?) 1(?), 1427 - While in Tomar - Diogo de Silves discovers Santa Maria Island, Azores Archipelago
April 22, 1427 - While in Tomar - Prince Peter visits the English Court
April 18, 1428 - Lisbon - Buys houses in Lisbon, in the Parish of São Nicolau
September 22, 1428 - Coimbra - Attends the marriage of his older brother (and future King) Duarte
December 15, 1428 - Estremoz (near the castilian border) - Reception for the bride of the heir to the Portuguese Crown
January 12, 1429 - Avis - John I receives envoys from Philip, Duke of Burgundy to ask for Princess Isabel's hand in marriage. The famous painter Van Eyck paints the King and the Princess
June 4, 1429 - Sintra - The envoy of the Duke of Burgundy arrives with authorization for the marriage
July 25, 1429 - Palace of Alcáçova, Lisbon - Celebration of the marriage of Princess Isabel and the Duke of Burgundy by proxy in the Palace of Alcáçova (inside St.Jorge castle)
September 26, 1429 - Lisbon - Farewell parties (until the 28th)
September 30, 1429 - Lisbon - Accompanies Princess Isabel to the ship that would take her to Flanders
January(?) 1(?), 1431 - Lisbon(?) - He donates houses for the "General Study" to reunite all the sciences—grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, music, and astronomy—into what would later become the University of Lisbon. For other subjects like medicine or philosophy, he ordered that each room should be decorated according to each subject that was being taught
April 1, 1431 - Carmo Convent, Lisbon - King John I (and Prince Henry) visits his old comrade-in-arms Nun'Álvares Pereira, former Constable of Portugal, at his deathbead
October 12, 1431 - Lisbon - Buys houses in Lisbon and donates them to the University of Lisbon
October 30, 1431 - While in Lisbon(?) - The Peace Treaty of Medina del Campo is signed between Portugal and Castile
January 27, 1432 - Almeirim - Ratification of the Peace Treaty between Portugal and Castile
August 1(?), 1433 - Alcochete - The King (with Prince Henry) departs for Alcochete on advice of the doctors and princes, seeking to get better
August 11, 1433 - Lisbon - Feeling downcast, the king asks to be taken to Lisbon to die in his best home. He does charities at the Cathedral and asks to be shaved so he doesn't die ugly and misshapen
August 14, 1433 - Lisbon - King John I dies, aged 76
September 26, 1433 - Lisbon - Letter of Donatory Captaincies (Inauguration of the system)
October 25, 1433 - Lisbon - King John's body is taken from the Cathedral of Lisbon to the Monastery of Batalha
November 6, 1433 - Lisbon(?) - Appointed Curator of the Prince
November 17, 1433 - Sintra - Swearing-in ceremony for 20-months-old Afonso V
November 25(?), 1433 - Santarém - Courts of Santarém (until the end of the year)
January 20, 1434 - Pombal - Participates in a "composition" made in Pombal, at his inn, where he intervenes in disputes between his subjects
August 18, 1434 - Batalha - The remains of King John and Philippa of Lancaster are enclosed in the mausoleum that the king had built, a conjugal tomb
March 7, 1436 - Estremoz - Signs his will, taking his nephew Ferdinand as "Son and heir"
March 22, 1436 - Évora - Courts of Évora (until March 30th)
July 3, 1437 - Lisbon - Prince Henry takes command of the Armada prepared for the conquest of Tangier. The nobility do not join the expedition en masse as in 1415
July 12, 1437 - Lisbon - Processions and visit of the royal family to the tomb of Constable Nuno Álvares Pereira. Prince Henry takes the Constable's banner with him
August 17, 1437 - Lisbon - Solemn ceremony at the Lisbon Cathedral - Prince Henry receives the Royal standard from the King
August 22, 1437 - Belém, Lisbon - The portuguese fleet departs Tagus River for Tangier, with Henry the Navigator and Prince D.Fernando aboard
August 27, 1437 - Ceuta - The fleet arrives in Ceuta. Prince Henry decides to continue rather than wait for the troops left behind due to lack of transport. Initially, an expedition of 14,000 men was expected, but only 43% of that landed, about 6,000
September 9, 1437 - Ceuta - Prince Henry's overland column leaves Ceuta
September 13, 1437 - Tangier, Morocco - The army reaches Tangier
September 20, 1437 - Tangier - The first assault to Tangier fails when the portuguese have to withraw with too few (and short) scaling ladders
September 30, 1437 - Tangier - The King of Fez arrives with a relief army
October 3, 1437 - Tangier - While the Portuguese are concentrated to face the army of the King of Fez, the Tangier garrison leaves in a sortie against the siege camp but are defeated by a Portuguese reserve force
October 5, 1437 - Tangier - A second assault to Tangier also fails, even with improved scaling ladders, a new siege tower and two large ordenance cannons shipped in from Ceuta
October 9, 1437 - Tangier - A second and huge Moroccan relief army arrives, made up of "many kings" (Fez, Marrakech, Sijilmassa, Velez, etc.). They soon charge violently against the Portuguese, relieving the pressure on Tangier and encircle them in their camp, effectively cutting them off from their ships. Prince Henry's horse is killed under him and the prince is rescued by a small group of guards when he is already in the midst of the Moroccan cavalry.
October 10, 1437 - Tangier - The moroccans launch another attack on the siege camp but are repelled. The situation for the portuguese becomes critical, with food and water running out and the army reduced to half
October 12, 1437 - Tangier - A truce is called and negotiations are opened
October 17, 1437 - Tangier - A treaty is signed by Prince Henry and Salah ibn Salah, emir of Tangier. The portuguese are allowed to return to their ships unmolested, but had to leave all their equipment behind, from horses and artillery to personal weapons. Also, Prince Henry promises to deliver Ceuta to the moroccans and commits Portugal to 100 years of Peace with the North African muslim States. As part of the agreement, both parts swap hostages. Salah ibn Salah hands over his son to the portuguese and in return, the portuguese leave four nobles with the moroccans. As a guarantee of fulfillment of the treaty terms, Prince Ferdinand remains as a hostage of Salah ibn Salah until Ceuta is returned
October 19, 1437 - Tangier - The fleet sets sail to Portugal, via Ceuta. Order of the Garter knight Álvaro Vaz de Almada and marshal Vasco Fernandes Coutinho are the last men to leave the beach. When the embarcation is complete, Prince Henry decides not to release Salah ibn Salah's son. In response, Salah ibn Salah dispatches the four portuguese nobles as prisoners to Asilah.
October 21(?), 1437 - Ceuta - Prince Henry lands in Ceuta and plunges into depression
January 25, 1438 - While in Ceuta - King Duarte summons the Courts of Leiria
February 25, 1438 - Beja, Portugal - Prince Henry meets King Duarte in Beja, then returns to Algarve
April 21, 1438 - Faro, Algarve - Letter from Faro, Algarve
May 25, 1438 - While in Faro - Prince Ferdinand is transfered from Asilah to Fez
June 1(?), 1438 - Portel, Algarve - King Duarte, his older brother, dies in Tomar, aged 47. Henry's nephew and sucessor to the throne, Afonso V, was only 6-years-old, so the Queen consort of Portugal, Eleanor of Aragon, is appointed Regent of Portugal
September 30(?), 1438 - Tomar - Arrives in Tomar
The traditional Prince Henry
in "Chronicles of Guinea" (1455)
is actually King Duarte
in courtly clothes
December 24, 1439 - Lisbon - Courts of Lisbon - The princes overcome the Queen's opposition, bringing the child Afonso V to the National Assembly, for the solemn act of confirmation of the regent by the monarch
May 8, 1440 - Lisbon(?) - The Prince signs the Captaincy letter granted to Tristão Vaz Teixeira for the Captaincy of Machico, Madeira
February 12, 1441 - Lamego - The troops of the Duke of Coimbra (Prince Peter) join those of the Duke of Viseu (Prince Henry)
May 1(?), 1441 - Torres Vedras - Courts of Torres Vedras
February 10, 1442 - Letter to the Pope
May 25, 1442 - Óbidos - Formal commitment ceremony of the marriage of Afonso V and Lady Isabel, daughter of the Duke of Coimbra (both minors)
October 18, 1442 - His younger brother, Prince John, Constable of Portugal, dies at Alcácer do Sal, aged 42
April(?) 1(?), 1443 - Lagos - Returns to Lagos in the Spring
June 5, 1443 - While in Lagos - Prince Ferdinand dies in captivity in Fez at age 40, henceforth known as the "Holy Prince"
The only painting of Prince Henry
made during his lifetime, as Master
of the Order of Christ,
on the panels of São Vicente (1450s).
Without his trademark beard but
with the white hair he's had since his 20s,
an Order of Christ necklace
and an Order of Garter belt
August 23, 1443 - Letter to the University of Lisbon
October 22, 1443 - Letter from the King granting him the exclusive navigation south of Cape Bojador (Western Sahara)
October 27, 1443 - The Crown grants him, for life, the area of Cape St.Vincent and the surrounding area within a radius of one league
September 1(?), 1444 - Lagos - In Lagos until the end of the year
April 17, 1445 - Tentúgal - Prince Henry arrives early at Tentúgal for a Council meeting
April 25, 1445 - Tentúgal - Council meeting to decide on sending a host to Castile to help Castilian Constable D. Álvaro de Luna. Confers the honor of Constable to Prince Peter in Coimbra
August 28, 1445 - Receives a donation from the Woad dyeing (Isatis tinctoria) monopoly, an industry that he himself had introduced in the Kingdom
September 28, 1445 - Coimbra - Attends the marriage of the daughters of Prince John
February 3, 1446 - Obtains from the Crown the exclusivity of navigation to the Canary Islands
June 23, 1446 - Raposeira, Algarve - At Raposeira, Algarve
August 8, 1446 - Lagos, Portugal - Arrival of the first 235 slaves in Portugal
November 1, 1446 - Sagres - The Prince signs the Captaincy letter granted to Bartolomeu Perestrelo for the Captaincy of Porto Santo, Madeira Archipelago
March 1(?), 1447 - Évora - Courts of Évora
April 1(?) 1447 - Lisbon - Resides in Lisbon until June
May 6, 1447 - Santarém - Attends the marriage of King Afonso V and Isabel of Coimbra (both 15 years old)
June 1(?), 1447 - Lisbon - Leaves Lisbon
March 9, 1448 - Completes the purchase of the Island of Lanzarote (Canary Islands) from Maciot de Bethencourt
March 25, 1448 - The Duke grants 10 silver marks a year to the University of Lisbon "forever", paid by him and his heirs
July 11, 1448 - While in Algarve - King Afonso V assumes the government of the Kingdom
August 1(?), 1448 - Lisbon - Travels from Algarve to Lisbon
October 1(?), 1448 - Coimbra - Conference with Prince Peter
February 1(?), 1449 - Santarém - King Afonso V and Prince Henry set out to Santarém
The traditional Prince Henry
in the "panels of St.Vincent" (1450s)
is again King Duarte
in courtly clothes
April 1(?), 1449 - Santarém - Council meeting
April 27, 1449 - Coimbra - Afonso V tries to attack Coimbra but Prince Peter leaves the city on May 5
May 16, 1449 - Alcoentre - Skirmishes between forces of King Afonso V and Prince Peter
May 20, 1449 - Vialonga, Alverca, near Lisbon - Battle of Alfarrobeira - Prince Peter is killed along with the Count of Avranches, Álvaro Vasques de Almada, knight of the Order of Garter
May 24, 1449 - Lisbon - After spending three days on the battlefield, Prince Henry returns to Lisbon with the King
May 27, 1449 - Lisbon - Afonso V appoints Prince Henry Governor of the Military Order of
Avis
November 4, 1449 - Lisbon(?) - Receives the donation of Baleal and the Berlengas Islands
January 15, 1450 - The Crown grants him the exclusive rights of coral fishing in the seas of the Kingdom for 5 years and its sale
February 3, 1450 - The Prince signs the Captaincy letter granted to Jacob van Brugge (Jácome de Bruges) for the Captaincy of Terceira Island, Azores Archipelago
November 1, 1450 - The Prince signs the Captaincy letter granted to João Gonçalves Zarco for the Captaincy of Funchal, Madeira
May 18, 1451 - Lisbon(?) - Authorized to build windmills in the Tagus River Valley
The incredible similarity between
he painting of the São Vicente Panels
and the effigy on his tomb.
July 31, 1451 - Vila Franca de Xira - Receives the ambassadors of Emperor Frederick III in Vila Franca
August 9, 1451 - Lisbon - Arrives in Lisbon with the ambassadors
December 8, 1452 - Letter to João Gonçalves Zarco, in Madeira
April 1(?), 1454 - Afonso V donates the Coast of Guinea to Prince Henry
May 1(?), 1455 - Sagres - Spends the month of May in Sagres
December 2, 1455 - Évora - The young Queen Isabel dies at the age of 23, with suspicion of poisoning
January 2, 1456 - Batalha - Deposit of the bones of Queen Leonor next to King Duarte in Batalha Monastery
January 1, 1457 - Obtains the mayorship of Silves, in Algarve
December 26, 1457 - Sagres - Donation of 5% of the profits from the Guinean business to the Order of Christ
September 30, 1458 - Lisbon - King Afonso V (and Prince Henry) sail for Morocco with an embarked army of 25,000 men
October 3, 1458 - Sagres - The fleet anchors at Sagres
October 17, 1458 - Lagos - The fleet sails from Lagos
Prince Henry's effigy
(note the arms of Duke of Viseu)
October 21, 1458 - Alcácer Ceguer (Ksar es-Seghir, Morroco) | Ceuta - 
Conquest of Alcácer Ceguer. Then the King and the Prince go to Ceuta
November 16, 1458 - Ceuta - Prince Henry and the King sail for Algarve
January 1(?), 1459 - Évora - Travels to Évora to stay with the Court
July 2, 1460 - While in Sagres - Afonso V deliberates that the town of Lagos would not be given to anyone else after the death of Prince Henry and that it would revert to the Crown
September 1(?), 1460 - Sagres - Testamentary letters
October 28, 1460 - Sagres - Last Will and Testament
November 13, 1460 - Sagres - Prince Henry the Navigator dies, aged 66 =(END)