The Count of Ribeira Grande (in Portuguese: Conde da Ribeira Grande) was a hereditary Portuguese title of nobility (de juro e herdade), created by King Afonso VI by letters patent of 15 September 1662 to replace the title of Count of Vila Franca. It was held by the family of the captains-donatary of São Miguel Island, in the Azores, the Gonçalves Zarco da Câmara, who descended in the male line from João Gonçalves Zarco, the discoverer of Madeira.
The title was first granted to Dom Manuel Luís Baltazar da Câmara, until then 4th Count of Vila Franca and 8th captain-donatary of São Miguel.
Contents
History
Background
The Câmara family acquired the lordship of São Miguel in 1474, buying the captaincy from João Soares de Albergaria. On 17 June 1583 the heads of the family received the title of Count of Vila Franca, also hereditary in perpetuity. João Gonçalves Zarco, the founder of the line, had been granted a coat of arms by Afonso V on 4 July 1460, and the grant included the surname "Câmara de Lobos", from which the family took its name.
Creation of the title
Although Manuel Luís Baltazar da Câmara was made Count of Ribeira Grande by letters patent of 15 September 1662, the origins of the title lie in the downfall of his father, Rodrigo da Câmara, 3rd Count of Vila Franca, of whose second marriage Manuel Luís was born. The 8th captain-donatary was involved in several scandals during his career and was eventually arrested and tried by the Holy Office. On the basis of various denunciations, witness statements and his own confession, he was convicted; the family's property was confiscated and he was imprisoned in the Convent of Cape St Vincent until his death.
His wife was unable to secure his release, but through her family connections as a descendant of Vasco da Gama she persuaded the Court to restore the family's honours and property after his death. Their son was the direct beneficiary of this rehabilitation. Because of the discredit attached to the countship of Vila Franca, the island's former capital, the king decided to replace it with that of Ribeira Grande, and Afonso VI also returned to him the Crown and Order property his father had lost. The change, made by charter (alvará) of 15 September 1662, was intended to dissociate the title from the name linked to the conviction of the 3rd Count of Vila Franca. The choice of Vila Franca had been controversial from the start, as Philip II of Spain had not consulted the local authorities before creating the dignity.
As well as being donatary, the 1st Count of Ribeira Grande was governor, captain-general and ouvidor-geral (chief magistrate) of São Miguel, alcaide-mor of São Brás Castle and lord of Ponta Delgada, Ribeira Grande, Vila Franca, Nordeste and Água de Pau, among other places.
Marquisate
In 1855 the 8th Count received the title of Marquis of Ribeira Grande, also hereditary, by decree of 5 September that year, signed by Ferdinand II as regent during the minority of Peter V. The grant arose from the verification of the second life of the title of Marquis of Ponta Delgada, which had been granted for two lives to his aunt, Dona Leonor da Câmara, daughter of the 6th Count; its name was then changed to Ribeira Grande. In the same year, by decree of 28 February, the countship was renewed for the marquis's son and heir, the future 9th Count. Although hereditary, the marquisate was never renewed, so the 8th Count was its only holder.
Arms
The Counts of Ribeira Grande bore the undifferenced arms of the Câmara family, inherited from the Counts of Vila Franca: Vert, a tower argent on a mount, with a cupola and cross Or, between two wolves proper leaning against the tower. The motto was Pela Fé, pelo Príncipe, pela Pátria ("For the Faith, for the Prince, for the Fatherland").
Claimants under the Republic
Following the establishment of the Republic in 1910, the state stopped granting titles of nobility. Since then, the following members of the family have claimed to represent the title: