Count of Ribeira Grande

Countship Ribeira Grande

Creation date15 September 1662
Created byAfonso VI of Portugal
First holderDom Manuel Luís Baltasar da Câmara, 1st Count of Ribeira Grande
Last holderDom Vicente de Paula Gonçalves Zarco da Câmara, 10th Count of Ribeira Grande (Monarchy abolished)
Dom José Cabral Gonçalves Zarco da Câmara, 13th Count of Ribeira Grande (Current claimant)
Extinction date1910 (Monarchy abolished)
MottoPela Fé, Pelo Príncipe, Pela Pátria (For the faith, for the prince, for the fatherland)

The Count of Ribeira Grande (Portuguese: Condes de Ribeira Grande) is a title of nobility granted to a hereditary line of nobles from the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, most closely associated with the Gonçalves da Câmara family.[1]

The title was first conferred to Dom Manuel Luís Baltazar da Câmara, 4th Count of Vila Franca,[2] in 1662, and his branch of the Câmara family continued to represent the title after the extinction of noble titles and the monarchy in 1910.

History

Although Dom Manuel Luís Baltazar da Câmara, 9th Captain-Donatário of the island of São Miguel, was created first Count, by a decree of King Afonso VI of Portugal, issued on 15 September 1662, the origins of this title date to the fall of the Count of Vila Franca, and specifically Manuel da Câmara's father Rodrigo da Câmara.[3] The 8th Captain-Donatário was plagued by scandals throughout his career. Unfortunately for the Count he eventually received unwanted attention from the Holy Office of the Inquisition, which arrested and tried the Count.[3] Supported by various complaints, testimonies and even the defendant's own confession, the Count of Vila Franca was convicted, his family possessions confiscated and incarcerated in the Convent of Cape St. Vincent until his death.[3]

Although his wife was unable to liberate her husband, she was able to influence the Royal Court into restoring their family honours and possessions following her husband's death, thanks to her family connections as descendants of Vasco da Gama.[3] Her son was the direct beneficiary of this warming of ties. Owing to the tarnished nature of the Countship of Vila Franca, it was decided by the King to substitute Ribeira Grande for the blemished former provincial capital.[3] The use of Vila Franca had already been a controversial decision in the first place, since Philip II of Spain had not consulted local politicians before instituting the honorific.[3]

Counts of Ribeira Grande (1662)

# Name Dates Title Notes
1 Dom Manuel Luís Baltazar da Câmara 1630–1675 1st Count of Ribeira Grande Also 4th Count of Vila Franca[2]
2 Dom José Rodrigo da Câmara 1665–1724 2nd Count of Ribeira Grande Son of the 1st Count of Ribeira Grande[4]
3 Dom Luís Manuel da Câmara 1685–1723[5] 3rd Count of Ribeira Grande Son of the 2nd Count of Ribeira Grande
4 Dom José da Câmara[6] 1712–1757[6] 4th Count of Ribeira Grande[6] Son of the 3rd Count of Ribeira Grande[6]
5 Dom Guido Augusto da Câmara e Ataíde[7] 1718–1770 5th Count of Ribeira Grande[7] Son of the 3rd Count of Ribeira Grande
6 Dom Luis António José Maria da Câmara[7] 1718–1770 6th Count of Ribeira Grande[7] Son of the 5th Count of Ribeira Grande;[7] Born at Ajuda freguesia;[7] Married Dona Maria Rita de Almeida, daughter of the 2nd Marquis of Alorna, 21st November, 1778;[7] Father of Leonor Maria da Câmara, 1st Marchioness of Ponta Delgada[7][8][9][10]
7 Dom José Maria Gonçalves Zarco da Câmara[11][7] 1784–1820[7] 7th Count of Ribeira Grande[11][7] Son of the 6th Count of Ribeira Grande;[11][7] Born at Alcântra freguesia;[7] Married twice;[7] Firstly, in 1810, to Dona Maria do Santíssimo Sacramento de Vasconcelos e Sousa, daughter of the 2nd Marquis of Castelo-Melhor; And secondly, in 1814, to Dona Mariana de Almeida Portugal, daughter of the 3rd Marquis of Lavradio[7]
8 Dom Francisco de Sales Gonçalves Zarco da Câmara[12] 1819–1872[12][13][7] 8th Count of Ribeira Grande[12][14] Son of the 7th Count of Ribeira Grande; Born at Rio de Janeiro;[7] Created 1st Marquis of Ribeira Grande by decree of King Pedro V of Portugal, issued on September 5, 1855;[12][15][16] Also 2nd Marquis of Ponta Delgada;[7] Married three times[7]
9 Dom José Maria Gonçalves Zarco da Câmara[17][18] 1843–1907[17][7] 9th Count of Ribeira Grande[17][7] Son of the 1st Marquis of Ribeira Grande and 8th Count of Ribeira Grande;[17][7] Born at Alcântra freguesia;[7] Married twice;[7] Firstly, in London, 1862, to Dona Luísa Maria de Sousa Holstein, daughter of the 2nd Duke of Palmela; And secondly to Dona Maria Helena de Castro e Lemos Magalhães e Meneses[7]
10 Dom Vicente de Paula Gonçalves Zarco da Camara[7][19] 1875[7]–1946 10th Count of Ribeira Grande[7] Son of the 9th Count of Ribeira Grande;[7] Born at Alcântra freguesia; He was veador of Queen Dona Amélia;[7] Married, in 1898, to Dona Maria da Pureza Vasconcelos e Sousa, legitimised daughter of the 5th Marquis of Castelo-Melhor[7]

Claimants post-Monarchy

# Name Dates Title Notes
11 Dom José Maria Gonçalves Zarco da Camara[20][21][7] 1898[7]–1961[20] 11th Count of Ribeira Grande Son of the 10th Count of Ribeira Grande;[22][7] Born at Santos-o-Velho freguesia;[7] Married, in 1925, to Dona Maria Ester Nunes de Almeida de Magalhães[7]
12 Dom José Vicente Gonçalves Zarco da Camara 1932[7]–? 12th Count of Ribeira Grande Son of the 11th Count of Ribeira Grande[21]
13 Dom José Cabral Gonçalves Zarco da Camara b.1960 13th Count of Ribeira Grande Son of the 12th Count of Ribeira Grande; Current claimant

Coat of arms

The Counts of Ribeira Grande used the heridtary coat-of-arms of the Counts of Vila Franca, that included the silver tower, surmounted by gold cross, and flanked by two grey wolves. Their motto at the time was PELA FÉ, PELO PRÍNCIPE, PELA PÁTRIA (For the faith, for the prince, for the fatherland).[23]

See also

References

  1. ^ Nobreza de Portugal e do Brasil, directed by Afonso Eduardo Martins Zúquete, Editorial Enciclopédia, 2nd edition, Lisbon, 1989, Volume Three, pp. 219–22
  2. ^ a b Bento, Carlos Melo (2008). História dos Açores: Da descoberta a 1934 (in European Portuguese). Portugal: Câmara Municipal de Ponta Delgada.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Carlos Melo Bento (2008), p.52
  4. ^ Carlos Melo Bento (2008), p.53
  5. ^ Carlos Melo Bento (2008), p. 59
  6. ^ a b c d "D. José da Câmara, 4.º conde da Ribeira Grande - Portugal, Dicionário Histórico". www.arqnet.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak da Silva Canedo, Fernando de Castro (1945). A descendência portuguesa de El-Rei D. João II (in European Portuguese). Lisbon: Edições Gama, Limitada. pp. 139–143.
  8. ^ "D. Leonor da Câmara, marquesa de Ponta Delgada - Portugal, Dicionário Histórico". www.arqnet.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  9. ^ "Suspended Website" (PDF). www.concelhodecamaradelobos.com (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  10. ^ DRC. "Direção Regional da Cultura". Cultura Açores (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  11. ^ a b c "D. José Maria Gonçalves Zarco da Câmara, 7.º conde da Ribeira Grande - Portugal, Dicionário Histórico". www.arqnet.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  12. ^ a b c d "D. Francisco de Sales Maria José António de Paula Vicente Gonçalves Zarco da Câmara, 8.º conde e 1.º marquês da Ribeira Grande - Portugal, Dicionário Histórico". www.arqnet.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  13. ^ "Monumentos". www.monumentos.pt (in European Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2016-03-10. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  14. ^ Resenha das familias titulares do reino de Portugal (in Brazilian Portuguese). 1838.
  15. ^ ''Nobreza de Portugal e do Brasil'' (Nobility of Portugal and Brazil), directed by Afonso Eduardo Martins Zúquete, Editorial Enciclopédia, 2nd edition, Lisbon, 1989, Volume Three, p. 222
  16. ^ "Occidente" (PDF) (in European Portuguese). 10 January 1908. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  17. ^ a b c d "D. José Maria Gonçalves Zarco da Câmara, 9.º conde Ribeira Grande - Portugal, Dicionário Histórico". www.arqnet.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  18. ^ "[Retrato de] Conde da Ribeira Grande - actd:AHUD7629". actd.iict.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  19. ^ "Condes da Ribeira - Brasil-Portugal (16Jun1908)". 1908-06-16. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  20. ^ a b Arruda, Virgílio (29 May 1986). "Uma efeméride – D. José Gonçalves Zarco da Câmara (Conde da Ribeira Grande), faleceu há vinte e cinco anos". Correio do Ribatejo (in European Portuguese).
  21. ^ a b "José Maria Gonçalves Zarco da Câmara" (in European Portuguese). 22 February 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  22. ^ "Arquivo Condes da Ribeira Grande". arquivos.azores.gov.pt (in European Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2025-04-13. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  23. ^ Zúquete, Afonso Eduardo Martins (1987), Armorial Lusitano (in European Portuguese) (3 ed.), Lisbon, Portugal: Editorial Enciclopédia, p. 130
Bibliography
  • Nobreza de Portugal e do Brasil (in Portuguese), vol. III, Lisbon, Portugal: Zairol Lda., 1989, pp. 219–222
  • Bento, Carlos Melo (2008), História dos Açores: Da descoberta a 1934 (in Portuguese), Câmara Municipal de Ponta Delgada; Ponta Delgada (Azores), Portugal
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