João Soares de Albergaria
Encyclopedia
João Soares de Albergaria (c. 1415 - 1499), also referred to as João Soares or João Soares Velho, was the second Portuguese Captain-Donatário
of the islands of Santa Maria
and São Miguel
, who succeeded his maternal uncle Gonçalo Velho Cabral in the title. After selling his rights to the Captaincy of the island of São Miguel, to Rui Gonçalves da Câmara, he remained the Captain-Donatário of Santa Maria.
He married Brites Godins, yet had no heirs. In 1474, due to his wife's illness, Albergaria moved to the island of Madeira
, in order to "find remedies and medics" to treat his wife's condition, as well as a milder climate for her to convalesce. They lodged with the family of the Captain of Funchal
, João Gonçalves Zarco
and his brother, Rui Gonçalves da Câmara. As Father Gaspar Frutuoso
would later relate, due to the many costs he developed during his move and treatments for his wife, Soares de Albergaria would decide to sell the Captaincy of São Miguel for 2,000 cruzados and 60,000 kilograms of sugar to Rui Gonçalves for his hospitality; this contract was approved by Beatrice of Burgundy, Diogo, Duke of Viseu
and ratified by the King Afonso V
on March 10, 1474.
João Soares de Albergaria settled the island, and restructured the population, founding the principal village, Vila do Porto
, and becoming the base for future Captains-Generals in the islands of the Azores (his maternal uncle was the "Commander of Santa Maria and Captain of the Azores", within a structural framework that was not properly defined. His position as Captain of Santa Maria was confirmed in a similar edict from King Afonso V of Portugal, months later:
During his Captaincy, Albergaria was responsible for promoting the settlement of the island, a charge that he was successful in initiating, attracting settlers from both Portugal (mainly the Algarve and continental Europe). He was also responsible for the defense of the island; yet, during one such attack, a Castilian corsair attacked Vila do Porto in 1480, during the War of the Castilian Succession
, and sacked the town. Albergaria did not escape the battle and was captured, and taken prisoner to the Kingdom of Castile
, where he was ransomed. He paid his own ransom eight days before peace were declared by Afonso V of Portugal and Ferdinand of Castile
(at the end of 1480).
Albergaria was later to marry Branca de Sousa Falcão (daughter of João de Sousa Falcão, 1st Lord de Figueiredo and 1st Lord of the Manor de Fataúnços, and D. Maria de Almada) by order of the King João II on June 20, 1492, with whom they had many descendants, including João Soares de Sousa, the third Captain-Donatário of Santa Maria. He would finally return to Santa Maria Island late in life, and died in 1499 at the age of 80 years. The captaincy of Santa Maria would be passed on to his descendants until its extinction in 1667 (following the death Brás Soares de Sousa in 1664).
Captain-major
Captain-major is the English rendering of the Portuguese title Capitão-mor for colonial officers, put in charge of a capitania, Portuguese possession deemed not important enough to have its own colonial Governor.Due to the impossibility of exercising direct control and sovereignty over islands,...
of the islands of Santa Maria
Santa Maria Island
Santa Maria , Portuguese for Saint Mary, is an island located in the eastern group of the Azores archipelago and the southernmost island in the Azores...
and São Miguel
São Miguel Island
São Miguel Island , nicknamed "The Green Island", is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. The island covers and has around 140,000 inhabitants, 45,000 of these people located in the largest city in the archipelago: Ponta Delgada.-History:In 1427, São Miguel...
, who succeeded his maternal uncle Gonçalo Velho Cabral in the title. After selling his rights to the Captaincy of the island of São Miguel, to Rui Gonçalves da Câmara, he remained the Captain-Donatário of Santa Maria.
Biography
He was the son of Fernão Soares de Albergaria and Teresa Velho Cabral, one of the sisters of Gonçalo Velho Cabral.He married Brites Godins, yet had no heirs. In 1474, due to his wife's illness, Albergaria moved to the island of Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
, in order to "find remedies and medics" to treat his wife's condition, as well as a milder climate for her to convalesce. They lodged with the family of the Captain of Funchal
Funchal
Funchal is the largest city, the municipal seat and the capital of Portugal's Autonomous Region of Madeira. The city has a population of 112,015 and has been the capital of Madeira for more than five centuries.-Etymology:...
, João Gonçalves Zarco
João Gonçalves Zarco
João Gonçalves Zarco was a Portuguese explorer who established settlements and recognition of the Madeira Islands, and was appointed first captain of Funchal by Henry the Navigator.-Life:...
and his brother, Rui Gonçalves da Câmara. As Father Gaspar Frutuoso
Gaspar Frutuoso
Gaspar Frutuoso was a Portuguese priest, historian and humanist from the island of São Miguel, in the Azores...
would later relate, due to the many costs he developed during his move and treatments for his wife, Soares de Albergaria would decide to sell the Captaincy of São Miguel for 2,000 cruzados and 60,000 kilograms of sugar to Rui Gonçalves for his hospitality; this contract was approved by Beatrice of Burgundy, Diogo, Duke of Viseu
Diogo, Duke of Viseu
Infante Diogo of Viseu was the second son of Infante Fernando, Duke of Viseu, and his wife Beatriz of Portugal.In 1472, when his older brother John, Duke of Viseu, died without issue, Diogo inherited his titles and estates as 4th Duke of Viseu and 3rd Duke of Beja.Diogo was a popular personality...
and ratified by the King Afonso V
Afonso V of Portugal
Afonso V KG , called the African , was the twelfth King of Portugal and the Algarves. His sobriquet refers to his conquests in Northern Africa.-Early life:...
on March 10, 1474.
João Soares de Albergaria settled the island, and restructured the population, founding the principal village, Vila do Porto
Vila do Porto
Vila do Porto is the single municipality, the name of the main town and one of the civil parishes on the island of Santa Maria, in the Portuguese Autonomous Region of Azores...
, and becoming the base for future Captains-Generals in the islands of the Azores (his maternal uncle was the "Commander of Santa Maria and Captain of the Azores", within a structural framework that was not properly defined. His position as Captain of Santa Maria was confirmed in a similar edict from King Afonso V of Portugal, months later:
During his Captaincy, Albergaria was responsible for promoting the settlement of the island, a charge that he was successful in initiating, attracting settlers from both Portugal (mainly the Algarve and continental Europe). He was also responsible for the defense of the island; yet, during one such attack, a Castilian corsair attacked Vila do Porto in 1480, during the War of the Castilian Succession
War of the Castilian Succession
The War of the Castilian Succession was the military conflict contested from 1475 to 1479 for the succession of the Crown of Castile fought between the supporters of Juana la Beltraneja, daughter of the late monarch Henry IV of Castile, and those of Henry's half sister, Isabella, who was ultimately...
, and sacked the town. Albergaria did not escape the battle and was captured, and taken prisoner to the Kingdom of Castile
Kingdom of Castile
Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...
, where he was ransomed. He paid his own ransom eight days before peace were declared by Afonso V of Portugal and Ferdinand of Castile
Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand the Catholic was King of Aragon , Sicily , Naples , Valencia, Sardinia, and Navarre, Count of Barcelona, jure uxoris King of Castile and then regent of that country also from 1508 to his death, in the name of...
(at the end of 1480).
Albergaria was later to marry Branca de Sousa Falcão (daughter of João de Sousa Falcão, 1st Lord de Figueiredo and 1st Lord of the Manor de Fataúnços, and D. Maria de Almada) by order of the King João II on June 20, 1492, with whom they had many descendants, including João Soares de Sousa, the third Captain-Donatário of Santa Maria. He would finally return to Santa Maria Island late in life, and died in 1499 at the age of 80 years. The captaincy of Santa Maria would be passed on to his descendants until its extinction in 1667 (following the death Brás Soares de Sousa in 1664).