Your search

This abstract describes two related official correspondence documents held in the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino (AHU), originating from the Portuguese imperial administration in the late seventeenth century and bearing later archival annotations. The first is a royal directive dated 23 March 1671, signed by António de Noronha on behalf of the Prince of Portugal, addressed to the Municipal Council (Câmara) of Macau, responding to its 14 December 1668 letter concerning abuses by Captains-General in Macau and instructing referral of the matter to the Viceroy of the Estado da Índia for assessment and remedial action. The second is a supplementary directive dated 23 March 1674, signed by Luís de Mendonça Furtado in his capacity as Viceroy of India and Prince Regent, addressed to the same Macau Câmara, ordering judicial investigation into the reported abuses, requiring formal reporting on corrective measures, and mandating documentation of penalties imposed. Both documents reference the Ordinances and Regulations (regimento) governing Captains-General’s conduct, emphasise fidelity to crown authority, and underscore administrative accountability within the Portuguese colonial framework in Macau. Marginalia and archival stamps—including references to the Arquivo Histórico Colonial de Macau and Arquivo Histórico da Índia—confirm provenance and custodial history. A later marginal note dated 1 December 1874 indicates nineteenth-century archival handling. These materials constitute primary evidence for studying Portuguese colonial governance, legal administration, and inter-institutional relations in Macau during the late seventeenth century.

This archival document comprises a composite set of Portuguese colonial administrative records, primarily dating to January 1644, originating from the Estado da Índia and concerning logistical, fiscal, and naval operations centred on Macau. It includes royal warrants, cargo manifests (*gesso*), provisioning orders, appointment instruments, and fiscal instructions issued by or under authority of the Portuguese Crown—specifically referencing King Philip II—and executed by officials including João de Sampaio, Jorge de Melo Jorge de Albuquerque (acting), Gonçalo Fernandes Lima, João da Silva, and António Groudo. Key locations encompass Lisbon, Macau (designated as situated in northeastern China), Goa, Veleza (likely the Azores), São Tomé, and Candelária. The core subject matter pertains to the regulation and dispatch of two vessels—the *Santo André* and *Santo António* (also referenced as *Santos Antónios*, *Santo António de Aveiro*, and *Dona Clara*)—carrying cargoes including 500–700 *centos* of Bengal/Coromandel cotton cloth (*ondo*), 800–1,200 *botijas* of olive oil, 400 *tonéis* of Red Sea coral, 100 ivory tusks (with detailed weight specifications calibrated to Macau’s local *Cidade de Degre* standard), and provisions for personnel and garrisons. The documents further address the appointment of António Falto Forreiro as Captain-Major and administrator of enslaved persons (*Offício de Escravos*), the assignment of royal revenues (*quina*), exemption from port dues (*foros*), recovery of royal estates in Macau, and urgent procurement of artillery and fortification materials. All materials are preserved in the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino (Lisbon), bearing archival references M37A1, M37A2, H37-A3, H3448, and H3495.

This archival document, dated 2nd January 1644 and held in the Arquivo Histórico do Estado (reference H35, Macau Series 1, Document 35), is an official Portuguese administrative communication originating from the Overseas Council in Lisbon and addressed to the Viceroy of India, Dom António de Noronha, 1st Count of Linhares (serving 1640–1642). It concerns the royal appointment of a *feitor* (fiscal agent) to the royal treasury (*fazenda*) of the Municipal Council (*Senado*) of Macau, then part of the Portuguese Estado da Índia but situated within the Kingdom of China. The document records the King’s directive—conveyed via royal letter patent (*carta régia*)—that the Archbishop of Goa appoint a suitable candidate for this post, prompted by the failure of a prior provision (*provisão*) issued in Goa to yield an acceptable appointee from Portuguese India. In response, the *Senado* of Macau recommended three local residents: João de Abreu (confirmed candidate), Francisco Carvalho of Canda, and António Roiz. The text further references a separate petition before the Overseas Council regarding the potential appointment of Dr Ruy Fêz, a stipendiary student under the Archbishopric of Goa, to the same office. Signed by João da Silva, Inspector of Appeals and Inspector of Accounts, the document reflects institutional tensions between metropolitan authority, viceregal administration, and municipal autonomy in the governance of Macau’s royal finances during the mid-seventeenth century.

This archival document comprises three fragmented manuscript pages held at the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino, Lisbon, bearing marginalia and stamps indicating provenance from Macau and Lisbon. The principal legible text, dated 29 December 1648 and originating in Macau, records a formal resolution by the colonial Council concerning the appointment to the dual administrative-fiscal office of *cobana duplicado*, assigning Amáriz de Montalvão and the sons of António Ferreira—designated prior to the appointment of Cõe. Vilamarino—to joint incumbency; it further directs inquiry into Theófilo’s pending resignation, mandates identification of the *depósitor da fazenda* for revenues from an imminent commercial venture to China, and stipulates establishment of the office under the *Regue* jurisdiction upon Mleg. Quenelles’ departure for Macau, with implementation contingent upon confirmation by His Excellency and issuance of letters patent. A second page, dated 29 December 1623 and annotated with names including João Agnes, Simão Luís, Engel de Qyba, and Jorge Maguay, contains no recoverable main text due to severe physical degradation. A third page bears a formal address to “Dom Conselho Camarim” and “His Highness Dom G. F. P.”, references “Crauig da China”, and includes a petition by Medrin, *embargador*, concerning ecclesiastical buildings and episcopal residences linked to António Gillo, dated 29 December and inscribed as Macau, Series G.1, Document no. 34. This material is essential for research on Portuguese colonial administration, fiscal governance, and ecclesiastical jurisdiction in early modern Macau.

This archival document comprises a composite Portuguese colonial memorandum, dated 10 January 1564 (with internal references to 20 January 1561 and 14 January 1564), originating from Macau and bearing marginalia, official stamps, and signatures of Dom Afonso de Barros, Commandant of Macau, and other Luso-Asian officials including Luís Meiradanhã. It records administrative directives concerning fiscal privileges, provisioning allowances, vessel classification, and customs regulations across multiple theatres: the Malacca and China trade routes; West African navigation (specifically the Rio Nego in Portuguese Guinea); and the India House (*Casa da Índia*) and Royal Storehouse (*Almazém*) apparatus in Lisbon. Key figures include the *Mestre de Campo*, the *Provedor do Almazém*, the *Provedor da Casa da Índia*, Captain Quijão (Malacca, 1619), and the *Capitão de Pão de Viagem da Índia* stationed at Pinda. The text details freight revenue allocations (including *um quarto* of proceeds, *seuarem*, *canegarem*, and *foro de fretes*), tonnage exemptions (*três toneladas livres de fretes*), cargo units (*coios*, *pipas*, *toneladas*), vessel types (*galeão*, *Nauio da China*, *casmainhos*, *rosteladas*), and regulatory oversight by the *Vistoria*, *Justiça*, and *Conselho da Índia e Ultramar*. It further documents contested appointments, clandestine cargo (*pipay*), and fiscal tensions between royal exchequer (*fazenda da Muito Alta*) imperatives and local commercial practice. The document is held at the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino (AHU) in Lisbon.