THE DA CAMARA FAMILY
by Rufina Bernardetti Silva Mausenbaum

Among families associated with overseas expansion, only the Gama and the Camara managed to join the titled nobility, first by gaining the title "Dom" as was the case with Gama, and then by acquiring the titles of Counts of Vidigueira and of Calheta, respectively. Both families belonged to the lower nobility before the expansion, but it took the Camaras, based in the Atlantic islands, a century to achieve their rise. Social relations and the social value put on wealth, service, and honor explain the difference.
The rise of the Camaras was seen, perhaps unfairly, as due mainly to their wealth.This "taint" would continue to haunt them for generations, even as they were about to become the Counts of Calheta.

Their opportunity came in the wake of Father Luis Goncalves da Camara's appointment as confessor and Master to the young D. Sebastiao. They solidified the controlling position in the Atlantic islands, and began marrying into the high nobility only later in the 16th century. Yet marriage alliances could not always compensate for perceived "taints".

Despite their standing as "cavaleiros-fidalgos", they were seen as typical "nouveaux riches". Martim Goncalves de Camara was seen as unsuitable companion for the young D. Sebastiao. The royal letter raising Simao Goncalves da Camara 11 to the status of the 1st Count of Calheta was very careful to specify that the reasons were socially appropriate; his service to the Crown and the devoted service of both his grandfather, Simao Goncalves da Camara 1, and his father, Joao Goncalves da Camara, in North Africa, stressing their participation, at their own cost, in relief
expeditions and in the conquest of Azemmur. ( Wazmur)

The Camara family governed the Funchal part of Madeira in the male line for 9 generations, between 1425 to 1656. Simao Goncalves da Camara 11 was eventually elevated among the titled nobility, becoming the first count of Calheta in 1576. The office and title passed in 1666 to the Vasconcelos family, through the female inheritance. The Camara governing Sao Miguel in the Azores demonstrated even greater longevity, governing the island into the 18th century and aquiring two more titles in the process, Counts of Vila Franca and Count of Ribeira Grande.

Copyright 1997, 1998, 1999 Rufina Bernardetti Silva Mausenbaum

E-mail: Rufina Bernardetti Silva Mausenbaum