João Soares de Albergaria de Sousa
Encyclopedia
João Soares de Albergaria de Sousa (Velas
, São Jorge, January 16, 1776 – Velas
, São Jorge, February 1, 1875), frequently referred to as João Soares de Albergaria, was a liberal politician, rural property-owner, and author of the histo-cultural manifesto Corografia Açórica
, which was published in 1822, the first Azorean thesis on regional sovereignty.
, and joined the local militia attaining the rank of ensign in 1814. In 1818, at the age of 22, he traveled to the Royal Court in Rio de Janeiro, in attempt to obtain royal confirmation of the privileges and titles for his family.
in Oporto, encountering the formation of the Cortes Gerais Extraordinárias e Constituintes da Nação Portuguesa ("the Extraordinary General Courts and Constituent Assemblies of the Portuguese Nation") debating the new form of government in the post-Napoleonic Era. Albergaria de Sousa became involved in the politics of Lisbon, becoming a member of the Sociedade Patriótica Filantropia ("Patriotic Philanthropic Society") and congregating with a like-minded group of Azoreans who were sent to participate in the constituent courts. It was in this environment that he assumed the group's leadership and participate in that establishment of the Portuguese Constitution of 1822, in the hope of introducing into the Azores a new democratic government that would abandon the older colonial administration and the system imposed by the Capitania-Geral dos Açores. During this period, he collaborated in the political debate with three other elected deputies and intellectuals on what would become the Corografia Açórica
, ou Descripção Phísica, Política e Histórica dos Açores, por um cidadão açorense, M. da Sociedade Patriótica Phylantropya n'os Açores (Lisboa, Imp. de João Nunes Esteves, 1822). It was a document that flowed from his political conversations, and constituted a clear manifesto of the political orientation of the Azorean members of the Constitutional Courts. Although the autonomous position was not described in terms that were vindictive or confrontational, many of the conversations usually fragmented into internal disputes between members of each island (especially those from São Miguel, Faial and Terceira). Reconciliation was always elusive and Albergaria de Sousa remained in Lisbon until 1827, acquiring political experience, before returning to the island of São Jorge where he assumed his place in his family's business.
was acclaimed as absolute ruler by the counter-revolutionaries in opposition to the Liberal constitution in Angra do Heroísmo, and João Soares was on the losing side of the crown.
The Captain-General of Angra, Manuel Vieira de Albuquerque Tovar, gave orders that all residents of the islands of the Azores should pay homage and fidelity to the new monarch. When the ship carrying the orders arrived in Velas, on June 11, 1828 (as part of its declaration in the "lower islands"), the authorities encountered residents who were hesitant to accept the orders, and the military governor José Maurício Rodrigues, was pressured by Soares de Albergaria to delay the meeting. Finally, on June 15, an improvised meeting was called but Soares de Albergaria (at the head of several local Liberals) argued the orders should come from the Royal Decree, and not simply from Captain-General. Through his eloquent style and influence, Soares de Albergaria was able to impede the declaration. A few days later, on June 22, a revolt in Angra, by the 5th Battalion, would proclaim the fidelity of the island to D. Maria da Glória and her illustrious father Sir D. Pedro, but it was not a complete victory, since pockets of resistance on Terceira and concentration of forces on the island of São Miguel still remained loyal to Miguel I. The government in São Miguel finally received a formal Royal Decree ordering the acclamation of D. Miguel, and liberals on São Jorge accepted the call on October 28, 1828. Soares de Albergaria participated in this acclamation meeting and swore loyalty to the crown, which was done under military duress, as the military governor had sent troops to the island to guarantee their loyalty (the end of an episode which his political adversaries would accuse João Soares of cowardice).
Owing to his power and local influence, Soares de Albergaria escaped an immediate sanction of treason. But, the decree of March 4, 1829, which arrived in the hands of the magistrate Francisco José Pacheco, demanded the punishment of those responsible for fermenting resistance to the new King (including members of freemasonry), forcing the systematic arrest of many liberals on November 6, 1829. As author of the Corografia Açórica manifesto and member of the constituent courts of 1822, Soares de Albergaria could not publicly defend himself, was detained on November 14, and sent to Ponta Delgada
where a special tribunal was convoked to punish seditious liberals. Summarily judged he was sentenced to five-years in Angola
; in course, his conviction was commuted to on May 25 to five-years in the prison of Elvas, and transported there on June 25, 1830. Between 1830 and 1834 he remained in prison in Elvas, and later Almeida, suffering harsh conditions while his properties were confiscated and sold-off at bargain rates.
After a prolonged sickness he died in 1875, short of his one hundredth birthday.
, ou Descripção Phísica, Política e Histórica dos Açores, por um cidadão açorense, M. da Sociedade Patriótica Phylantropya n'os Açores (Lisbon, Impressão de João Nunes Esteves, 133 pp., 1822), was Albergaria de Sousa's most important contribution to the history of the Azores
. It was reeditted in 1975, by the quasi-fascist separatist faction FLA (Frente de Libertação dos Açores), with updated graphics and prefaced by José Guilherme Reis Leite, by the editor Jornal de Cultura, and republished in 1995 (ISBN 9727550134).
Velas
Velas is a municipality in the São Jorge Island, in the Portuguese autonomous region of Azores. The municipality encompasses the western portion of the island, with its municipal seat in the town of Velas on the south coast and divided into six parishes....
, São Jorge, January 16, 1776 – Velas
Velas
Velas is a municipality in the São Jorge Island, in the Portuguese autonomous region of Azores. The municipality encompasses the western portion of the island, with its municipal seat in the town of Velas on the south coast and divided into six parishes....
, São Jorge, February 1, 1875), frequently referred to as João Soares de Albergaria, was a liberal politician, rural property-owner, and author of the histo-cultural manifesto Corografia Açórica
Corografia Açórica
Corografia Açórica was Azorean political document produced in 1822. Its full title was Corographia Açorica, ou Descripção Phísica, Política e Histórica dos Açores, por um cidadão açorense, M...
, which was published in 1822, the first Azorean thesis on regional sovereignty.
Biography
He was the oldest son of militia Colonel Inácio Soares de Albergaria e Sousa and Isabel Delfina da Silveira Pereira de Lemos, members of the rural aristocracy and rich property owners on the island of São Jorge. He was schooled in VelasVelas
Velas is a municipality in the São Jorge Island, in the Portuguese autonomous region of Azores. The municipality encompasses the western portion of the island, with its municipal seat in the town of Velas on the south coast and divided into six parishes....
, and joined the local militia attaining the rank of ensign in 1814. In 1818, at the age of 22, he traveled to the Royal Court in Rio de Janeiro, in attempt to obtain royal confirmation of the privileges and titles for his family.
Liberal politician
He remained at Court until the beginning of 1820, when traveled to Lisbon, arriving in Portugal at the beginning of the Liberal RevolutionLiberal Revolution of 1820
The Liberal Revolution of 1820 was a political revolution that erupted in 1820 and lasted until 1826. It was unchained via a military insurrection in the city of Porto, in northern Portugal, that quickly and peacefully spread to the rest of the country. From 1807 to 1811 Napoleonic French forces...
in Oporto, encountering the formation of the Cortes Gerais Extraordinárias e Constituintes da Nação Portuguesa ("the Extraordinary General Courts and Constituent Assemblies of the Portuguese Nation") debating the new form of government in the post-Napoleonic Era. Albergaria de Sousa became involved in the politics of Lisbon, becoming a member of the Sociedade Patriótica Filantropia ("Patriotic Philanthropic Society") and congregating with a like-minded group of Azoreans who were sent to participate in the constituent courts. It was in this environment that he assumed the group's leadership and participate in that establishment of the Portuguese Constitution of 1822, in the hope of introducing into the Azores a new democratic government that would abandon the older colonial administration and the system imposed by the Capitania-Geral dos Açores. During this period, he collaborated in the political debate with three other elected deputies and intellectuals on what would become the Corografia Açórica
Corografia Açórica
Corografia Açórica was Azorean political document produced in 1822. Its full title was Corographia Açorica, ou Descripção Phísica, Política e Histórica dos Açores, por um cidadão açorense, M...
, ou Descripção Phísica, Política e Histórica dos Açores, por um cidadão açorense, M. da Sociedade Patriótica Phylantropya n'os Açores (Lisboa, Imp. de João Nunes Esteves, 1822). It was a document that flowed from his political conversations, and constituted a clear manifesto of the political orientation of the Azorean members of the Constitutional Courts. Although the autonomous position was not described in terms that were vindictive or confrontational, many of the conversations usually fragmented into internal disputes between members of each island (especially those from São Miguel, Faial and Terceira). Reconciliation was always elusive and Albergaria de Sousa remained in Lisbon until 1827, acquiring political experience, before returning to the island of São Jorge where he assumed his place in his family's business.
Liberal traitor
The situation changed in 1828, when the Liberalist cause was under attack. On May 16, 1828 Miguel IMiguel of Portugal
Dom Miguel I, sometimes Michael , was the King of Portugal between 1828 and 1834, the seventh child and second son of King John VI and his queen, Charlotte of Spain....
was acclaimed as absolute ruler by the counter-revolutionaries in opposition to the Liberal constitution in Angra do Heroísmo, and João Soares was on the losing side of the crown.
The Captain-General of Angra, Manuel Vieira de Albuquerque Tovar, gave orders that all residents of the islands of the Azores should pay homage and fidelity to the new monarch. When the ship carrying the orders arrived in Velas, on June 11, 1828 (as part of its declaration in the "lower islands"), the authorities encountered residents who were hesitant to accept the orders, and the military governor José Maurício Rodrigues, was pressured by Soares de Albergaria to delay the meeting. Finally, on June 15, an improvised meeting was called but Soares de Albergaria (at the head of several local Liberals) argued the orders should come from the Royal Decree, and not simply from Captain-General. Through his eloquent style and influence, Soares de Albergaria was able to impede the declaration. A few days later, on June 22, a revolt in Angra, by the 5th Battalion, would proclaim the fidelity of the island to D. Maria da Glória and her illustrious father Sir D. Pedro, but it was not a complete victory, since pockets of resistance on Terceira and concentration of forces on the island of São Miguel still remained loyal to Miguel I. The government in São Miguel finally received a formal Royal Decree ordering the acclamation of D. Miguel, and liberals on São Jorge accepted the call on October 28, 1828. Soares de Albergaria participated in this acclamation meeting and swore loyalty to the crown, which was done under military duress, as the military governor had sent troops to the island to guarantee their loyalty (the end of an episode which his political adversaries would accuse João Soares of cowardice).
Owing to his power and local influence, Soares de Albergaria escaped an immediate sanction of treason. But, the decree of March 4, 1829, which arrived in the hands of the magistrate Francisco José Pacheco, demanded the punishment of those responsible for fermenting resistance to the new King (including members of freemasonry), forcing the systematic arrest of many liberals on November 6, 1829. As author of the Corografia Açórica manifesto and member of the constituent courts of 1822, Soares de Albergaria could not publicly defend himself, was detained on November 14, and sent to Ponta Delgada
Ponta Delgada
Ponta Delgada is a city and municipality on the island of São Miguel in the archipelago of the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. It includes 44,403 residents in the urban area, and approximately 20,113 inhabitants in the three central parishes that comprise the historical city: São Pedro,...
where a special tribunal was convoked to punish seditious liberals. Summarily judged he was sentenced to five-years in Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
; in course, his conviction was commuted to on May 25 to five-years in the prison of Elvas, and transported there on June 25, 1830. Between 1830 and 1834 he remained in prison in Elvas, and later Almeida, suffering harsh conditions while his properties were confiscated and sold-off at bargain rates.
Later life
His liberation arrived in 1834, when troops under the Duke of Terceira captured the prisons and released its prisoners. He returned to São Jorge in 1835, encountering his possessions in disorder; his properties were returned in terrible conditions. Ironically, he returned to a municipality where many of his enemies were installed in power in the municipal offices, as respectable "liberals"; Soares de Albergaria would begin a political career on the left of these "liberals" in the Septemberist Revolution (1836–1842) and the Partido Historico He became a legislative representative in 1827 and 1838, in support of the September Revolution and new constitution. He held many posts in municipal government, and supported the works of the local Santa Casa da Misericórdia das Velas.After a prolonged sickness he died in 1875, short of his one hundredth birthday.
Published work
Corografia AçóricaCorografia Açórica
Corografia Açórica was Azorean political document produced in 1822. Its full title was Corographia Açorica, ou Descripção Phísica, Política e Histórica dos Açores, por um cidadão açorense, M...
, ou Descripção Phísica, Política e Histórica dos Açores, por um cidadão açorense, M. da Sociedade Patriótica Phylantropya n'os Açores (Lisbon, Impressão de João Nunes Esteves, 133 pp., 1822), was Albergaria de Sousa's most important contribution to the history of the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
. It was reeditted in 1975, by the quasi-fascist separatist faction FLA (Frente de Libertação dos Açores), with updated graphics and prefaced by José Guilherme Reis Leite, by the editor Jornal de Cultura, and republished in 1995 (ISBN 9727550134).