page_title: Count of Ribeira Grande
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Count of Ribeira Grande / History
caption_attribution_description: Ribeira Grande - Azores
context_page_description: The Counts of Ribeira Grande was 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 familial line. The title was first conferred to D. Manuel Luís Baltazar da Câmara in 1662, and his branch of the Câmara dynastic family continued to receive the title long until the extinction of noble titles in 1910.
context_section_description: Although D. 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. The 8th Captain-Donatário was plagued by scandals throughout his career, involving sexual encounters with nuns in convents, homosexual dalliances with pages and footmen and, even, incestuous relations with his children. Unfortunately for the Count he eventually received unwanted attention from the Holy Office of the Inquisition, which arrested and tried the Count on acts of sodomy. Supported by various complaints, testimonies and even the defendant's own confession, the Count of Vila Franca was convicted, his family possession confiscated and incarcerated in the Convent of Cape St. Vincent until his death.
  Although his wife was unable to liberate her husband, she was able to influence the Royal Cortes into restoring their family honours and possessions following her husband's death, thanks to her family connections as descendant of Vasco da Gama.  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. The use of Vila Franca had already been a polemic decision in the first place, since Philip II of Spain had not consulted local politicians before instituting the honorific.
caption: A view of the provincial capital of Ribeira Grande and municipal hall
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