Rui Gonçalves da Câmara III
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Rui Gonçalves da Câmara 1st Count of Vila Franca |
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|---|---|
| 5th Captain-Donatário of São Miguel | |
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In office 1573–1601 |
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| Monarch | |
| Preceded by | Manuel da Câmara |
| Succeeded by | Manuel da Câmara II |
| Constituency | São Miguel |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Rui Gonçalves da Câmara 1550 |
| Died | 1601 (aged 30–31) |
| Citizenship | Kingdom of Portugal |
| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Residence | Ponta Delgada |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Rui Gonçalves da Câmara (c.1550 – c.1601), member of the Gonçalves da Câmara, was son of Manuel da Câmara, and succeeded him as the 4th Donatary Captain of the island of São Miguel, but was recognized predominately in his role as the 1st Count of Vila Franca during the Philippine Dynasty.
Following the death of his father in 1578, who was buried in almost monarchical fashion, the new Captain-Donatário departed for Lisbon, where he hoped to join King Sebastian of Portugal on his adventure into North Africa. But, upon arriving the Corte received notice of the disaster at Alcácer Quibir, occurring on 4 August 1578, and the death of their King.
The events of his death threw Portugal into a dynastic crisis, and the young noble decided to remain at Corte. Yet, he received orders by King Henry to part for his captaincy, in order to maintain political stability within the Kingdom: he departed in September 1579. But, a few leagues into the Atlantic, he resolved to return to Lisbon, alleging health problems with his wife and obtained royal permission to postpone his voyage until the following April.
King Henry's death on 31 January 1580 permitted Rui to postpone his return to the Azores, indefinitely. During the dynastic crisis that developed, Rui Gonçalves da Câmara aligned his family with the faction supporting Phillip II of Spain (Philip I of Portugal), while on the island of Terceira and other islands of the Azores, António, Prior of Crato was enthusiastically acclaimed. Yet, on São Miguel, where his family influenced politics, there was tepid support for António, with many of the nobles supporting the Castilian pretendent to the throne. With his arrival in the Azores (in 1582), King António temporarily altered this situation. But, quickly, the defeat of Luso-French forces, commanded by Filippo Strozzi on 26 June 1582 (at the Battle of Vila Franca), put São Miguel definitively in the hands of the faction supporting Phillip II. By royal decree, the donatary captain, Rui Gonçalves da Câmara, departed with a squadron of Castilian forces ordered to proceed to occupy the Azores, launching on 23 June 1583. This was not before, by regal charter (dated 17 June 1583) he was named Count of Vila Franca, owing to his collaboration and support for the Philippine cause.
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