A Câmara de S. Martinho de Mateus, no segundo quartel do século XV

Abstract

With this communication, in the sequence of the study Património da Mitra Bracarense e cultura da vinha, na antiga "terra" de Panóias (século XV), published in 2002, we intend to stress the importance that S. Martinho de Mateus had in the administration staff of the Braga Archdiocese, as a logistic basis from where the prelates came from, in pastoral mission, to the surrounding parishes. At the same time and, besides, we wish to make known the country and city structure of this "chamber" or Mateus farm, whose products and incomes asserted the survival of this important government pole decentralized from the Archdiocese, later on moved to the Vila Real Chamber and that, in the twentieth century, under the initiative of archbishop D. Manuel Vieira de Matos became the current diocese of Vila Real. We are publishing, in addition, the inventorying of that ancient farm, with its own personality, and we also draw attention to the need of clarifying the process of its transition from the possession of the diocesan church to that of individuals.