Worldwide Guide
to Women in Leadership
Female Heads and Government Members of The Azores - The Região Autónoma dos Açores
External Territory of Portugal with self-rule since 1976
A Donatorio - Donatary - was a private person (often a nobleman) who was bestowed by the crown
with a considerable piece of land, called a donátaria, which was handed over at
his discretion, exempt form normal colonial administration trough some royal
governor etc., so de facto equivalent to a British Lord Proprietor. Smaller possessions could be under an officer simply styled Capitão (captain) The captains and captains-donatary were like governors who had full
control over their domain. They held the office of judge. They could
make land grants. They monopolized the gristmills, public baking
ovens, and salt sales. The land
they granted was subdivided for tenant farming. This way the lands
were farmed by peasants who had no ownership and had to pay high
rent and tax. This system lasted for centuries and was one key
reason for the high Azorean emigration
1474 Acting Captain-Donatary Antonia de Burges of the
Island of Terceira
She reigned in the absence of her father, Jacome
de Burges, who had evidently disappeared during a sea voyage, and in spite of
the fact that the captaincy was originally granted with a stipulation that
if there were no male heir, she would inherit it, the King of Portugal gave it
in part to Joao Vaz Corte-Real.
1477-1500 Captain-Donatary Maria de Vilhena of
Flores e Corvo
Acted in the name of her oldest son,
Capitão do donatário
Rui Teles. In 1500 she sold the islands to João da Fonseca, de Évora.
1581-1610 Captain-Donatary Margarida Côrte-Real
of The Island of Terceira, Praia and São Jorge
and the Capitania of Agria
She held office jointly with her husband, Cristovão de Moura, 1 marquês de Castelo Rodrigo
(1538-1613). Daughter of her predecessor, Vasco Anes Corte-Real
(1530-77-81). She was mother of 3 children, and lived (1570-1610).
1646-before 1654 Captain-Donatary Branca da
Gama Freire of Santa Maria
She was daughter of Luis da Gama Pereira and Violante Freire, married to
Vasco da Gama, capitão de Chaul, and mother of 2 sons and 2 daughters, one of
whom was Joana de Menzeses, who succeeded to the Captainship in 1665.
1650-57 Captain-Donatary
(Dame) Beatriz de Mascarenhas of the Islands of Flores
and Corvo
She was III. Countess of Santa Cruz and She married a distant cousin,
João de Mascarenhas (1600-1668), who became 3rd Count of Santa Cruz by marriage.
They had 9 children.
1665-circa 67 Captain-Donatary Joana de Menezes of Santa Maria
She was daughter of
Branca da Gama Freire and married to Jorge Mascarenhas. She
was mother of 2 children. Luís de Vasconcelos e
Sousa, Conde de
Castelho Melhor was Captain-Donatary from
23rd of May 1667 until 1720.
1757-66 Joana Tomásia da Câmara of São Miguel
Succeeded her father, José da Câmara Teles, 13. capitão do donatário, to
the title of the capitania and married to Guido Augusto da Câmara and they
executed the office jointly until it was abolished by the king. Also Countess of
da Ribeira Grande, mother of several
children and lived (1730-?)
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1979-80 Regional Secretary of
Social Affairs Maria Fátima Oliveira
2000-04 Regional Secretary of Social Affairs Maria Fernanda da Silva Mendes
2002-04 Adjunct Regional Secretary of the
Presidency of the Government
Cláudia Alexandra Coelho Cardoso Meneses da Costa
2011- Regional Secretary of Education
2004-08 Regional Secretary of Environment and the
Sea Ana Paula Pereira Marques
2008- Regional Secretary of Labour and
Social Solidarity
2008-11 Regional Secretary of Education Maria Lina Pires Sousa Mendes
2012- Regional Secretary for the Economy Luisa Schanderl
Last update 10.11.12