Beiträge von M_Gomes_de_Abreu

  • Portugal - Baden Exil des Königs Miguel I (Michael I) in Bronnbach (Baden) 1851 - 1866

    Dear Ralph,


    Thanks a lot for your kind help in the change of thread.

    I do not have any letters of this period, unfortunately. I am not sure if my mother has some of the uncle of her great grandmother as she has several documents pertaining to him.

    António Joaquim Ribeiro Gomes de Abreu was a professor of medicine at the University of Coimbra and a resolute legitimist, a supporter of D. Miguel I in opposition to the liberal partisans of D. Pedro IV.

    As he refused to take an oath to the Constitutional Chart after the end of the civil war, won by the liberals, he could no longer pursue his career at the University. Shortly after he was invited by the exiled king, D. Miguel I, to take charge of the education of his children, especially his heir, D. Miguel Januário (D. Miguel II for the legitimists).

    The two letters are not easy to read due to the handwriting and faintness of ink.

    In the first one, which is not complete, the sender expresses concern about the way a certain D. L. is conducting his businesses.

    In the second one, Francisco Cândido de Mendoça e Mello, who must be an acquaintance of António Joaquim from his times at the University of Coimbra, basically writes to thank his invitation and presence in the baptism of one of the princes and asks Dr. Gomes de Abreu to convey his respects to their Majesties, the King and Queen. Dr. Gomes de Abreu was director and collaborator of several newspapers before his exile and Francisco Cândido de Mendoça e Mello is the founder of a similar counter current newspaper – O Christianismo - with Camilo Castelo Branco, one of the most important writers of the time. This newspaper seeks to foster a spiritual renovation in opposition to the moral philosophism and Jansenism, “the sinister shadow of Mirabeau”, the weakness of a purely social, purely political and economic, purely philanthropic regeneration, rampant among the liberals. Such ideas were certainly shared and cherished by Dr. Gomes de Abreu.

    Now, I have what must certainly seem like an odd request for a collector’s forum: Dr. Gomes de Abreu, my 4th grand uncle, died shortly after D. Miguel I and is buried at Bronnbach Kloster. Dr. Gomes de Abreu is a much revered character in my family, especially because my mother was very attached to her grandmother and Dr. Gomes de Abreu, who was a kind and very principled man, was very supportive of the mother of my mother’s grandmother, who was his niece.

    So, I wonder if there is anyone in this forum who lives near Bronnbach Kloster and would be so kind as to drop by and take a photograph of the tombstone of Dr. Gomes de Abreu and send it to me. The tombstone has a dedication by the Queen, senhora D. Adelaide Sofia de Bragança, former Princess Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg, which reads - «Antonius Joachimus Ribeiro Gomes d’Abreu. Math. et Med. Doctor Universitatis Conimbricensis. Michaelis I amicus. Michaelis II paedagogus. Natus die XXII Febr. A. D. 1809. Obiit XV Junii 1867. In pace. Implevit Eum Dominus Spiritu sapientiae et intellectus. Fidelitatis documentum edit Conimbrae die IX Aprilis 1856. Pietatis exemplum dedit Brombach die III Octobris 1863. Adelaidis Michaelis I. Vidua cum Filio Gratissime dedicavit 1867.»

    If someone would be so kind as to send me such a photograph that would have a huge significance to my mother, a lady of 83 years old.

    Thank you so much in advance.

    All the best,


    Manuel