User:Zeorymer/sandbox5

Political governance in the Azores has developed since the archipelago was discovered and settled by Portuguese explorers and colonists in the 15th century. Many administrative systems were imposed or applied to the territory, resulting in the establishment or re-configuration of the political and administrative dynamics that governed the islands. Some of these were ephemeral, such as the provincial prefectures and governmental delegates, while other others consisted of hundreds of title-holders, who lasted for long periods, such as the Donatory-captains or Civil Governors.

The unique exception to these trends was the foundation of political autonomy, where the concept of ultimate authority was replaced by constitutional imperatives, exemplified by the three branches: Portuguese sovereignty (in the case of the extinct role of Minister of the Republic and the Representative of the Republic); the legislature (represented by the President of the Legislative Assembly); and the executive (in the figure of the President of the Government).

In order to understand these periods of governance, the following chronogram identifies the approximate periods in which the territory in the Azores was governed:

Donatary
After their discovery, the islands of the Azores were bestowed by the Crown of Portugal to Prince Henry, the Navigator (son of King John I of Portugal), who in turn donated the islands to the Order of Christ, of which he was master. The order of succession remained in the hands of the Dukes of Viseu, an progressed as follows:


 * Infante Henry, 1st Duke of Viseu, (1432-1460)
 * Infante Ferdinand, 2nd Duke of Viseu (1460-1470)
 * Infante John, 3rd Duke of Viseu (1470-1472)
 * Infante Diogo, 4th Duke of Viseu (1472-1484)
 * Infante Manuel, 5th Duke of Viseu (1484-1495)

When Manuel, 5th Duke of Viseu, ascended the throne as King Manuel I of Portugal (1495), he incorporated the donatary privileges of the seven islands of the Azores (Corvo and Flores were not included) into the properties and possessions of the Crown.

During the donatary period, in order to govern the islands locally, the donataries nominated men of confidence or capitães do donatário (Captains of the Donatary) to administer their territories.

After the 16th century the figure of the donatary captain lost its effective governorship of the islands, with the exception of São Miguel, which was transformed into an honorific post, conferred by the King to people and noble families who he wished to honour. It was through this system that the majority of donatary captaincies fell into the hands of the high nobility of Portugal, who never lived on the islands. Many of these donatary captains were, therefore, represented by proxies, known as ouvidores do capitão (ombudspersons) whose responsibility was to locally manage their affairs, administer rental lands and "listen" to the local community.

Commander of Santa Maria and Captain of the Azores

 * 1) 1439-1461 &mdash; Gonçalo Velho Cabral. The title bestowed on Gonçalo Velho Cabral is not too clear, as it has been both referred to as the comendador da ilha de Santa Maria e nosso capitão nos Açores (Commander of the island of Santa Maria and Our captain of the Azores), while alternately as the comendador das ilhas dos Açores (Commander of the Azores). The more probable interpretation of this role, being from the Order of Christ responsible for the administration of the islands, came from the comenda regime, referring to a knighthood or commandery, normally associated with the Order in Portugal, but applied to the, then, populous island of Santa Maria in the archipelago. Still, in 1460, in a letter from Henry the Navigator, the prince described Cabral as Capitão por mim em minhas ilhas de Santa Maria e São Miguel dos Açores (Captain for Me in My Islands of Santa Maria and São Miguel in the Azores). It is still unclear at what time Gonaçalo Velho Cabral abrogated and vacated the captaincy of the two islands to his nephew, João Soares de Albergaria.

Donatary Captain of Santa Maria
After the sale of the captaincy of São Miguel to Rui Gonçalves da Câmara, the Captaincy of Santa Maria and São Miguel was divided into two seperate administrations, with Santa Maria remaining in the hands of Gonçalo Velho Cabrals successor, João Soares de Albergaria.
 * 1) 1474-1499 &mdash; João Soares de Albergaria;
 * 2) 1499-1571 &mdash; João Soares de Sousa; until 1509 it was Lieutenant João de Marvão who administered this territory, since at the time of João Soares de Albergaria death (1499), his son was only six years old at the time);
 * 3) 1571-1576? &mdash; Pedro Soares de Sousa;
 * 4) 1580-?? &mdash; Jerónimo Coutinho;
 * 5) 1594-?? &mdash; Brás Soares de Sousa;
 * 6) 1626-?? &mdash; Pedro Soares de Sousa, grandson of the previous;
 * 7) 1639-?? &mdash; Brás Soares de Sousa, grandson of the previous;
 * 8) 1649-?? &mdash; Branca de Gama;
 * 9) 1654-?? &mdash; João Falcão de Sousa;
 * 10) 1665-?? &mdash; Joana de Meneses;
 * 11) 1667-1720 &mdash; Luís de Vasconcelos e Sousa, 3rd Count of Castelo Melhor;
 * 12) 1720-1734 &mdash; Afonso de Vasconcelos e Sousa Cunha Câmara Faro e Veiga, 5th Count of Calheta;
 * 13) 1734-1801 &mdash; José de Vasconcelos e Sousa Caminha da Câmara Faro e Veiga, 1st Marquess of Castelo Melhor; the last donatary captain, before the creation of the Captaincy General of the Azores, in 1766. After this date, the rest of the captains became honorary, while maintaining the corresponding incomes;
 * 14) 1801-1806 &mdash; António José de Vasconcelos e Sousa da Câmara Caminha Faro e Veiga, 6th Count of Calheta and 2nd Marquess of Castelo Melhor;
 * 15) 1806-1827 &mdash; Afonso de Vasconcelos e Sousa da Câmara Caminha Faro e Veiga, 7th Count of Calheta and 3rd Marquess of Castelo Melhor;
 * 16) 1827-1832 &mdash; António de Vasconcelos e Sousa da Câmara Caminha Faro e Veiga, 8th Count of Calheta and 4th Marquess of Castelo Melhor.

Donatary Captain of São Miguel
The sale by João Soares de Albergaria of the donatary captaincy of the islands of Santa Maria and São Miguel, lead to the separation of the administration of São Miguel from Santa Maria, after 1474. Subsequently, all the donatary captains of São Miguel became members of the family of Rui Gonçalves da Câmara:
 * 1) 1474-1497 &mdash; Rui Gonçalves da Câmara, 3rd Captain donatary;
 * 2) 1497-1502 &mdash; João Rodrigues da Câmara, 4th Captain donatary;
 * 3) 1502-1535 &mdash; Rui Gonçalves da Câmara II, 5th Captain donatary;
 * 4) 1535-1578 &mdash; Manuel da Câmara, 6th Captain donatary;
 * 5) 1578-1601 &mdash; Rui Gonçalves da Câmara III, 7th Captaian donatary and 1st Count of Vila Franca;
 * 6) 1601-1619 &mdash; Manuel da Câmara II, 8th Captain donatary and 2nd Count of Vila Franca;
 * 7) 1619-1662 &mdash; Rodrigo da Câmara, 9th Captain donatary and 3rd Count of Vila Franca;
 * 8) 1662-1673 &mdash; Manuel da Câmara III, 10th Captain donatary, 4th Count of Vila Franca and 1st Count of Ribeira Grande;
 * 9) 1673-1724 &mdash; José Rodrigo da Câmara, 11th Captain donatary and  2nd Count of Ribeira Grande;
 * 10) 1724-1724 &mdash; Luís Manuel da Câmara, 12th Captain donatary and 3rd Count of Ribeira Grande;
 * 11) 1724-1757 &mdash; José da Câmara Teles, 13th Captain donatary and 4th Count of Ribeira Grande;
 * 12) 1757-1766 &mdash; Joana Tomásia da Câmara, descendent titleholder of captaincy, married to Guido Augusto da Câmara, her uncle, to whom fell the titles of 14th (and last) Captain donatary and 5th Count of Ribeira Grande, owing to the death of the elder son José da Câmara Teles.

Donatary Captain of Terceira
The island of Terceira was established as a single captaincy, and later divided into two captaincies: that of Angra and Praia. It was the only island where the territory was divided into seperate captaincies:
 * 1) 1450-1466 &mdash; Jácome de Bruges. This captain disappeared mysteriously, with the suggestion that he was murdered, thrown overboard while at sea, during a voyage. What followed was a long process, in which his son-in-law, Duarte Paim, claimed the captaincy, over the claims of Álvaro Martins Homem and João Vaz Corte-Real. This process was decided in favor of the latter, but after some pleading on the part of both men, the island was divided into two captaincies.
 * 2) 1466-1474 &mdash; Álvaro Martins Homem. Due to constant quarrelling between Homem and Corte Real, the island was divided into two captaincies by charter of Infanta D. Brites, tutor and curator of the donatary, from 17 February 1474. The island was rougly divided diagonally, and following long disputres, it was fixed in 1568, parting from the southern coast at the mouth of the Ribeira Seca, São Sebastião, crossed the island until the Cerro da Ribeira dos Gatos, near the northern coast (along the Canada da Almas, near Cruz do Marco, in Altares). In this area, a commission of "good men" of navigation, established a mark to distinguish the division, giving rise the locality. The post survived until 1997-1998, when alterations to the regional roadway resulted in its destruction. Having selected the territory of Angra, João Vaz Corte Real compensated Álvaro Martins Homem for the public works completed by the latter.

Captaincy of Angra
The captaincy of Angra was created on 2 April 1474, under the stewardship of João Vaz Corte-Real, who promoted the settlement of many nobles from the Kingdom, many in company of their servants and entourage. In the process he opened new roads and established settlements in different points of the western part of the island, until by 1478, most of Angra was built, meriting its elevation to the category of vila (town).

For the island's defense, Corte-Real erected the Castle of São Luís (also known as the Castelo dos Moinhos), which became the first presidium, concluded in 1493, at the same concluding the Church of São Salvador. In order to attend the poor and sick of the captaincy, as well as those who docked in Angra, he built the first hospital on the island, to the invocation of Santo Espírito. The building was attended by the Franciscans and approved in the regal charter on 15 May 1492. Corte-Real also supported the construction of the Convent of São Francisco, and permitted the Franciscans to begin teaching on its grounds.


 * 1) 1474-1496 &mdash; João Vaz Corte-Real;
 * 2) 1496-1538 &mdash; Vasco Anes Corte-Real;
 * 3) 1538-1577 &mdash; Manuel Corte-Real;
 * 4) 1577-1581 &mdash; Vasco Annes Corte-Real, with same name as his grandfather;
 * 5) 1581-1613 &mdash; Margarida Corte-Real, who married Cristóvão de Moura, 1st Count of Castelo Rodrigo, then 1st Marquess of Castelo Rodrigo, assuming the captaincy;
 * 6) 1613-1642 &mdash; Manuel de Moura, 2nd Marquis of Castelo Rodrigo and 1st Count of Lumiares. The captaincy reverted to the crown in 1641, when Manuel de Moura Corte Real opted to remain in the Kingdom of Castille after the Restoration of Independence from Spain;
 * 7) 1641-1642 &mdash; the title was incorporated into the possessions and properties of the Crown;
 * 8) 1642-1649 &mdash; Afonso de Portugal, 5th Count of Vimioso and 1st Marquess of Aguiar;
 * 9) 1649-1655 &mdash; Luís de Portugal, 6th Count of Vimioso; with his death, the title reverted, once again, to the Crown;
 * 10) 1655-1766 &mdash; the title was re-incorporated into the possessions and properties of the Crown; the captaincy was extinguished with the creation of the Captaincy General of the Azores.

Captaincy of Praia
The captaincy was received by Álvaro Martins Homem on 17 February 1474, receiving compensation from Corte Real for his works, which he then used to erect eight mills in Agualva and three in Quatro Ribeiras, and construction of churches within this captaincy. The vigorous impulse resulted in the quick elevation of Praia to the status of town between 1478 and 1480, at about the same time as Angra.

To compliment the islands defenses Homem determined the need to construct a wall, and later, encircled the Bay of Praia with a series of redoubts, visioning a defense of the island from the sea.

Meanwhile within Praia, Afonso Gonçalves de Antona Baldaya provided incentives for the construction of the Convent of São Francisco, including the donation of parcels from his own property, similar to what occurred in Angra. Influenced by inciative of Catarina de Ornelas, the Monastery of Luz was founded in this territory.


 * 1) 1474-1483 &mdash; Álvaro Martins Homem;
 * 2) 1483-1520 &mdash; Antão Martins Homem;
 * 3) 1520-1540 &mdash; Álvaro Martins Homem, with same name as his grandfather;
 * 4) 1540-1577 &mdash; Antão Martins da Câmara, with same name as his grandfather;
 * 5) 1577-1582 &mdash; unknown
 * 6) 1582-1613 &mdash; Margarida Corte-Real, who married Cristóvão de Moura, 1st Count of Castelo Rodrigo, later 1st Marquess of Castelo Rodrigo, who assumed the captaincy;
 * 7) 1613-1642 &mdash; Manuel de Moura Corte-Real, 2nd Marquess of Castelo Rodrigo and 1st Count of Lumiares; The captaincy reverted to the crown in 1641, when Manuel de Moura Corte Real opted to remain in the Kingdom of Castille after the Restoration of Independence from Spain;
 * 8) 1641-1642 &mdash; the title was incorporated into the possessions and properties of the Crown;
 * 9) 1642-1649 &mdash; Afonso de Portugal, 5th Count of Vimioso and 1st Marquess of Aguiar;
 * 10) 1649-1655 &mdash; Luís de Portugal, 6th Count of Vimioso; with his death, the title reverted, once again, to the Crown;
 * 11) 1655-1663 &mdash; the title was re-incorporated into the possessions and properties of the Crown;
 * 12) 1663-1665 &mdash; Francisco Ornelas da Câmara, who acquired the captaincy for 20,000 cruzados, during the Restoration Wars;
 * 13) 1665-1712 &mdash; Brás de Ornelas, with the death of this title-holder, the captaincy reverted to the Crown, where it remained until 1715;
 * 14) 1712-1715 &mdash; the title was re-incorporated into the possessions and properties of the Crown;
 * 15) 1715-1749 &mdash; Luís António de Basto Baharem, the last private title-holder of the captaincy;
 * 16) 1749-1766 &mdash; the title was re-incorporated into the possessions and properties of the Crown; the captaincy was extinguished with the creation of the Captaincy General of the Azores.

Donatary Captain of Graciosa
The captaincy of Graciosa was created in 1470, the year that official settlement was initiated, although it is unclear who were the first donatary captains:

Captaincy of Praia da Graciosa

 * 1) 1470-1475 &mdash; (unclear date) Duarte Barreto do Couto, just the southern part of the island;
 * 2) 1475-1485 &mdash; Vasco Gil Sodré (unclear dates; included the southern portions of the island and group of territories administered by his sister Antónia Sodré, widow of captain Duarte Barreto do Couto.

Captaincy of Santa Cruz

 * 1) 1475-1485 &mdash; (unclear date) Pedro Correia da Cunha.

Captaincy of Graciosa

 * 1) 1485-1497 &mdash; Pedro Correia da Cunha;
 * 2) 1499-1507 &mdash; Duarte Correia da Cunha, son of the preceeding captain;
 * 3) 1507-1510 &mdash; Fernando Coutinho (owing to no descendents of the Cunha family, the captaincy was passed to another branch of the family tree);
 * 4) 1510-1524 &mdash; Álvaro Coutinho;
 * 5) 1524-1552 &mdash; Álvaro Coutinho, son of the preceding;
 * 6) 1552-1573 &mdash; Fernando Coutinho, son of the preceding;
 * 7) 1573-1593 &mdash; Fernando Coutinho, son of the preceding;
 * 8) 1593-1626 &mdash; Fernando Coutinho, son of the preceding;
 * 9) 1626-1666 &mdash; Fernando Coutinho, son of the preceding, died without any descendents;
 * 10) 1666-1674 &mdash; Luís Mendes de Elvas (died without descendents);
 * 11) 1674-1708 &mdash; Pedro Sanches de Farinha;
 * 12) 1708-1730 &mdash; Rodrigo Sanches Farinha de Baena;
 * 13) 1730-1737 &mdash; Pedro Sanches Farinha de Baena;
 * 14) 1737-1766 &mdash; the title was re-incorporated into the possessions and properties of the Crown; the captaincy was extinguished with the creation of the Captaincy General of the Azores.

Donatary Captain of São Jorge
The captaincy of São Jorge was annexed to that of Angra, and maintained in that form until it was incorporated by the Crown, after Manuel de Moura Corte-Real, donatary captain of Angra, decided to maintain his allegiance to Spain, following the Restoration Wars.
 * 1) 1474-1496 &mdash; João Vaz Corte-Real;
 * 2) 1496-1538 &mdash; Vasco Anes Corte-Real;
 * 3) 1538-1577 &mdash; Manuel Corte-Real;
 * 4) 1577-1581 &mdash; Vasco Annes Corte-Real, with same name as his grandfather;
 * 5) 1581-1613 &mdash; Margarida Corte-Real, who married Cristóvão de Moura, 1st Count of Castelo Rodrigo, then 1st Marquess of Castelo Rodrigo, assuming the captaincy;
 * 6) 1613-1642 &mdash; Manuel de Moura Corte-Real, 2nd Marquess of Castelo Rodrigo and 1st Count of Lumiares. The captaincy reverted to the crown in 1641, when Manuel de Moura Corte Real opted to remain in the Kingdom of Castille after the Restoration of Independence from Spain;
 * 7) 1641-1642 &mdash; the title was incorporated into the possessions and properties of the Crown;
 * 8) 1642-1649 &mdash; Afonso de Portugal, 5th Count of Vimioso and 1st Marquess of Aguiar;
 * 9) 1649-1655 &mdash; Luís de Portugal, 6th Count of Vimioso; with his death, the title reverted, once again, to the Crown;
 * 10) 1655-1766 &mdash; the title was re-incorporated into the possessions and properties of the Crown; the captaincy was extinguished with the creation of the Captaincy General of the Azores.

Captaincy of Faial

 * 1) 1468 – 1482 &mdash; Josse van Huerter. The Donatary captaincy of Faial was given to Josse van Huerter by charter date 21 February 1468, which was then expanded on 29 December 1482, with the incorporation of the island of Pico

Captaincy of Pico

 * 1) 1460-1482 &mdash; Álvaro de Ornelas. Around 1460, Álvaro de Ornelas attempted to settle the island, with colonists from northern Portugal, who arrived by way of Terceira and Graciosa. He never really took effective control of donatary, since Josse van Huerter was placed in the administration of the united Donatary Captaincy of Faial and Pico.

Captaincy of Faial and Pico
By charter, on 29 December 1482, the Captaincy of Pico was annexed to the Captaincy of Faial, created the dual jurisdiction, under the single regency of van Huerter.
 * 1) 1482–1495 &mdash; Josse van Huerter;
 * 2) 1495–1549 &mdash; Joss de Utra, son of the preceding (transliterated name);
 * 3) 1549–1553 &mdash; Manuel de Utra Corte Real;
 * 4) 1553–1573 &mdash; Álvaro de Castro.
 * 5) 1573–1582 &mdash; Francisco de Mascarenhas;
 * 6) 1582–1614 &mdash; Jerónimo de Utra Corte Real;
 * 7) 1614–1642 &mdash; Manuel de Moura Corte Real, 1st Marquess of Lumiares and 2nd Marquess of Castelo Rodrigo. After being confiscated, the captaincy was incorporated into the possessions and properties of the Crown, between 1642 and 1680, since Manuel opted to live in the Kingdom of Castille, following the Restoration Wars;
 * 8) 1680–1730 &mdash; Rodrigo Sanches Farinha de Baena;
 * 9) 1730–1737 &mdash; Pedro Sanches Farinha de Baena, following his death, the captaincy was reincorporated into the possessions and properties of the Crown, by Rodrigo Sanches Farinha de Baena;
 * 10) 1825–1832 &mdash; Manuel de Arriaga Pereira, the title remained an honorific, until the captaincy was permanently extinguished with the creation of the Captaincy General of the Azores.

Donatary Captain of of Flores and Corvo
The islands of Flores and Corvo, were since their discovery, administered as a singular captaincy, without any clear statute defining the governance on the islands. What developed was a structure that was not as equal as the other islands, and flowed from a feudal hierarchy, that only improved after the reforms of Mouzinho da Silveira and the extinction of the constitutional monarchy. The following were the doantary captains of the islands:


 * 1) Diogo de Teive, was the Donatary, and not the Donatary Captain of the islands, responsible for their discovery;
 * 2) ?? - 1475 &mdash; João de Teive], son of the preceding, who sold his rights to the group (with the permission of the Crown) to Fernão Teles de Meneses;
 * 3) 1475-1477 &mdash; Fernão Teles de Meneses, 4th Master of Unhão;
 * 4) 1477-1500 &mdash; Maria de Vilhena, who, in the name of her minor son (Rui Teles), administered the islands; she invited, or permitted, the settlement of Willem van der Hagen, also known locally as Guilherme da Silveira, who for many years lived on the island, near Ribeira da Cruz. Ultimately, with the approval of her son, Maria de Vilhena sold the islands in 1500 to João da Fonseca, of Évora;
 * 5) 1500-1528 &mdash; João da Fonseca, sent to the islands some of the earliest settlers that remained on the islands, including Lopo Vaz and Antão Vaz;
 * 6) 1528-1570 &mdash; Pero da Fonseca, sometimes referred to as Pedro da Fonseca, son of the preceding;
 * 7) 1570-1593 &mdash; friar Gonçalo de Sousa da Fonseca, son of the preceding; professed knight in the Order of Christ. During this period the Commandery of the Order of Christ was founded, to administer through the Donatary Captain, what consisted of "[the] dominion of all the lands of the named islands not already occupied, with the obligation of paying annually a physical quantity of 20$00 réis, to care for the provision and payment of ecclesiastical ministers, to promote and support the construction and conservancy of the parochial churches and all in respect of the religious cult" and "...with the island of Corvo least occupied, took to the Commandery almost all, and on the island of Flores, took the extensive unincorporated lands in the municipality of Santa Cruz and three in Lajes". It was this Commandery that resulted in the oppression of the peoples of both islands, resulting in an oppressive signeurial tribute, that was only resolved in the 19th century. Through the death of friar Gonçalo da Fonseca the captaincy reverted to the Crown, and later attributed to Francisco de Mascarenhas, for his services in India and awarded for his support of the Iberian Union;
 * 8) 1593-1607 &mdash; Francisco de Mascarenhas, 1st Count of Vila da Horta, later changed to 1st Count of Santa Cruz, by letter of thanks from Filipe I, on 17 September 1523. All the remaining captains, except the last, were members of the Mascarenhas family, Counts of Santa Cruz, accumulating other titles along the way.
 * 9) 1608-1650 &mdash; Martinho de Mascarenhas, 2nd Count of Santa Cruz;
 * 10) 1650-1657 &mdash; João de Mascarenhas, married to his cousin, Brites de Mascarenhas, only daughter of the 2nd Count of Santa Cruz. João de Mascarenhas lost his title and captaincy to his son, Martinho de Mascarenhas, declared 4th Count of Santa Cruz, after being removed by King Afonso VI on 30 June 1657;
 * 11) 1657-1682 &mdash; Martinho de Mascarenhas, married Juliana de Lencastre, daughter and successor of the 2nd Marquess of Gouveia, accumulating the title of Count of Santa Cruz and Marquess of Gouveia within his household;
 * 12) 1682-1692 &mdash; João de Mascarenhas, 5th Count of Santa Cruz and 4th Marquess of Gouveia, died without any descendents;
 * 13) 1692-1714 &mdash; Martinho Mascarenhas, second oldest son of the 4th Count of Santa Cruz, and wife Juliana de Lencastre, he used the title of 6th Count of Santa Cruz, later confirmed by regal charter on 2 July 1692, and 3rd Marquess of Gouveia;
 * 14) 1714-1723 &mdash; João de Mascarenhas, 7th Count of Santa Cruz, by regal letter of John V (dated 20 January 1714), confirmed in 1723, and 4th Marquess of Gouveia. He was the eldest son of the 6th Count of Santa Cruz, but renounced the title, and escaped to England, for romantic reasons;
 * 15) 1723-1759 &mdash; D. José de Mascarenhas da Silva e Lencastre, 5th Marquess of Gouveia, 8th Count of Santa Cruz, and 8th Duke of Aveiro, obtained his title, owing to João de Mascarenhas had renounced his role. José was the last titleholder of the capataincy from the Mascarenhas family, since the title and his possessions/properties were confiscated by the Crown, during the sequence of events surrounding the Távora affair. The last Count of Santa Cruz was condemned and executed on 13 January 1759, and the politico-administrative responsibilities of Donatary Captain ceased on the islands;
 * 16) 1815-1832 &mdash; Pedro José Caupers, following the death of José de Mascarenhas, the incomes and possessions were administered by Pedro José Caupers, until the captaincy was ultimately extinguished with the creation of the Captaincy General of the Azores.

Captaincy General
The Captaincy-General of the Azores was created by decree on 2 August 1766, by King Joseph, and abolished by Decree 28, on 4 June 1832, signed in Ponta Delgada by Peter IV in the name of his daughter, Queen Maria II, with Secretary of State of the Affairs of the Kingdom, the Marquess of Palmela. The following were the captains-general installed in following years:
 * 1) 1766-1774 &mdash; Antão de Almada, 12th Count of Avranches ;
 * 2) 1774-1793 &mdash; Dinis Gregório de Melo Castro e Mendonça;
 * 3) 1793-1799 &mdash; Interim government, presided by Bishop José da Avé-Maria Leite da Costa e Silva and the Corregedor of Angra, Manuel José de Arriaga Brum da Silveira (who was substituted on 23 May 1795 by Luís de Moura Furtado and on 9 July 1795 by José Acúrsio das Neves). For his part the Bishop, citing age and ill health, solicitied insistently his substitution, which was never accepted. He was finally substituted in 1796, owing to illness, by deacon Mateus Homem Borges da Costa;
 * 4) 1799-1804 &mdash; Lourenço José Boaventura de Almada, Count of Almada;
 * 5) 1804-1806 &mdash; José António de Melo da Silva César e Meneses, Count of São Lourenço;
 * 6) 1806-1810 &mdash; Miguel António de Melo, Count of Murça;
 * 7) 1810-1816 &mdash; Aires Pinto de Sousa Coutinho;
 * 8) 1816-1820 &mdash; Francisco António de Araújo e Azevedo;
 * 9) 1820-1821 &mdash; Francisco de Borja Garção Stockler;
 * 10) 1821-1822 &mdash; (Liberal) Provisional Junta of the Supreme Governemt of the islands of the Azores (Junta Provisória do Supremo Governo das Ilhas dos Açores);
 * 11) 1823-1823 &mdash; (Absolutist) Interim Junta Government of Angra (Junta de Governo Interino de Angra), composed of João Pereira Forjaz de Lacerda, Roberto Luís de Mesquita Pimentel and Luís de Meireles do Canto e Castro.
 * 12) 1823-1824 &mdash; Francisco de Borja Garção Stockler;
 * 13) 1824-1828 &mdash; Manuel Vieira de Albuquerque Touvar;
 * 14) 1828-1828 &mdash; Interim government;
 * 15) 1828-1829 &mdash; Provisional Junta;
 * 16) 1828-1831 &mdash; Henrique da Fonseca de Sousa Prego, by the Miguelist party, governing in Ponta Delgada;
 * 17) 1829-1832 &mdash; António José Severim de Noronha, Count of Vila Flor and future Duke of Terceira, by the Liberal party, in the seat of the captaincy, in Angra. Menezes Severim de Noronha was the last Captain-General, governing until the extinction of the Captaincy-General of the Azores.

Regency of Angra

 * 1) 1830 - 1831 &mdash; Regency of Angra, established in the name of Maria II of Portugal, Queen of Portugal, who was usurped by her uncle Miguel I of Portugal (igniting the Liberal Wars.

Province of the Azores
By Decree 28, dated 4 June 1832, and signed in Ponta Delgada by Peter IV, in the name of his daughter, Queen Maria II, the Captaincy general was extinguished and substituted for the Province of the Azores, with its seat in Angra, on the island of Terceira. The Province was divided into three administrative zones: Angra, the provincial captital, with its prefect; Ponta Delgada, with a sub-prefect; and Horta, with its own sub-prefect. This division was later changed in Decree 64, signed on 28 June 1833, that lead to the creation of the districts of the Ilhas Adjacentes.

Prefect:
 * 1) 1832-1833 &mdash; Francisco Saraiva da Costa Refóios, 1st Baron of Ruivós

Sub-Prefect of Ponta Delgada:
 * 1) 1832-1833 &mdash; Luís Ribeiro de Sousa Saraiva;
 * 2) 1833-1833 &mdash; António José de Ávila (did not take office, since he was never permitted to disembark in Ponta Delgada);
 * 3) 1833-1833 &mdash; José Caetano Dias do Canto e Medeiros (refused to take office);
 * 4) 1833-1833 &mdash; Felix Pereira de Magalhães (refused the nomination).

Sub-Prefect of Horta:
 * 1) 1832-1833 &mdash; António Mariano de Lacerda;
 * 2) 1833-1833 &mdash; António José de Ávila.

Provinces of the Azores
Owing to the conflict that existed between the authorities of São Miguel and Terceira, where the islanders of São Miguel insisted on their "independence" from Terceira, and did not allow sub-prefect to be replaced. Under Decree 64, 28 June 1833, the Province of the Azores was divided, and two separate administrative divisions were created: the Eastern Province of the Azores (Província Oriental dos Açores) (that included São Miguel and Santa Maria), with its seat in Ponta Delgada; and the Western Province of the Azores (Província Ocidental dos Açores) (that included the rest of the islands), which maintained their capital in Angra do Heroísmo.

Eastern Province of the Azores
Prefect:
 * 1) 1833-1836 &mdash; José António Ferreira de Moura

Western Province of the Azores
Prefect:
 * 1) 1833-1833 &mdash; Francisco Saraiva da Costa Refóios, 1st Baron of Ruivós;
 * 2) 1833-1836 &mdash; Luís Pinto de Mendonça Arrais, 1st Baron of Valongo and, later, 1st Viscount of Valongo.

Sub-Prefect of Horta:
 * 1) 1833-1833 &mdash; António Garcia da Rosa, 1st Baron of Areia Larga;
 * 2) 1833-1834 &mdash; António José de Ávila;
 * 3) 1834-1836 &mdash; António Mariano de Lacerda;

District of the Adjacent Islands
By Decree, on 18 July 1835, owing to the administrative reforms of Mouzinho da Silveira, the Provinces were extinguished, replaced by administrative and fiscal districts. In the Azores, two districts were created, corresponding to the extinguished Provinces, with seats in Ponta Delgada and Angra do Heroísmo. However, Horta was elevated to the status of city, by the Duke of Bragança, in the name of Queen Maria II (on 4 July 1833), and a movement quickly emerged for administrative independence from Angra do Heroísmo.

Upholding these sentiments, on 28 March 1836, three administrative zones were re-created, the districts of Ponta Delgada, Angra do Heroísmo and Horta, which survived until 1975.

Colour key (for political parties)  {{legend|#DCDCDC|No party|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#B0E0E6|Chartist/Chamorro|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#B0C4DE|Chamorro|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#F0E68C|Septemberist|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#99BADD|Regenerator|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#FFE4E1|Historic|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#FDF5E6|Reformist|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#E6E6FA|Regenerator/Historic|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#FFB6C1|Progressist|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#66CDAA|Liberal Regenerator|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#cccccc|Republican|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#ddeeff|Democratic|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#e6e6aa|National Republican/Sidonist|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#CADABA|Liberal Republican|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#98FB98|National Reconstitution Republican|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#F5DEB3|Nationalist Republican|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#D2B48C|Democratic Leftwing Republican|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#adf|National Union/People's National Action|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#FADADD|Socialist|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#FFCC99|Social Democratic/Democratic Alliance|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#69CDAA|Democratic and Social Centre/Democratic Alliance|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

Ponta Delgada
With the establishment of district borders, the District of Ponta Delgada, and after 1895, the Autonomous District of Ponta Delgada, included the islands of Santa Maria and São Miguel. The district administration was concentrated in Ponta Delgada, where the Palace of Conceição (the old Convent of Conceição) was adapted as the seat of the district and official residence of the Civil Governor (with the, later, General Junta in the same building).

The colors indicate the political affiliations:

Angra do Heroísmo
The Angra do Heroísmo consisted of the islands of Terceira, Graciosa and São Jorge, with its seat in the old capital of the Captaincy General of the Azores in Angra do Heroísmo. In order to constitute the district administration, the old Palace of the Captains-General, the historic College of the Society of Jesus was used. It housed the official residence of the Civil Governor, the police, the military command for the Azores, and for a while the General Junta. The General Junta later moved to Carreira dos Cavalos, to the old Episcopal palace, which was reconstructed and remodelled as the Palace of the General Junta, later becoming int the Regional Secretariat for Education building.

Horta
The district of Horta was formed by the islands of Faial, Pico, Flores and Corvo, with its seat in the city of Horta. Its services and administration were installed in the extinct College of the Society of Jesus, with the General Junta later occupying the same spaces, before moving to buildings left abandoned by the submarine cable companies.

Junta Regional
During the Verão Quente of 1975, after the resignation of the Civil Governor of the Autonomous District of Ponta Delgada, following the mass demonstration of 6 June 1975, a Decree was promulgated to create the Regional Administrative and Development Junta to substitute the autonomous districts, ushering in the new Political status of the Azores. These funcitons would be revised on 3 February 1976. . The Regional Junta governed the Azores between 22 August 1975 and 8 September 1976.
 * 1975-1976 &mdash; General Altino Pinto de Magalhães, who became the President of Regional Junta on 26 August 1975, and execerised this post until 8 September 1976, when this body became extinct (and Magalhães became the Military Governor of the Azores. The Regional Junta of the Açores, presided by Altino Pinto de Magalhães, included the following representatives:
 * Assuntos Sociais, Trabalho e Emigração (Social Issues, Work and Immigration), Henrique Aguiar Rodrigues (People's Popular Party);
 * Coordenação Económica e Finanças (Economic Coordination and Finances), José Adriano Borges de Carvalho, later substituted by Álvaro Pereira da Silva Leal Monjardino (Popular Democratic Party);
 * Transportes, Comércio, Comunicações e Turismo (Transport, Commerce, Communication and Tourism), José Pacheco de Almeida (Popular Democratic Party);
 * Educação, Investigação Científica, Comunicação Social e Cultura (Education, Scientific Investigation, Social Communication and Culture), José António Martins Goulart (Socialist Party);
 * Administração Local, Equipamento Social e Ambiente (Local Administration, Social Equipment and Environment), Leonildo Garcia Vargas (Socialist Party);
 * Agricultura, Pescas e Indústria (Agriculture, Fishing and Industry), António de Albuquerque Jácome Corrêa (Independent).

Região Autónoma dos Açores
Nos termos do Estatuto Político-Administrativo da Região Autónoma dos Açores os órgãos de governo próprio são a Assembleia Legislativa, um parlamento unicameral eleito por sufrágio universal cada 4 anos, e o Governo Regional, um executivo de legitimidade parlamentar composto por um presidente e por secretários regionais, cujo mandato é também de 4 anos. Para além dos órgãos de governo próprio, a República Portuguesa é representada nos Açores por um Representante da República, nomeado pelo Presidente da República, cuja missão principal é promulgar as leis regionais (até à revisão constitucional de Julho de 2004, que criou este cargo, existiu um Ministro da República, com ligação preponderante ao Governo português; o primeiro Representante da República tomou posse em 2006, na sequência da tomada de posse de Aníbal Cavaco Silva como Presidente de República).

Ministros da República

 * 1) 1976 - 1978 &mdash; General Octávio de Carvalho Galvão de Figueiredo, nomeado pelo Decreto n.º 674/76, de 24 de Agosto, tomou posse a 27 de Agosto de 1976, permanecendo no cargo até 11 de Setembro de 1978, tendo sido exonerado pelo Decreto n.º 93-A/78, de 11 de Setembro.
 * 2) 1978 - 1981 &mdash; Almirante Henrique Afonso da Silva Horta, nomeado pelo Decreto n.º 93-B/78, de 11 de Setembro, exerceu o cargo de 11 de Setembro de 1978 a 28 de Abril de 1981, tendo sido exonerado pelo Decreto n.º 50/81, de 28 de Abril.
 * 3) 1981 - 1986 &mdash; General Tomás George Conceição Silva, nomeado pelo Decreto n.º 51/81, de 28 de Abril, exerceu o cargo de 28 de Abril de 1981 a 12 de Julho de 1986, tendo sido exonerado pelo Decreto n.º 19/86, de 11 de Julho.
 * 4) 1986 - 1991 &mdash; General Vasco Joaquim Rocha Vieira, nomeado pelo Decreto n.º 20/86, de 11 de Julho, exerceu o cargo de 12 de Julho de 1986 a 20 de Abril de 1991, sendo exonerado pelo Decreto n.º 20/91, de 19 de Abril.
 * 5) 1991 - 1997 &mdash; Prof. Doutor Mário Fernando de Campos Pinto, nomeado pelo Decreto n.º 21/91, de 19 de Abril, exerceu o cargo de 20 de Abril de 1991 a 7 de Outubro de 1997, tendo sido exonerado pelo Decreto do Presidente da República n.º 64-D/97, de 7 de Outubro.
 * 6) 1997 - 2003 &mdash; Juiz Conselheiro Alberto Manuel de Sequeira Leal Sampaio da Nóvoa, foi nomeado pelo Decreto do Presidente da República n.º 64-F/97, de 7 de Outubro. Na sequência das eleições presidenciais de 2001, foi renomeado pelo Decreto do Presidente da República n.º 30-A/2001, de 14 de Maio. Exerceu o cargo de 7 de Outubro de 1997 a 27 de Março de 2003, tendo sido exonerado pelo Decreto do Presidente da República n.º 21-A/2003, de 26 de Março.
 * 7) 2003 - 2006 &mdash; Juiz Conselheiro Álvaro José Brilhante Laborinho Lúcio, nomeado por Decreto do Presidente da República n.º 21-B/2003, de 26 de Março, exercendo as funções desde 27 de Março de 2003 a 30 de Março de 2006. Devido à extinção do cargo pela revisão constitucional de 2004 (Lei Constitucional n.º 1/2004, de 24 de Julho), este foi o último Ministro da República para a Região Autónoma dos Açores.

Representantes da República
Criado pela Lei Constitucional n.º 1/2004, de 24 de Julho, o cargo de Representante da República, agora inserido na esfera política e institucional do Presidente da República, veio substituir o Ministro da República. As funções de natureza executiva e de coordenação foram cometidas ao Governo Regional e ao Governo da República, ficando como função principal a representação da soberania do Estado português e a assinatura das leis emanadas da Assembleia Legislativa e do Governo Regional.
 * 1) 2006 - 2011 &mdash; Juiz Conselheiro José António Mesquita, nomeado pelo Decreto do Presidente da República n.º 33/2006, de 30 de Março ;
 * 2) 2011 - --- &mdash; Embaixador Pedro Manuel dos Reis Alves Catarino, nomeado pelo Decreto do Presidente da República n.º 46/2011, de 11 de Abril.

Presidentes da Assembleia Legislativa

 * 1) 1976 - 1978 &mdash; Álvaro Pereira da Silva Leal Monjardino (1.ª vez).
 * 2) 1978 - 1979 &mdash; Alberto Romão Madruga da Costa (1.ª vez).
 * 3) 1979 - 1984 &mdash; Álvaro Pereira da Silva Leal Monjardino (2.ª vez).
 * 4) 1984 - 1991 &mdash; José Guilherme Reis Leite.
 * 5) 1991 - 1995 &mdash; Alberto Romão Madruga da Costa (2.ª vez).
 * 6) 1995 - 1996 &mdash; Humberto Trindade de Melo (1.ª vez).
 * 7) 1996 - 1998 &mdash; Dionísio Mendes de Sousa.
 * 8) 1998 - 2000 &mdash; Humberto Trindade de Melo (2.ª vez).
 * 9) 2000 - 2008 &mdash; Fernando Manuel Machado Menezes.
 * 10) 2008 - 2012 &mdash; Francisco Manuel Coelho Lopes Cabral.
 * 11) 2012 -  --  &mdash; Ana Luísa Pereira Luís.

Presidentes do Governo Regional

 * 1) 1976 - 1995 &mdash; João Bosco Soares da Mota Amaral (8 de Setembro de 1976 - 20 de Outubro de 1995)
 * 2) I Governo Regional dos Açores
 * 3) II Governo Regional dos Açores
 * 4) III Governo Regional dos Açores
 * 5) IV Governo Regional dos Açores
 * 6) V Governo Regional dos Açores
 * 7) 1995 - 1996 &mdash; Alberto Romão Madruga da Costa (20 de Outubro de 1995 − 8 de Novembro de 1996)
 * 8) VI Governo Regional dos Açores
 * 9) 1996 -  2012  &mdash; Carlos Manuel Martins do Vale César (9 de Novembro de 1996 − 6 de Novembro de 2012)
 * 10) VII Governo Regional dos Açores
 * 11) VIII Governo Regional dos Açores
 * 12) IX Governo Regional dos Açores
 * 13) X Governo Regional dos Açores
 * 14) 2012 -  -- &mdash; Vasco Ilídio Alves Cordeiro (6 de Novembro de 2012 - presente)
 * 15) XI Governo Regional dos Açores


 * Comissão Consultiva para os Assuntos das Regiões Autónomas
 * História dos Açores


 * Listagem de governantes dos Açores no WorldStatesmen;
 * Listagem no WorldRulers.