This “Entail of the Month” initiative, in cooperation with Casa dos Coimbras, is featuring the Chapel of the Coimbras, established in Braga in 1530 by João de Coimbra, a leading figure in the Braga Chapter.

João de Coimbra, who owned vast estates, decided to bind them together, and instituted an entailment based and pious project typical of the social elites of his times. The letter of institution, dated 1530, followed the granting of a royal licence in 1527, which authorised the founding of an estate on the condition that the administrators should always be laymen.

Between land and urban properties, the chapel assumed a central place within the bond. Neighbouring the cathedral of Braga, the founder and his administrators would be buried in it, and with detailed rules dictated for its running.

Despite all the transformations experienced over time, the disappearance of the social order that maintained these entrusted estates before their complete abolition in the 19th century, the fact remains that the unity of this household, the chapel and its descendants continues to fulfil a social function. Now restored, the garden and chapel are open to the public. Each year, the representative of the succession and their relatives continue to present themselves at the mass celebrated on 8 December in accordance with the will left by the institutor some five hundred years ago (http://casadoscoimbras.blogspot.com/).

To find out more details about this entail, go to this page with all the Entail of the Month information. Here, you may also find out about the other entails made available in the meantime, at: https://www.vinculum.fcsh.unl.pt/entail-of-the-month

You can also contribute to this initiative by making suggestions for future entails of the month and any details you may be able to provide. To this end, please contact the project at: vinculum@fcsh.unl.pt.