Thesouro de Nobreza

The manuscript is now in Lisbon, in the national archive of Torre do Tombo (reference Casa Real, Cartório da Nobreza, liv.

In addition to the coarse stroke, the lesser artistic note is accentuated by the fact that the arms of the families present only the respective shield, roundel, and crest, and never the helmet and mantling.

(Fl 2r) The second chapter of the work shows the - almost all imaginary - arms of the so-called Nine Worthies, nine heroes considered in the Middle Ages as the ideal of the medieval knight.

In Francisco Coelho's work, the order of presentation is identical to that seen in the Livro do Armeiro-Mor, which also dedicates a chapter to them: • Joshua • David • Judas Maccabeus • Alexander the Great • Hector • Julius Caesar • King Arthur • Charlemagne • Godfrey of Bouillon (Fl 3r) Here is another interesting innovation in Francisco Coelho's work: twelve arms or insignia of the Roman Empire - some historical, others imaginary.

Note that the armorial of 1509 correctly presents the arms of the peers of France after the seven Prince-electors of the Empire (see below), their superiors in the noble hierarchy.

The reason why Francisco Coelho in 1675 would have chosen to present the French arms before the German ones may reflect the recent relations between Portugal and France since the final phase of the Portuguese Restoration War (1640–1668).

Note that since 1668 the Prince Regent was married to a French princess, the future queen Maria Francisca of Savoy, after her marriage to Afonso VI of Portugal had been annulled.

Seven of the shields have a caption, but are blank: those of the towns of Loulé, Castelo Rodrigo, Alegrete, Fronteira, Veiros (Estremoz), Campo Maior, and Monsaraz.

Olivenza is represented in sixth place, right after some of the most important towns in Portugal: Santarém, Setúbal, Tomar (seat of the Order of Christ), Guimarães, and Estremoz, all of which have since been elevated to city status.

An interesting detail: the last queen to appear in the chapter is the German Maria Sophia of Neuburg, second wife of Pedro II.

Note that during the Portuguese Restoration War (1640–1668) and in the years immediately following, 24 titles granted by the Philips were extinguished, and 17 new ones created.

For the late medieval period, see the works of Rita Costa Gomes and José Augusto Sotto Mayor Pizarro in the bibliography.

The National Archive of Torre do Tombo, on its website, provides digitized photographs of the Thesouro de Nobreza in TIFF format (see External Links).

The decorated cover of the codex of Thesouro de Nobreza
Arms of the Twelve Tribes of Israel (fl 1 r )
Arms of the Nine Worthies (fl 2 r )
Arms of the Military and Religious Orders of Portugal (fl 9 r )
Arms of the Cities of Portugal (fl 11 r )
Arms of the Queens (fl 22 r ). In the last row the arms of the Princesses and Infantas of Portugal, in lozenge. Note the arms of Queen Maria Sophia of Neuburg in the last place, executed already after 1687 (see below).
Arms of the Dukes and Marquises of Portugal (fl 23 r )
Arms of the Counts of Portugal (fl 24 r )
Arms of the Counts of Portugal (fl 25 r )
Arms of the Families (fl 27 r ). The first of forty folios presenting arms of Portuguese families.