The Corregedor (''Inspector-General'' or ''Magistrate'') was a position established by the Portuguese crown in the 14th-15th century, with the authority to "correct" acts of a local, administrative or judicial nature within the kingdom. Although common throughout the kingdom, the role was more common and important in the administration of the
Azores
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, motto =( en, "Rather die free than subjected in peace")
, anthem= ( en, "Anthem of the Azores")
, image_map=Locator_map_of_Azores_in_EU.svg
, map_alt=Location of the Azores within the European Union
, map_caption=Location of the Azores wi ...
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History
The King of Portugal had by ordination, in the entire
kingdom, the right to send important authorities, in his name, to correct the acts at all levels of the local administration and judiciary.
[Carlos Melo Bento (2008), p.62] To this end, since he was unable to participate directly, he established the post of ''Corregedor''.
[
The first Corregedor with jurisdiction over the Azores, Dr. Afonso de Matos, was nominated by King ]Manuel I of Portugal
Manuel I (; 31 May 146913 December 1521), known as the Fortunate ( pt, O Venturoso), was King of Portugal from 1495 to 1521. A member of the House of Aviz, Manuel was Duke of Beja and Viseu prior to succeeding his cousin, John II of Portuga ...
in 1503.[ Part of his obligation was that he was required to visit the Azores once per year, at the expense of the local authorities.][
After 1535, King ]John
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Secon ...
established a time frame for corrections to be made in each island of the Azores, and by each Captaincy
A captaincy ( es, capitanía , pt, capitania , hr, kapetanija) is a historical administrative division of the former Spanish and Portuguese colonial empires. It was instituted as a method of organization, directly associated with the home-rule a ...
.[ In that statement, a four-month plan was established specifically for the islands of São Jorge,][On São Jorge, a judge was appointed a non-permanent judicial appointee that only visited briefly to carry out his role on the island.] Graciosa, Faial, Pico and Flores, the islands of Santa Maria and São Miguel established a specific working division and, the island of Terceira alone. In special circumstances, the Corregedor could visit each island for longer stays.[
]
Role
The Corregedor in the Azores was the most important judicial magistrate, judging at the second tier, providing appeals and conflicts between presiding judges and ''ouvidors'' (the counsels, of the Captains-General).[ The royal edict of 1767 established the predominance of the corregador, recognizing his power to judge appeals, something that the corregedors on the continent were not permitted to do.][ In this role, the Corregedor could suspend the jurisdiction or their powers to judge, during his visit.][ Similarly, the Corregedor was responsible for inspecting the functioning of the Municipal authorities ( pt, Câmaras Municipais) and audit the books of the public finances.][
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References
;Notes
;Sources
* {{citation , first=Carlos Melo , last=Bento , title=História dos Açores: Da descoberta a 1934 , publisher=Câmara Municipal de Ponta Delgada , year=2008 , location= Ponta Delgada (Azores), Portugal , language=Portuguese
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Gubernatorial titles