Domitila de Castro, Marchioness of Santos

Domitila (or Domitília) de Castro Canto e Melo (December 27, 1797 — November 3, 1867), 1st Viscountess with designation as a Grandee, then 1st Marchioness of Santos, was a Brazilian noblewoman and the long-term mistress and favorite of Emperor Pedro I.

Domitila de Castro
Marchioness of Santos
Domitila de Castro at the age of 68, c. 1865
Born	27 December 1797 São Paulo, Brazil (Portuguese Colony)
Died	3 November 1867 (aged 69) São Paulo, Empire of Brazil
Spouse(s)	Felício Pinto Coelho de Mendonça Rafael Tobias de Aguiar
Issue Francisca Felício João Isabel Maria, Duchess of Goiás Pedro de Alcântara Maria Isabel, Duchess of Ceará Maria Isabel, Countess of Iguaçu Rafael Tobias João Tobias Antônio Francisco Castro Brasílico Gertrudes Heitor
Father	João de Castro Canto e Melo, Viscount of Castro
Mother	Escolástica Bonifácia de Oliveira Toledo Ribas

Biography

The Emperor first met Domitila (who was born in São Paulo) in 1822 during his travel through São Paulo which would lead to the Brazilian independence. She was married to Felício Pinto Coelho de Mendonça, a military officer of low rank. Crowned emperor, Pedro I invited her to move to Rio de Janeiro and offered her an office at the Court, placing her at the Empress's entourage as her lady-in-waiting. There she managed to have her first marriage nullified.

The emperor proved himself very generous when it came to honour his favourite and her family as well. Bestowing on her the title of Viscountess of Santos was a slap in the face of the family of José Bonifácio, the patriarch of the independence and the most eminent people of the city of Santos, São Paulo. He also did not hesitate in bestowing titles on their three daughters (the Duchesses of Goiás and Ceará and the Countess of Iguaçu) and insisting on their being educated with the royal princesses. The Marchioness' sister was made Baroness of Sorocaba and eventually she joined the extensive roll of royal mistresses, and bore a child with him.

Maria Leopoldina, the empress, died in 1826 due to complications caused by a miscarriage. The public opinion held the Marchioness responsible for the grievances and humiliations suffered by the empress.

Since marrying Domitila was not an option, Pedro chose for his second marriage the young Bavarian princess Amélie de Beauharnais von Leuchtenberg, granddaughter of Empress Josephine. Subsequently, he dismissed Domitila who returned to São Paulo. There she married again, to the brigadier Rafael Tobias de Aguiar.

Domitila de Castro died from enterocolitis in her native São Paulo on November 3, 1867, aged 69. Her body was buried in the Cemitério da Consolação.

Gallery

• 
  The Marchioness of Santos wearing the sash of the Order of Saint Isabel, c. 1826. Painting by Francisco Pedro do Amaral
• 
  Domitila de Castro aged 68, c. 1865
• 
  The Solar da Marquesa de Santos, Domitila's residence from 1834 until her death in 1867
• 
  Grave of the Marchioness of Santos at the Cemitério da Consolação

Ancestry

Ancestors of Domitila de Castro, Marchioness of Santos

16. Pedro do Canto de Castro 8. Jerónimo de Castro do Canto 17. Brites de Meireles da Fonseca 4. João Batista de Castro do Canto e Melo 18. Vital Bettencourt de Vasconcelos 9. Úrsula Isabel de Bettencourt de Vasconcelos 19. Maria do Canto da Silveira 2. João de Castro Canto e Melo 20. William Ricketts 10. George Ricketts 21. Mary Goodwin 5. Isabel Ricketts 22. Raynes Wayte 11. Sarah Wayte 1. Domitila de Castro Canto e Melo 24. Miguel Ribeiro Ribas 12. Carlos José Ribas 25. Arcângela Maria de Sousa 6. José Bonifácio Ribas 26. Ambrósio Ramos Ferreira 13. Engrácia da Cruz Ferreira 27. Joana Pereira de Faria 3. Escolástica Bonifácia de Oliveira Toledo Ribas 28. José Álvares Noites 14. Pedro Álvares da Paz 29. Catarina Pinto Rocha 7. Ana Maria de Toledo e Oliveira 30. Simão de Toledo Castelhanos 15. Escolástica de Toledo Oliveira 31. Catarina de Oliveira de Horta

Depiction in media

Domitila was portrayed by Agatha Moreira in the 2017 telenovela Novo Mundo.[1]

Bibliography

• Gomes, Laurentino (2010). 1822 — How a wise man, a sad princess and a money-crazy Scotsman helped D. Pedro create Brazil, a country that had everything to go wrong (in Portuguese). Nova Fronteira.

References

1. "Agatha Moreira se prepara para 'Novo Mundo', nova novela das 6: 'Estou lendo muito'". Gshow (in Portuguese). Retrieved 10 April 2017.