VISITING PORTUGESE CONFRÈRES
The Coat of Arms of Portugal
His Excellency, Aníbal António Cavaco Silva
President of Portugal since 9th March 2006
H.R.H. Dom Duarte Duke of Bragança
Chief of the Royal House of Portugal
H.M. Dom Afonso Henriques "The Conqueror"
First King of Portugal
Reigned from 1st November 1112 – 6th December 1183
CELEBRATING THE 900th BIRTHDAY
OF THE GREAT PORTUGUESE NATION
WHILE
ATTENDING PATRIOTIC, CONFRATERNAL
AND EXPLORATORY TRAVEL ADVENTURES
by
The Margraves Gulgowski-Doliwa: Paul and Heide
Photographs by
Martine, the Baroness Duchesne (right)
and
Heide Anna Maria, the Margravine Gulgowski-Doliwa (left)
Other contributing photographers will be given credit
as their pictures appear in this article
The Gulgowski-Doliwa Margravial Coat-of-Arms
As Recreated, Registered and Safeguarded
By the Collegium Heraldicum Russiae
And as Acknowledged, Recorded, Respected and Published
By The Real Colégio Nobiliárquico
(Royal College of Nobility)
AT THE POUSADA DE SANTA MARINHA IN GUIMARAES
This religious edifice of a deeply spiritual but also luxurious nature existed since the ninth century. Among several of its honored functions, it served as a home to the monks of the Order of St. Jeronimo. Later, it made a residence to a bishop, which is indicated by a miter above the Pousada's coat-of-arms.
Pousada St. Miguel Chapel Façade with Miter-Adorned Coat-of-Arms
Now, the Pousada (a Pousada is a hotel created from historically significant castles and monasteries) provided us with our home away from home while attending various Portuguese patriotic and chivalric festivities. As to the quality of our accommodations, the following photographs shall bear witness.
The view from our three-room suite, overlooking Guimaraes
was simply out of this world
The Palm Sunday festivities
underneath our balcony contributed to this wonderful ambience
The immaculately maintained cemetery close by had the commemorative photos
of the dearly departed face the entrance, to compel the visitor
to behold them in their earthly appearance
Heide poses happily at the entrance to the Pousada
Paul in one of the Pousada's hallways
Heide in front of an ancient painting of St. Augustine,
the Saint who greatly inspired His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
Obviously, this Portuguese lady looks upon Paul with favor
Pousada clock tower, photographed from inside the court yard
Pousada court yard with fountain
A cozy nook in our suite at the Pousada
CELEBRATING THE 900th BIRTHDAY OF PORTUGAL
Many individuals of substantial renown attended the ninth centennial of the great explorer nation of Portugal, some of them coming from places as far away as the United States of America.
The Bragança Fortress in Guimaraes
The First Capital of the Kingdom of Portugal
H.R.H. The Duke of Viseu, Dom Miguel de Bragança, in conversation with
H.E. Commodore Prof. Dr. Paul W. Margrave Gulgowski-Doliwa
while waiting for admittance into the Bragança Fortress
The Duke of Viseu speaks in his ancestral home
while H.R.H. Prince Davit of the Royal House of Georgia,
the current Mayor of Guimaraes, H.H. Sultan Luc Said Mohamed Cheikh
and selected guests attentively listen
The Grand Prior of the Royal Confraternity of São Teotónio (RCST)
H.E. Dr. Ulisses Count Rolim, gives a media interview
in the court yard of the Royal Fortress
The Margraves Gulgowski-Doliwa are being photographed
within the Royal Fortress with a newly found friend
H.R.H. Prince Davit Bagration, photographed during one of many
intensive conversations with the Margraves Gulgowski-Doliwa
The Grand Prior RCST provides the wreath to be placed in front of
the statue of King Afonso Henriques, the First Crowned Sovereign of Portugal
The grand assembly in front of Dom Afonso's statue
with Heide and Paul somewhere in the background
The Grand Prior RCST with
his charming and lovely wife Paula, the Countess Rolim
Heide, Paul and the Lord Bishop en route to the RCST Investiture
SOLEMN RCST INVESTITURE AT THE CHAPEL OF ST. MIGUEL
AT THE POUSADA DE SANTA MARINHA
Our esteemed readership is invited to consult our Belgian RCST Investiture report for the particular details that normally accompany the chivalric events associated with a confraternal acceptance ceremony.
The Santa Marinha RCST Investiture had a slightly different format as the following photographs will reveal.
Front view of the Chapel of St. Miguel, RCST Portugal Investiture site
The Investiture Staff consisting of (left to right)
RCST Herald Count of Foia,
Grand Prior Ulisses Count Rolim,
RCST Herald Count of Brinches,
Flag Bearer Baron Manuel Duchesne, and
Lord Viscount of Santa Maria
Paul flanked by Heralds vested in the tabards of São Teotónio
They are (left to right) The Count of Foia and the Count of Brinches
The church choir of St. Miguel
who must be thanked for their spiritually uplifting musical renditions
Investiture party marches into the chapel
Commodore Prof. Dr. Paul W. Margrave Gulgowski-Doliwa
Honorary Ceremonial Sword Bearer
(Picture provided by RCST)
The Very Important Persons associated with
this historical RCST Investiture event are (from left to right):
H.R.H. Prince Davit,
H.R.H. Dom Miguel, the Duke of Viseu, and
H.H. Luc Said Mohamed Cheikh de la Grande Comore.
As High Celebrant of this major RCST Investiture
served the Spiritual Protector and Co-Founder of RCST
H.E. Lord Bishop Dom Abilio Ribas.
In this picture, his Lordship adjusts his ecclesiastical cap
A lady from Spain is ceremoniously invested into RCST
as H.R.H. Prince Davit benevolently looks on
Sixteen noteworthy and deserving ladies and gentlemen have been invested into RCST,
proudly holding on to their RCST brevets. Our honored readers are encouraged to look
upon the artful, intricate wall decorations visible behind the postulants
After the solemn ceremony, a devout RCST lady remains in front
of the high altar inside the chapel of St. Miguel
The obligatory chief post Investiture photograph
Because the RCST membership consists of so many highly intelligent,
magnificently gifted and wonderfully interesting people,
the post Investiture social gathering in front of St. Miguel
was one of the true highlights of an event such as this one.
Four marvelous ladies of Spain wanted themselves to be photographed with one
of the most decorated military veterans present at the event
Paul with two prominent Iberian noblemen
(Picture provided by RCST)
Friendly conversation underneath a shady tree
Prince Davit of the Royal House of Georgia, and
Sultan Luc Said Mohamed Cheikh of Grande Comore
also performed two less extensive Investitures
inside the historic halls of the Pousada
Royal Highnesses and Dignitaries holding court
while the Viscount of Santa Maria presides
Prince Davit accepts a deserving individual
into the Royal Order of the Eagle of Georgia
H. H. Sultan Luc Said Mohamed Cheikh reviews the awards
he is about to bestow upon members of RCST
Sultan Luc Said Mohamed Cheikh honors the Monsignore
who had previously assisted the Lord Bishop
during the high mass of the RCST Investiture
At the end of these ceremonies
Prince Davit and Count Rolim exchange a few words
Concluding these inspiring activities, drinks and hors d'oeuvres
were served while the participating guests rejoined each others company
to continue the conversations they had commenced already on the plaza
dedicated to the first King of Portugal, Dom Afonso Henriques
Heide, Sultan Luc and Paul in conversation
while the latter is enjoying a libation
No need to worry, Margrave Paul is not about to bite Prince Davit.
He is merely making a conversational point of emphasis
with his customary enthusiasm and expressiveness
Heide has just joined the conversation
uplifting it with her inherited Rhinelandish humor
Dom Miguel, the Duke of Viseu, always delights
in talking with Heide and Paul
The Duke of Viseu is always a polite listener
learning as much of the world as he possibly can
It is always a pleasure to meet and talk with the Barons Martine and Manuel Duchesne. Especially Martine is a sunshine who lightens up every room she enters.
The background pictured here offers proof of the sophisticated blue and white tile artistry practiced by the Moors when they were in occupation of Portugal.
Naturally, after hors d'oeuvres and small sips of Champaign a heartier fare was served in the main dining room of the Pousada Santa Marinha. Obviously, this event also provided opportunities for additional speeches and more picture taking.
The Grand Prior addresses the dinner assembly
with his customary elegance of speech
While the Grand Prior attends to his responsibility
Countess Paula is obviously enjoying herself
The Lord Bishop clearly in a jovial mood
The Duke and the Sultan getting along famously
The Margraves' dinner table. The gentleman seated to Heide's left is a retired Portuguese Army Cavalry Captain, who gallantly provided her with conversational entertainment.
(This photograph was provided by RCST.)
Heide is waving Paula and Ulisses good-bye
from one of our balconies at the Pousada
As all great things must come to an end, so it also happened to this RCST / 900th Anniversary Year Portuguese Commemoration celebration. All chivalric friends said their good-byes and vowed to meet again at another time, in another place for the very same purpose: To celebrate Royal Portugal and its loyal Confraternity of São Teotónio.
The next and final stop in our travel adventure was the metropolitan capital city of Portugal, Lisbon, with a few of its surrounding communities.
SIGHTSEEING IN LISBON
While in Lisbon, we stayed at the Sana Lisboa Hotel. We were exceedingly happy with its accommodations and customer service. We particularly enjoyed the piano music of a fine older gentleman, who took pleasure in entertaining us with America's music of the forties and fifties.
We enjoyed this view from our hotel. As our readers can readily observe, Lisbon is a sprawling metropolitan area where construction and reconstruction is an ever-present effort. The body of water in the background is not the Atlantic Ocean, but the River Tagus.
Starting out with Lisbon's outlying communities, we first visited Sintra with its National Palace and old historic villas and fortresses.
Sintra village view with National Palace in the background
Sintra
Cloud-covered Castello dos Mouros above Sintra
Chandelier in National Palace
Ancient tapestry in National Palace
The Portuguese Royal Coat-of-Arms
on National Palace ceiling
The Room of Caravels in the National Palace
Coat-of-Arms room in the National Palace
National Palace Chapel
Heide in front of 19th century villas in Sintra
Paul in front of Sintra village church
From Sintra we ventured on to the Cabo da Roca Lighthouse complex, which is the westernmost point of both mainland Portugal and the Eurasian land mass.
Paul next to Cabo da Roca marker
Cabo da Roca lighthouse
The predecessor buildings to this structure reputedly served Prince Henry the Navigator as nautical research center, where he established for the Portuguese navy such essentials as longitudes, latitudes, charts on sea currents and wind direction as well as instructional guides on how to properly utilize celestial navigational techniques.
BACK IN LISBON
Heide in front of the Peter IV monument
Peter was Portugal's first constitutional King
Paul towered by mountain-top fortress.
May our readers please remember that Lisbon, like Rome and Constantinople
was built on seven hills and every one of them is crowned by a fortress
or castle of some sort, or so it appears
Church of São Teotónio in Lisbon, where we prayed
for the well-being and health of one of our most dear and special friends
Paul with River Tagus in the background
Heide in front of the Santa Luzia religious complex
near St. George's Castle
Heide and Paul with a replica of the Golden Gate Bridge
visible in the distance
Container shipping
is very prevalent in the Lisbon harbor
New condominium and apartment buildings in Lisbon
The prominent Praça do Comércio
with an equestrian statue of King Jose I
who was coronated in 1775
Entrance to the National Presidential Palace
Paul attempting to cross the street
near the Monastery and Church of the Hieronymites
one of the great marvels of Portuguese Renaissance Art
Tourists lining up to enter the Monastery
Heide in front of the side doors to the monastery
The Bethlehem Tower, built between 1515 and 1521
This was probably the last structure many brave Portuguese saw
once they had embarked upon their daring Atlantic Ocean
crossings in the 15th and 16th centuries
Monument to the Portuguese discoveries
highlighting Prince Henry the Navigator
as first in line of many other navigators
The sword on the narrow backside of the Monument to the Discoveries clearly indicates that the Portuguese acquisitions overseas where achieved by the cutting edges of their swords.
Nevertheless, the achievements of Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, Bartholomeu Dias, Gaspar and Miguel Corte Real can never be rivaled by anyone, with the exception of their Spanish competition.
Paul and our trusted tour guide standing on top
of a world map depicting Portuguese discoveries and conquests
We concluded our visit to Great Lisbon and Greater Portugal by paying tribute to Portugal's soldiers, who have given their lives in the service to their proud nation.
The following photographs require no further explanation. Let it suffice that more than 30,000 young, brave and intelligent men have made their ultimate sacrifice in Mozambique and Angola alone.
Lisbon and Portugal are most certainly worth another extensive visit, possibly at one of its next National Anniversaries of which this nation has so many.
The Coat of Arms of H. H. Chev. Commodore Prof. Dr. Paul William Margrave Gulgowski-Doliwa
can be seen
HERE
The Coat of Arms of H. H. Chev. Lt. Colonel Paul W. Margrave Gulgowski-Doliwa II
can be seen
HERE
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