AN EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY MACAO ARMENIAN MERCHANT PRINCE
This article examines the life and economic impact of Matheus Joannes, a prominent Armenian merchant who resided in Macao from 1761 until his death in 1794. Characterized as a "merchant prince," Joannes played a pivotal role in the territory's maritime trade during a period of significant financial...
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| Published in: | Review of Culture |
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| Format: | Articles |
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Instituto Cultural de Macau
April 2003
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| Online Access: | https://www.icm.gov.mo/rc/viewer/pdfViewerParts/40006/2715 |
| Summary: | This article examines the life and economic impact of Matheus Joannes, a prominent Armenian merchant who resided in Macao from 1761 until his death in 1794. Characterized as a "merchant prince," Joannes played a pivotal role in the territory's maritime trade during a period of significant financial crisis. Utilizing previously overlooked primary sources from the Macao court archives and the National Archives in Lisbon, Carl T. Smith reconstructs Joannes’s social and professional trajectory, including his naturalization as a Portuguese subject in 1780.
Through a detailed analysis of estate inventories, business papers, and testamentary records, the study reveals a cosmopolitan figure who successfully navigated diverse cultural and linguistic spheres while maintaining his Armenian heritage. Key findings highlight Joannes’s extensive global trade network—evidenced by a variety of international currencies and luxury goods—and his substantial wealth, reflected in his ownership of a grand mansion on the Praia Pequena. Furthermore, the article explores Joannes’s intellectual life, analyzing his library of 118 volumes to illustrate a sophisticated engagement with European and Asian histories and languages. Ultimately, this biographical study serves as a vital lens through which to view the broader social and financial history of late eighteenth-century Macao, demonstrating the essential role played by the Armenian diaspora in the city's economic fabric. |
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| ISSN: | 1682-1106 |