Henrique Mitchell de Paiva Couceiro - Marriage and Later Life

Marriage and Later Life

On November 21, 1896, he married Júlia Maria de Noronha, only daughter of the 3rd Count of Parati in the parish of Encarnação, with King D. Carlos acting as best-man. He had quickly been propelled into the higher echelons of the social class: a prestigious military hero, linked to the Royal House of Portugal, married to a noble House, and an intimate of D. Isabel de Sousa Botelho (her mother-in-law), who was a member of high society that circled the King. Their relationship could not be any more magnanimous: Paiva Couceiro fashioned himself the Nun'Álvares de Magul, while his wife remained at home and occupied herself with the faith.

D. Júlia was as pious and religious as her husband, who had similarly professed interests in religion and faith; she frequented the Congregação das Religiosas Reparadoras, a benevolent religious society, as well as becoming the lifelong president of the Associação Reparadora das Marias dos Sacráricos Calvários. The couple would have three daughters, and two sons: Helena Francisca Maria do Carmo de Noronha de Paiva Couceiro (who would become Mother Superior of the Colégio das Doroteias, in Benguela); Maria do Carmo de Noronha de Paiva Couceiro (founded the Filhas de Maria in India, but was not a nun, although she dedicated her life to religious and social works); the oldest daughter, Isabel Maria do Carmo de Noronha de Paiva Couceiro (who married António Carlos Sacramento Calainho de Azevedo, an ensign and first to raise the monarchical flag in 1919 counter-revolution; José António do Carmo de Noronha de Paiva Couceiro; and Miguel António do Carmo de Noronha de Paiva Couceiro, 4th Count of Parati. Of the couple's three daughters, two would become nuns, one of them as a missionary in Angola.

After his death, his son eulogized his father:

"My father justified his combat against the Republic with the conviction that this regime did not correspond to the needs of the Country, nor that it expressed the mood of the nation."

He died in 1944. In that year, he had this last statement, which he made to his friend manso Preto Cruz:

"It was difficult being the Governor of Angola, but it was more difficult to be honest during the 34 years of the Republic."