Captaincies of the Azores Captaincies of the Azores The Captaincies of the Azores () were the socio-political and administrative territorial divisions used to settle and govern the overseas lands of the Azores by the Kingdom of Portugal. These territories, a segment of the Captaincies of the Portuguese Empire, which usually conformed to the individual islands, allowing the stewardship of the King through the Donatary and Captaincy system. Following the discovery of the first islands in the Atlantic, chiefly Madeira, and slow settlement of those possessions, the Portuguese needed a mechanism for control that did not necessitate dislocation by hereditary princes or monarchs. The Donatário
Nordeste, Azores Nordeste, Azores Nordeste (; Portuguese for northeast, hence that part of the island) is a municipality on the northeastern part of São Miguel Island in the Azores. The population in 2011 was 4,937, in an area of . The municipality Nordeste covers the northeastern part of the island São Miguel. It is the least populated on the island of São Miguel, and most of its interior is covered forests, mountainous peaks and river-valleys, punctuated by fertile pastureland. The highest elevations in this region include Pico Redondo (980 metres), Pico Verde (927 metres), Pico Bartolomeu (887 metres) and Pico da Vara