Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz (or Santacruz) may refer to:

Places

Africa

Asia and Oceania

India

Philippines

Europe

Portugal

Azores

Santa Cruz (Lagoa)

Santa Cruz (Portuguese for Holy Cross) is a parish in the municipality of Lagoa in the Azores. The population in 2011 was 3,671, in an area of 14.27 km².

References

Santa Cruz (Praia da Vitória)

History

Since the beginning of the island's settlement, Praia has been an important centre: it was the centre of the first Captaincy of Terceira (1456-1470), under the command of Jácome de Bruges, then the first Donatary-Captain. Praia was elevated to the status town in 1480, under the stewardship of then Donatry-Captain Álvaro Martins Homem. At the end of the 15th and then 16th century, it contributed to the economy and prosperity of the region.

In 1582, D. António, Prior of Crato disembarked in the Praia, escaping his conflict with Phillip II of Spain, where he was acclaimed by the people's of the Azores. At the end of the Phillippian dynastic union, Francisco Ornelas da Câmara acclaimed D. John IV of Portugal as King of Portugal on 24 March 1641 in the courtyard of the parochial church. He was supported by the gathered populous, ending a period of Spanish occupation.

During the Liberal Wars between Liberals and Absolutists (1828-1834) the citizens of Praia sided with Liberal faction, resulting in a battle on 11 August 1829. An Miguelist armada, that included 21 ships and military troops that landed, confronted the local population, who resisted heroically and defeated the powerful armada. This victory influenced Queen D. Maria II to change and bestow the name of Praia da Vitória to community.