Duke of Palmela

Duke of Palmela (in Portuguese "Duque de Palmela") is a Portuguese title granted by royal decree of Queen Maria II of Portugal, dated from October 18, 1850, to "Dom" Pedro de Sousa Holstein (1781-1850), a Portuguese politician during the first half of the 19th Century. He was President of the Council of Ministers (Head of the Portuguese Government) and a remarkable Ambassador in London and to the Congress of Vienna.

The original title was Count of Palmela, granted by Queen Maria I, on April 11, 1812) which was successively upgraded to Marquis of Palmela (by King John VI on July 3, 1823) and to Duke of Faial (by Queen Maria II on April 4, 1836). The same Queen replaced the title of Duke of Faial by the new one of Duke of Palmela (October 18, 1850).

Family Name and Origins

The original family name associated with the House of Palmela is "Sousa Holstein". More recently, they also use "Sousa Holstein Beck".

They descend from the Sousa family (Lords of Calhariz) and, by female line, from the Dukes of Holstein. The 1st Duke of Palmela mother was Maria Anna Leopoldine, Princess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck.

List of the Dukes of Palmela

#Pedro de Sousa Holstein, 1st Duke of Palmela, (1781-1850);
#Domingos de Sousa Holstein, 2nd Duke of Palmela, (1818-1864);
#Maria Luisa de Sousa Holstein, 3rd Duchess of Palmela, (1841-1909);
#Helena Maria Domingas de Sousa Holstein, 4th Duchess of Palmela (1864-1941);
#Domingos de Sousa e Holstein Beck, 5th Duke of Palmela (1897-1969);
#Luis Maria da Assunção de Sousa e Holstein Beck, 6th Duke of Palmela (1919-1997);
#Pedro Domingos de Sousa e Holstein Beck, 7th Duke of Palmela (1951-present).

Other Titles

This family holds several titles. All were granted by royal decree in the 19th Century:
*Count of Palmela, by decree of Queen Maria I of Portugal, dated from April 4, 1812;
*Marquis of Palmela, by decree of King John VI of Portugal, dated from July 3, 1823;
*Count of Calhariz, by decree of King John VI of Portugal, dated from October 2, 1823;
*Duke of Faial, by decree of Queen Maria II of Portugal, dated from April 4, 1833. This title was later replaced by Duke of Palmela;
*Marquis of Faial by decree of Queen Maria II of Portugal, dated from December 1, 1834.
*Viscount of Lançada by decree of Queen Maria II of Portugal, dated from January 10, 1849;
*Marquis of Sousa Holstein by decree of King Pedro V of Portugal, dated from September 3, 1855;
*Marquis of Monfalim by decree of King Luis I of Portugal, dated from August 9, 1861;
*Marquis of Sesimbra by decree of King Luis I of Portugal, dated from February 2, 1864.

ee Also

*List of Portuguese Dukedoms
*List of Prime Ministers of Portugal

External links

* [http://www.geneall.net/P/tit_page.php?id=924 Genealogy of the Dukes of Palmela]