Fernando I, Duke of Braganza

Ferdinand ("Fernando", in Portuguese) (1403-1478) was the second son of Afonso, 1st Duke of Braganza (natural son of King John I of Portugal) and of his wife, Beatriz Pereira Alvim (daughter of Nuno Álvares Pereira).

From his maternal grandfather, he inherited still a child the title of 3rd Count of Arraiolos, and later, by royal decree dated from May 25th, 1455, King Afonso V of Portugal granted him the new title of Marquis of Vila Viçosa.

He was nominated Constable of Portugal in 1437, when a Portuguese fleet was sent to Tangiers in order to conquered the city. He was also nominated Governor of Ceuta from 1445 until 1450.

In 1458, he took part, along with his sons, in the expedition that conquered the Maroccan city of Alcácer Ceguer.

In 1460, as his older brother Afonso, died without legitimous issue, he became the House of Braganza heir and, one year later, following his father’s death (1461), he also became the 2nd Duke of Braganza.

In 1471, when King Afonso V fled again to North Africa to conquer the city of Arzila, he remained in mainland Portugal as regent of the Kingdom.

=Mariage and Children=Fernando I of Braganza married, on December 28th, 1429, Joana de Castro (1410-1479) (daughter and heir of João de Castro, Lord of Cadaval), and they had nine children:

#Isabel, died single;
#Fernando II (1430-1483), 3rd Duke of Braganza;
#John, Marquis of Montemor-o-Novo, died single without issue;
#Catherine, engaged to the 3rd Count of Marialva, killed during the conquest of Arzila;
#Alphonse, 1st Count of Faro and 2nd Count of Odemira – origin of the Counts of Faro and Counts of Vimieiro
#Álvaro of Braganza, Lord of Tentúgal, Póvoa, Buarcos and Cadaval – origin of the Dukes of Cadaval;
#Anthony, died young;
#Beatrice, married to the 1st Marquis of Vila Real;
#Guiomar, married to the 1st Count of Loulé.

=Nobility Titles=Besides his most important nobility title (2nd Duke of Braganza) Fernando I was also:
*1st Marquis of Vila Viçosa,
*9th Count of Barcelos,
*5th Count of Ourém,
*3rd Count of Arraiolos and
*3rd Count of Neiva.

=See Also=
*House of Braganza
*Duke of Braganza
*Marquis of Vila Viçosa
*List of Portuguese Dukedoms

=External Links= [http://www.geneall.net/P/per_page.php?id=1587 Genealogy of Fernando I, 2nd Duke of Braganza, in Portuguese]

=Bibliography=”Nobreza de Portugal e do Brasil” – Vol. II, page 439. Published by Zairol Lda., Lisbon 1989.

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