- Álvaro of Braganza
Álvaro of Braganza (ca.
1440 -1504 ) was the 4th male son of Ferdinand I, 2nd Duke of Braganza and of his wife, "Dona" Joana de Castro.He played an important role during King
Afonso V of Portugal reign, and he was appoitedChancellor of the Kingdom. He took part in the king’s expeditions against Castile (War of the Castilian Succession ) and in the king’s voyage toFrance .On his return to
Portugal , he married "Dona" Philippa of Melo, the rich daughter and heir of Rodrigo of Melo, 1st.Count of Olivenza . They had two sons and four daughters:
*Rodrigo de Melo (1468-1545), made 1stCount of Tentúgal (by royal decree of KingManuel I of Portugal , dated from1504 ) and 1stMarquis of Ferreira (by royal decree of KingJohn III of Portugal , dated from1533 ). He was the origin of the House of Cadaval;
*Jorge Alberto de Portugal y Melo (1470- ? ), made 1st Count of Gelves (inSpain ) by KingCharles I of Spain (emperor Charles V);
*Isabel de Castro, married the Spanish Alonso de Sotomaior, 4th Count of Belalcazar;
*Beatriz de Vilhena, married the PortugueseInfante George, Duke of Coimbra ;
*Joana de Vilhena, married the Portuguese Francisco de Portugal, 1stCount of Vimioso ;
*Maria de Menezes, married the Portuguese João da Silva, 1stCount of Portalegre .When King
John II of Portugal succeeded on the throne ofPortugal and started his fight against the high aristocracy (namely the Braganzas), "Dom" Álvaro tried an approach with the King but he was unsuccessful: his older brother, Ferdinand II, 3rd Duke of Braganza was executed, the family estates were confiscated, and the remaining family (Alvaro included) exiled to Castile.Queen
Isabella I granted "Dom" Álvaro important estates inGelves , and he was appoited Mayor ofSeville andAndujar . He also took part in the conquest of theKingdom of Granada leaded by theCatholic Kings .When King John II died, Álvaro of Braganza returned to
Portugal , where the new King, Manuel I, appointed him as special ambassador to Castile to negotiate the King's mariage to princessIsabella, Princess of Asturias (1470-1498) . Later he also negotiated the King’s second mariage.Álvaro of Braganza died in
Toledo and his body was later transferred to the Convent of St. John Evangelist, inÉvora .=See Also=
*House of Braganza
*Duke of Braganza
*Duke of Cadaval =External Links= [http://www.geneall.net/P/per_page.php?id=2020 Genealogy of Álvaro of Braganza, in Portuguese]
=Bibliography=”Nobreza de Portugal e do Brasil” – Vol. II, pages 439-440. Published by Zairol Lda., Lisbon 1989.
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