Dukes of Abrantes

Duke of Abrantes was an aristocratic title granted on three separate occasions and it refers to the Portuguese city of Abrantes (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐˈbɾɐ̃tɨʃ]), located on the Ribatejo province.

1642: The Dukes of Abrantes (Spanish Title)

Coat of Arms used by the 1st Duke of Abrantes (Spanish title).

The title of Duke of Abrantes was a Spanish title granted by King Philip IV of Spain in 23 March 1642, to the Portuguese nobleman Afonso of Lencastre, Marquis of Porto Seguro.

Afonso was the second son of Álvaro of Lencastre, 3rd Duke of Aveiro, and he received the title of Duke as a reward for his fidelity to the Spanish monarchy.

Bernardo de Carbajal y Moctezuma, 2nd Count of Enjarada, is an ancestor of the dukes of Abrantes, making them also descendants of Doña Isabel Moctezuma and finally, Aztec emperor Moctezuma II. These dukes were also owners of the Palacio de los Toledo-Moctezuma, in Cáceres, Spain.

Once the Habsburgs were expelled from the Portuguese throne in 1640 (two years before this honour was granted), the title was never recognised in Portugal, but is still extant in Spain. The present Spanish Duke of Abrantes is Alexic Lukas Juan Nachios Carlos, who is also a Grandee of Spain.

1753 - The Dukes of Abrantes (Portuguese Title)

Coat of Arms of the 1st Duchess of Abrantes.

The title Duke of Abrantes, unrelated to the first and the only to have official recognition in Portugal, was granted by a decree issued by King Joseph I of Portugal, on 9 December 1753, to Ana Maria Catarina Henriqueta de Lorena, 3rd Marchioness of Abrantes and 9th Countess of Penaguião.

The King advanced Dona Ana Maria de Lorena, 3rd Marchioness of Abrantes, to the degree of duchess (for her lifetime, only), when she became the queen's Maid of Honour (Camareira-Môr), the highest palatine office for a lady. The same occurred, later, to her daughter Maria Margarida, when she became the 2nd Duchess.

List of the Duchesses of Abrantes:

1. Ana Maria Catarina Henriqueta de Lorena, 1st Duchess of Abrantes (1691–1761), also 3rd Marchioness of Abrantes;
2. Maria Margarida de Lorena, 2nd Duchess of Abrantes (1713–1780), also 4th Marchioness of Abrantes (daughter of the 1st Duchess).

Other Titles used by the Duchesses of Abrantes:

• Countess of Penaguião, originally granted on 10 February 1583, by royal decree of King Philip I of Portugal;
• Marchioness of Abrantes, originally grantedv on 24 June 1718, by royal decree of King John V of Portugal.

1808 - The Dukes of Abrantès (French Title)

Coat of Arms of General Junot, Duke of Abrantès (French victory title).

Due to Portugal's refusal to join the Continental Blockade, Napoleon sent general Jean Andoche Junot leading an army to invade the country. Junot crossed the country towards Lisbon and he passed through the city of Abrantes, where his army found a safe place to rest before its advance towards Lisbon. Later, Napoleon awarded him the title of Duc d'Abrantès (French spelling), as a French victory title.

His wife, Laure Permont, a French writer, also used the title of Duchess of Abrantès.

This title was never recognised by the Portuguese authorities.

See also

• Genealogical tree of the House of Abrantes
• House of Abrantes
• Marquis of Abrantes
• Count of Abrantes
• List of Portuguese Dukedoms

External links

• Genealogy of the Duchesses of Abrantes, in Portuguese

Bibliography

• Nobreza de Portugal e do Brasil, Vol. II, pp. 203-208, Lisbon, Zairol, 1989.