Marquis of Castel Rodrigo

Marquess of Castelo Rodrigo (Portuguese: Marquês de Castelo Rodrigo) was a title created by Philip III of Spain on January 29, 1600 for Don Cristóvão de Moura, 1st Count of Castelo Rodrigo. The Moura family claimed its origin from the re-conquest of Moura (Alentejo, Portugal) from the Moors, during the Reconquista in 1165. ^[1]

Cristóvão de Moura was born in Lisbon 1538. As a Portuguese national, he supported the Spanish King during the Portuguese succession crisis of 1580 when the Spanish king claimed the throne of Portugal. de Moura was rewarded for his service with the title Count of Castelo Rodrigo by Philip II of Spain. His son Philip III advanced him to Marquess in 1600.

The newly created Marquess was appointed Viceroy of Habsburg, controlling Portugal from January 29, 1600 to 1603, again in 1603, and again from February 1608 to 1612. His tenure of the office was not well received by the Portuguese and the high taxes he implemented were strongly resented. The 1st Marquess married Margarita Corte Real, an heiress who brought to the family further titles and wealth, including permanent governorship of some of the Azores Islands. ^[1] As a result of this union the two family names were combined to become Moura Corte-Real.

The couple built a large palace in Lisbon next to the Royal Palace, 50 metres square with wings extending down to the river Tagus, it became the most celebrated private palace in Lisbon. ^[1] The first Marquess died in Madrid in 1613.

The family's wealth and social position was cemented when the 2nd Marquess married into the Portuguese royal house. ^[1] However, following the overthrow of the Spanish Habsburgs in 1640 by the Portuguese the family were accused of collaboration and their estates forfeited to the Portuguese crown. These included a hunting estate at Queluz near Lisbon on which now stands the former royal palace Queluz National Palace. ^[2]

The Marquesate has been held by:

1. Don Cristóvão de Moura, 1st Count and then first Marquess of Castelo Rodrigo.
2. Don Manuel de Moura Corte Real, 2nd Marquess of Castelo Rodrigo. (1590–1651). From 1644 to 1647 Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands. Married Leonor de Melo (1594–1641) the daughter Nuno Álvares de Melo, III Marquis de Ferreira.^[3]
3. Francisco de Moura y Melo (1610–1675) was a Spanish political figure. He was created 1stDuke of Nochera in 1656. He served as Viceroy of Sardinia between 1657 and 1661, and Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands between 1664 and 1668. He married Ana Maria de Aragon, daughter of António de Aragon y Moncada, VI Duke Montalto, and Juana de la Cerda, daughter of the Duke of Medinaceli.^[3]
4. Dona Leonor de Moura Côrte-Real, 4th Marchioness de Castelo Rodrigo born circa 1630 was the daughter and heiress of the 3rd Marquess. She married twice firstly Agnelo de Guzman the son of the Duke of Medina-Torres and secondly to Pedro Homodei y Pacheco, 2nd Marquess of Almonacid de los Oteros. Both marriages were childless,
5. Dona Joana de Moura Côrte-Real, 5th Marchioness of Castelo Rodrigo was the sister of Dona Leonor and daughter of the 3rd Marquess. She married Gilberto Pius, Prince of San Gregorio. The couple had four children the eldest of whom born in 1672 succeeded his mother as 6th Marquess.
6. Don Francisco Pio, 6th Marquess of Castelo Rodrigo. Born in 1672 he married Joana Spinola de Lacerda and had three children. The title then passed to his daughter born in 1719 rather than to his son Gisberto Pius of Savoy and Spinola, Marquess of Almonacid de los Oteros.
7. Dona Pia Isabella Maria, 7th, Marchioness of Castel Rodrigo was born in Madrid in 1719. She married twice firstly to Manuel Lopez de Ayala y Fernandez de Velasco, 12th Count of Fuensalida and secondly to Antonio José Valcarcel y Pérez Pastor.
8. Antonio Valcárcel y Pío de Saboya, 9th Marquess of Castelo Rodrigo was the son of the above by her second husband. He was born in Alicante in 1748 and died in 1808. He married Maia Tomasa Pasqual del Pobil.

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Connors
2. ^ Dynes, p. 181.
3. ^ ^{a b} Moura

References

• Cristóvão de Moura Published by Castelo, Distrito de Setúbal, Portugal. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
• Connors, Joseph. Borromini and the Marchese di Castel Rodrigo. The Burlington Magazine, Vol. 133, No. 1060 (Jul., 1991), pp. 434-440.
• Dynes, Wayne (1968). Palaces of Europe. London: Paul Hamlyn. ISBN. 
• Moura genealogy Retrieved 19 December 2007.