- List of dukedoms in Portugal
There is a total of 28 dukedoms in Portugal. In the majority of cases, the title of
Duke was attributed to members of highnobility , usually relatives of the Portuguese Royal Family, such as the second sons of monarchs.There are exceptions, like António José de Ávila, who, although not having any relation to the
Royal Family , was given the title ofDuke of Ávila and Bolama .Dukedoms in Portugal
*Royal Hereditary Dukedom
**Duke of Braganza (the home principality of the Portuguese royal dynasty. After the restoration of a Portuguese dynasty in 1640, it became a title of the Prince-heir of the Crown, and passes to his heir, when he becomes King.)*Royal Courtesy Dukedoms - occasionally given to other members of the Royal Family:
**Duke of Barcelos
**Duke of Beja
**Duke of Coimbra
**Duke of Guarda
**Duke of Guimarães
**Duke of Porto
**Duke of Trancoso
**Duke of Viseu *Noble Dukedoms - All of them can be inherited, but only some of them are titles "de juro e herdade" - this meant that the King was obliged to renew the title in its rightful heir. Only Aveiro, Lafões, Terceira, Palmela, Saldanha and Loulé were dukedoms "de juro e herdade". Some of these dukes (Cadaval, Terceira and Saldanha) had "Honras de Parente", i.e. honours of being relative of the King.
**Before the Liberal Regime:
***Duke of Aveiro andDuke of Torres Novas (both extinct in1759 , after the execution of the last Duke for high treason against the state).The first Duke was the elder son of theDuke of Coimbra , the sole surviving (but illegitimate) son of KingJohn II of Portugal ;
***Duke of Cadaval , family Álvares Pereira de Mello, branch of the House of Braganza before they were Kings;
***Duke of Caminha andDuke of Vila Real (both extinct for high treason for supporting the right of the Spanish Habsburg Kings to the Portuguese throne after the revolution of1640 ;
***Duke of Lafões , families Bragança, Souza and Menezes. The first duke was an illegitimate son of KingPedro II of Portugal . AlsoCount of Miranda do Corvo andMarquis of Arronches (Sousa) andCount of Cantanhede andMarquis of Marialva (Menezes) and alsoDuke of Miranda do Corvo (Bragança);
***Duke da Vitória (this title, meaning literally in Portuguese "Duke of the Victory", was given to Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington. Although hereditary, it was in practice a courtesy dukedom since their bearers were foreign citizens living out of Portugal).
**After the Liberal Regime:
***Duke of Albuquerque, family Costa de Sousa de Macedo, alsoCount of Mesquitela ,Viscount of Mesquitela and formerly Baron of Mullingar, in Ireland. The first Duke was President of the Council of Ministers;
***Duke of Ávila and Bolama , family Ávila. First dukedom granted to a non high rank and moreover non-noble born person. The first Duke was President of the Council of Ministers;
***Duke of Loulé , family Mendonça, alsoCount of Vale de Reis andMarquis of Loulé , descending fromInfanta Ana de Jesus Maria of Portugal. The first Duke was President of the Council of Ministers;
***Duke of Saldanha , family Saldanha Oliveira e Daun. AlsoMarquis of Saldanha ,Count of Saldanha andCount of Almoster . The First Duke was President of the Council of Ministers andMarshal of the Army;
***Duke of Palmela , formerlyDuke of Faial , replaced by the title ofDuke of Palmela (family Souza e Holstein), descending from the Dukes of Holstein, by female line. AlsoMarquis of Faial ,Marquis of Palmela ,Count of Palmela andCount of Calhariz . The first Duke was President of the Council of Ministers and a quite remarkableAmbassador in London and to theCongress of Vienna ;
***Duke of Terceira , Descendants ofFerdinand III of Castile , by his son,Infante Juan Manuel, Lord of Villena . Heads of the Portuguese branch of theManoel de Vilhena family, since the marriage of Constance Manoel with KingPedro I of Portugal . Her brother, Henrique Manoel, was brought in her entourage, and madeCount of Seia , inPortugal by his brother-in-law. Following the long line of military tradition of his family, António José de Sousa Manoel de Meneses Severim de Noronha, 1stDuke of Terceira , Marquis andCount of Vila Flor , wasMarshal of the Army.
*Non Hereditary Dukedoms - traditionally granted to the Chamberlady ("Camareira-Môr"), the highest palatine office for a lady, only during her life.
**Duchess of Abrantes, granted to twoMarchionesses of Abrantes .
**Duchess of Ficalho, to oneMarchioness of Ficalho .
**Duchess of Linhares, to oneCountess of Linhares .
**Duchess of Tancos, to oneMarchioness of Tancos .List
ee also
*
List of Marquesses in Portugal
*List of Countships in Portugal
*List of Viscountcies in Portugal
*List of Barons in Portugal External links
* [http://www.geneall.net/P/tit_search.php?start=0&idx=0&cat=9 Portuguese Aristocracy Titles in a Portuguese Genealogical site - Dukes]
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