Álvaro of Lencastre, 3rd Duke of Aveiro
Encyclopedia
Álvaro of Lencastre was the son of Afonso of Lencastre, second son of infante George of Lencastre
, 2nd Duke of Coimbra
.
died, in 1578 in the Battle of Alcácer Quibir
, together with King Sebastian I of Portugal and most Portuguese nobles, the Dukedom of Aveiro was claimed by two pretenders:
According to the Lei Mental (Mental Law) , females could not inherit their father’s lands and fiefs (except with a specific royal permission). That was why Álvaro of Lencastre claimed his cousin's inheritance, to prevent the extinction of such a remarkable aristocratic
House.
This dispute took about 2 decades, and finally, King Philip I of Portugal (also known as Philip II of Spain
) decided that Dom
Álvaro should marry his cousin, Dona Juliana, in order to inherit his family titles and estates, and they became jointly 3rd Dukes of Aveiro
.
This marriage took place in 1598 and, for that occasion, the King granted the Dukes special honours:
The Ducal Palace was located in Azeitão
, where, attached to the palace, they also built a hospital. They granted a huge protection to the Arrábida convent, founded by the 1st Duke, John of Lencastre
, where they both are buried.
The couple had sixteen children:
George, Duke of Coimbra
Jorge de Lencastre was a Portuguese Prince, illegitimate son of King John II of Portugal and Ana de Mendonça, a maid of Joanna la Beltraneja. He became the second Duke of Coimbra in 1509...
, 2nd Duke of Coimbra
Duke of Coimbra
Duke of Coimbra was an aristocratic Portuguese title with the level of Royal Dukedom, that is, associated with the Portuguese Royal House, created in 1415, by King John I of Portugal to the his 2nd. male son, Infante Pedro...
.
Disputed Inheritance
When George of Lencastre, 2nd Duke of AveiroGeorge of Lencastre, 2nd Duke of Aveiro
Dom Jorge de Lencastre, or George of Lencastre , was the older son of John of Lencastre, 1st Duke of Aveiro and of his wife Juliana de Lara, daughter of the 3rd Marquis of Vila Real....
died, in 1578 in the Battle of Alcácer Quibir
Battle of Alcácer Quibir
The Battle of Ksar El Kebir, also known as Battle of Three Kings, or "Battle of Oued El Makhazeen" in Morocco, and Battle of Alcácer Quibir in Portugal , was fought in northern Morocco, near the town of Ksar-el-Kebir and Larache, on 4 August 1578...
, together with King Sebastian I of Portugal and most Portuguese nobles, the Dukedom of Aveiro was claimed by two pretenders:
- his daughter, Juliana of Lencastre (1560-1636);
- his cousin, Álvaro of Lencastre (1540-1626), his closest male relative, son of Alphonse of Lencastre (Afonso de Lencastre), 2nd son of Infante George of LencastreGeorge, Duke of CoimbraJorge de Lencastre was a Portuguese Prince, illegitimate son of King John II of Portugal and Ana de Mendonça, a maid of Joanna la Beltraneja. He became the second Duke of Coimbra in 1509...
.
According to the Lei Mental (Mental Law) , females could not inherit their father’s lands and fiefs (except with a specific royal permission). That was why Álvaro of Lencastre claimed his cousin's inheritance, to prevent the extinction of such a remarkable aristocratic
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
House.
This dispute took about 2 decades, and finally, King Philip I of Portugal (also known as Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
) decided that Dom
Don (honorific)
Don, from Latin dominus, is an honorific in Spanish , Portuguese , and Italian . The female equivalent is Doña , Dona , and Donna , abbreviated "Dª" or simply "D."-Usage:...
Álvaro should marry his cousin, Dona Juliana, in order to inherit his family titles and estates, and they became jointly 3rd Dukes of Aveiro
Duke of Aveiro
The Royal Dukedom of Aveiro was an aristocratic Portuguese title, granted in 1535 by King John III of Portugal to his 4th cousin, John of Lencastre, son of Infante George of Lencastre, a natural son of King John II of Portugal....
.
This marriage took place in 1598 and, for that occasion, the King granted the Dukes special honours:
- Duke of AveiroDuke of AveiroThe Royal Dukedom of Aveiro was an aristocratic Portuguese title, granted in 1535 by King John III of Portugal to his 4th cousin, John of Lencastre, son of Infante George of Lencastre, a natural son of King John II of Portugal....
became a de juro e herdade title (which meant that the King was obliged to renew the title in its rightful heir); - the new title of Duke of Torres NovasDuke of Torres NovasThe Dukes of Torres Novas was an aristocratic Portuguese title granted by King Philip II of Portugal, also known as Philip III of Spain, by a royal decree of September 26, 1619, to George of Lencastre, 1st Duke of Torres Novas, who died before his parents, Juliana and Álvaro of Lencastre of...
was granted to the Duke of Aveiro’s heir; - the official HonorificHonorificAn honorific is a word or expression with connotations conveying esteem or respect when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term is used not quite correctly to refer to an honorary title...
styleStyle (manner of address)A style of office, or honorific, is a legal, official, or recognized title. A style, by tradition or law, precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or political office, and is sometimes used to refer to the office itself. An honorific can also be awarded to an individual in a personal...
of ExcellencyExcellencyExcellency is an honorific style given to certain members of an organization or state.Usually, people styled "Excellency" are heads of state, heads of government, governors, ambassadors, certain ecclesiastics, royalty, aristocracy, and military, and others holding equivalent rank .It is...
, granted to the House of BraganzaHouse of BraganzaThe Most Serene House of Braganza , an important Portuguese noble family, ruled the Kingdom of Portugal and its colonial Empire, from 1640 to 1910...
in 1579, was also granted to this House
The Ducal Palace was located in Azeitão
Azeitão
Azeitão is a region near Setúbal composed by a cluster of small "aldeias" or small villages, some of those are: Vila Fresca de Azeitão, Vila Nogueira de Azeitão,Brejos de Azeitão, Aldeia de Irmãos, Vendas de Azeitão....
, where, attached to the palace, they also built a hospital. They granted a huge protection to the Arrábida convent, founded by the 1st Duke, John of Lencastre
John of Lencastre, 1st Duke of Aveiro
Dom João de Lencastre, or John of Lencastre , was the older son of Infante George, Duke of Coimbra and of his wife Dona Beatriz of Vilhena....
, where they both are buried.
The couple had sixteen children:
- George of Lencastre, 1st Duke of Torres NovasGeorge of Lencastre, 1st Duke of Torres NovasDom Jorge de Lencastre, or George of Lencastre was the older son of Álvaro and Juliana of Lencastre, 3rd Dukes of Aveiro....
(1594-1632), died before his mother, so he never inherited the Dukedom of Aveiro, which passed to his older son; - Afonso of LencastreAfonso of LencastreAfonso of Lencastre , was a Portuguese nobleman, son of the 3rd Dukes of Aveiro, Álvaro and Juliana of Lencastre. This family descended from the Infante George of Lencastre, therefore they had royal blood....
(1597- ? ), Marquis of Porto SeguroMarquis of Porto SeguroMarquis of Porto Seguro was a Portuguese title of nobility created by a royal decree of king Philip III of Portugal dated from 8 April, 1627, and granted to D...
, Marquis of Sardoal and 1st Duke of Abrantes (the last two as Spanish titles); - Madalena of Lencastre (1599- ? ), married to Dinis de Faro, 3rd Count of FaroCount of FaroCount of Faro was a Portuguese title of nobility granted by royal decree issued on May 22, 1469, by King Afonso V of Portugal, to D. Afonso of Braganza , the third son of Fernando I, Duke of Braganza....
; - Maria of Lencastre (1602- ? ), married to Manrique Silva, 1st Marquis of Gouveia;
- Violante of Lencastre (1604- ? ), married to Lourenço Pires de Castro, 3rd Count of Basto;
- Peter of LencastrePeter of Lencastre, 5th Duke of AveiroDom Pedro de Lencastre, or Peter of Lencastre , was the youngest son of Álvaro and Juliana of Lencastre, 3rd Dukes of Aveiro....
(1608-1673), Archbishop of Évora, who later became 5th Duke of AveiroPeter of Lencastre, 5th Duke of AveiroDom Pedro de Lencastre, or Peter of Lencastre , was the youngest son of Álvaro and Juliana of Lencastre, 3rd Dukes of Aveiro....
, after his nephew’s death; - Luís of Lencastre (1609-1673), married to Teresa Maria Saavedra, 4th Marchioness of Malagón, in SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
; - 2 sons were priests;
- 4 daughters were nuns;
- 3 children died young.
See also
- Infante George of LencastreGeorge, Duke of CoimbraJorge de Lencastre was a Portuguese Prince, illegitimate son of King John II of Portugal and Ana de Mendonça, a maid of Joanna la Beltraneja. He became the second Duke of Coimbra in 1509...
- Duke of AveiroDuke of AveiroThe Royal Dukedom of Aveiro was an aristocratic Portuguese title, granted in 1535 by King John III of Portugal to his 4th cousin, John of Lencastre, son of Infante George of Lencastre, a natural son of King John II of Portugal....
- Duke of Torres NovasDuke of Torres NovasThe Dukes of Torres Novas was an aristocratic Portuguese title granted by King Philip II of Portugal, also known as Philip III of Spain, by a royal decree of September 26, 1619, to George of Lencastre, 1st Duke of Torres Novas, who died before his parents, Juliana and Álvaro of Lencastre of...
- Marquis of Torres NovasMarquis of Torres NovasThe title Marquis of Torres Novas was created by royal decree, dated from March 27, 1520, by King Manuel I of Portugal, to Dom John of Lencastre , eldest son of Infante George, Duke of Coimbra....