Count of Portalegre was a Portuguese title of nobility created by royal decree dated from February 6, 1498, by King Manuel I of Portugal

Manuel I of Portugal

Manuel I , the Fortunate , 14th king of Portugal and the Algarves was the son of Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu, , by his wife, Infanta Beatrice of Portugal...

, and granted to Diogo da Silva.

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:...

Diogo da Silva was son of Rui Gomes da Silva, Alcaide (Mayor) of Campo Maior

Campo Maior

Campo Maior , is a municipality in the Portalegre District, Alentejo Region, Portugal.The municipality has an area of 247,26 km² and a population of 8359 . It is divided into 3 parishes . It is bordered by Spain on the North and East, by Elvas Municipality on the Southeast, and by Arronches...

, and of his wife Isabel de Menezes (natural daughter of Pedro de Menezes, 1st Count of Vila Real

Pedro de Menezes, 1st Count of Vila Real

Dom Pedro de Menezes Portocarrero, was a 15th C. Portuguese nobleman and military figure. Pedro de Menezes was the 2nd Count of Viana do Alentejo, 1st. Count of Vila Real and the first Portuguese governor of Ceuta.Pedro de Menezes was the son of the powerful 14th C...

).

The 3rd Cound of Portalegre, Álvaro da Silva, was succeeded by his grand-daughter, Filipa da Silva, thanks to a special royal permission allowing to overcome the Lei Mental (Mental Law) which stands that females could not inherited their father's titles and estates.

Filipa married the Spanish ambassador

Ambassador

An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....

, Juan de Silva, Count of Salinas (in Spain), very influential during the reign of Sebastian I of Portugal. Together with the King, he participated in the Battle of Alcacer 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...

, where he felt prisoner of the moors

Moors

The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...

. During the transition reign of Henry I of Portugal, he did a remarkable job supporting 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....

 claims to the throne of Portugal.

The Habsburg

Habsburg

The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...

s rewarded this House's fidelity with new honors and titles (Marquis of Gouveia, granted by a royal decree of King Philip III of Portugal, also known as Philip IV of Spain

Philip IV of Spain

Philip IV was King of Spain between 1621 and 1665, sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands, and King of Portugal until 1640...

, dated from January 20, 1625).

When the 2nd Marquis of Gouveia died without issue, this House was inherited by the Count of Santa Cruz

Count of Santa Cruz

Count of Santa Cruz was a Portuguese title of nobility created by a royal decree of King Philip II of Portugal, also known as Philip III of Spain, dated from October 3, 1593, and granted to Francisco de Mascarenhas , nephew of Dom Pedro de Mascarenhas, 6th Viceroy of Portuguese India.Through a...

.

List of the Counts of Portalegre

1. Diogo da Silva, 1st Count of Portalegre (1430- ? );
2. João da Silva, 2nd Count of Portalegre (1480- ? ), son of the 1st count;
3. Álvaro da Silva, 3rd Count of Portalegre (1505-1580), son of the 2nd count;
4. Filipa da Silva, 4th Countess of Portalegre (1550-1590), granddaughter of the 3rd count; married to the Spanish ambassador
   Ambassador
   An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
   
    Juan de Silva (1528-1601), Count of Salinas (in Spain), who became Count of Portalegre by marriage;
5. Diogo da Silva, 5th Count of Portalegre (1579-1640), older son of the 4th counts;
6. Manrique da Silva, 6th Count of Portalegre (1585- ? ), younger son of the 4th counts, became 1st Marquis of Gouveia in 1625;
7. João da Silva, 7th Count of Portalegre (1625-1686), son of the previous count; also 2nd Marquis of Gouveia, died without issue.

See also

• Marquis of Gouveia
• List of Marquesses in Portugal
• List of Countships in Portugal

External links

• Genealogy of the Counts of Portalegre, in Portuguese