Fernando I, Duke of Braganza
Encyclopedia
Ferdinand (1403 – Vila Viçosa
, 1 April 1478) was the second son of Afonso, 1st Duke of Braganza
(natural son of King John I of Portugal
) and of his wife, Beatriz Pereira de Alvim (daughter of Nuno Álvares Pereira
).
, and later, by royal decree dated from May 25, 1455, King Afonso V of Portugal
granted him the new title of 1st Marquis of Vila Viçosa
.
In 1432, the young Ferdinand of Arrailos was called upon by King John I
for consultation on a project, promoted by Prince Henry the Navigator, to launch a campaign of conquest against the Marinid
sultante of Morocco
. Ferdinand submitted opinion was almost wholly against the project. When the project was picked up again during the reign of King Edward in 1436, Ferdinand once again reiterated his objections. Nonetheless, despite his opposition, Edward appointed Ferdinand as constable of the nobles for the 1437 expedition to seize Tangier
. Although the expedition was under the overall command of Henry the Navigator, Edward felt Ferdinand's military expertise was necessary to make up for Henry's inexperience. The Tangier campaign was a debacle. After failing to conquer the city by assault, the Portuguese expeditionary army was surrounded and starved into submission by a Moroccan relief army. In return for being allowed to withdraw his troops unmolested, Henry agreed to a treaty to deliver Ceuta
back to the Marinids. For the fulfillment of the treaty, Henry handed over his own brother, the royal infante Ferdinand the Saint Prince as a hostage to the Moroccans.
Back in Portugal, Ferdinand of Arraiolos led the opposition to the treaty. At the Cortes of Leiria assembled in early 1438 by King Edward, Ferdinand of Arraiolos rallied the nobles and took the floor, urging them to refuse to surrender Ceuta. Ferdinand claimed the treaty was signed under duress and invalid. It was largely because of Ferdinand's energetic campaign that the Cortes rejected ratification and told the king to find some other way of securing Prince Ferdinand's release (none was found - Ferdinand the Saint Prince would die in Moroccan captivity in 1443).
Ferdinand of Arraiolos was nominated Governor of Ceuta
from 1445 until 1450.
In 1458, he took part, along with his sons, in the expedition that conquered the Moroccan
city of Alcácer Ceguer.
In 1460, as his older brother Afonso, died without legitimous issue, he became the 5th Count of Ourém and the House of Braganza
heir and, one year later, following his father’s death (1461), he also became the 2nd Duke of Braganza
, 9th Count of Barcelos and 3rd Count of Neiva and 3rd Lord of Faria.
In 1471, when King Afonso V fled again to North Africa to conquer the city of Arzila, he remained in mainland Portugal as regent
of the Kingdom.
, 14 February 1479) (daughter and heir of Dom João de Castro, 2nd Lord of Cadaval
), and they had nine children:
) Fernando I was also:
Vila Viçosa
Vila Viçosa is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 195.0 km² and a total population of 8,745 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 5 parishes, and is located in the District of Évora....
, 1 April 1478) was the second son of Afonso, 1st Duke of Braganza
Afonso, 1st Duke of Braganza
Dom Afonso I, the 1st Duke of Braganza was the eighth Count of Barcelos, the 2nd Count of Neiva, 2nd Lord of Faria and the first Duke of Braganza.-Origins:...
(natural son of King John I of Portugal
John I of Portugal
John I KG , called the Good or of Happy Memory, more rarely and outside Portugal the Bastard, was the tenth King of Portugal and the Algarve and the first to use the title Lord of Ceuta...
) and of his wife, Beatriz Pereira de Alvim (daughter of Nuno Álvares Pereira
Nuno Álvares Pereira
Dom Nuno Álvares Pereira, O. Carm. , also spelled Nun'Álvares Pereira, was a Portuguese general of great success who had a decisive role in the 1383-1385 Crisis that assured Portugal's independence from Castile...
).
Life
From his maternal grandfather, he inherited still a child the title of 3rd Count of ArraiolosCount of Arraiolos
Count of Arraiolos is a Portuguese title granted, in 1377 by King Fernando I of Portugal, to Dom Álvaro Pires de Castro, a galician noble, brother of Inês de Castro...
, and later, by royal decree dated from May 25, 1455, King Afonso V of Portugal
Afonso V of Portugal
Afonso V KG , called the African , was the twelfth King of Portugal and the Algarves. His sobriquet refers to his conquests in Northern Africa.-Early life:...
granted him the new title of 1st Marquis of Vila Viçosa
Marquis of Vila Viçosa
.The title Marquis of Vila Viçosa was created by royal decree, dated May 25th, 1455, by King Afonso V of Portugal), to Fernando of Braganza, second son of Afonso, 1st Duke of Braganza....
.
In 1432, the young Ferdinand of Arrailos was called upon by King John I
John I of Portugal
John I KG , called the Good or of Happy Memory, more rarely and outside Portugal the Bastard, was the tenth King of Portugal and the Algarve and the first to use the title Lord of Ceuta...
for consultation on a project, promoted by Prince Henry the Navigator, to launch a campaign of conquest against the Marinid
Marinid
The Marinid dynasty or Benemerine dynasty was a Zenata Berber dynasty of Morocco. The Marinid dynasty overtook the Almohads in controlling Morocco in 1244. They controlled most of the Maghreb from the mid-14th century to the 15th century and supported the Kingdom of Granada in Al-Andalus in the...
sultante of Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. Ferdinand submitted opinion was almost wholly against the project. When the project was picked up again during the reign of King Edward in 1436, Ferdinand once again reiterated his objections. Nonetheless, despite his opposition, Edward appointed Ferdinand as constable of the nobles for the 1437 expedition to seize Tangier
Battle of Tangier (1437)
The 1437 Battle of Tangier, sometimes referred to as the Siege of Tangiers, refers to the attempt by a Portuguese expeditionary force to seize the Moroccan citadel of Tangier, and their subsequent defeat by the armies of the Marinid sultanate of Morocco....
. Although the expedition was under the overall command of Henry the Navigator, Edward felt Ferdinand's military expertise was necessary to make up for Henry's inexperience. The Tangier campaign was a debacle. After failing to conquer the city by assault, the Portuguese expeditionary army was surrounded and starved into submission by a Moroccan relief army. In return for being allowed to withdraw his troops unmolested, Henry agreed to a treaty to deliver Ceuta
Ceuta
Ceuta is an autonomous city of Spain and an exclave located on the north coast of North Africa surrounded by Morocco. Separated from the Iberian peninsula by the Strait of Gibraltar, Ceuta lies on the border of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Ceuta along with the other Spanish...
back to the Marinids. For the fulfillment of the treaty, Henry handed over his own brother, the royal infante Ferdinand the Saint Prince as a hostage to the Moroccans.
Back in Portugal, Ferdinand of Arraiolos led the opposition to the treaty. At the Cortes of Leiria assembled in early 1438 by King Edward, Ferdinand of Arraiolos rallied the nobles and took the floor, urging them to refuse to surrender Ceuta. Ferdinand claimed the treaty was signed under duress and invalid. It was largely because of Ferdinand's energetic campaign that the Cortes rejected ratification and told the king to find some other way of securing Prince Ferdinand's release (none was found - Ferdinand the Saint Prince would die in Moroccan captivity in 1443).
Ferdinand of Arraiolos was nominated Governor of Ceuta
Ceuta
Ceuta is an autonomous city of Spain and an exclave located on the north coast of North Africa surrounded by Morocco. Separated from the Iberian peninsula by the Strait of Gibraltar, Ceuta lies on the border of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Ceuta along with the other Spanish...
from 1445 until 1450.
In 1458, he took part, along with his sons, in the expedition that conquered the Moroccan
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
city of Alcácer Ceguer.
In 1460, as his older brother Afonso, died without legitimous issue, he became the 5th Count of Ourém and the House of Braganza
House of Braganza
The Most Serene House of Braganza , an important Portuguese noble family, ruled the Kingdom of Portugal and its colonial Empire, from 1640 to 1910...
heir and, one year later, following his father’s death (1461), he also became the 2nd Duke of Braganza
Duke of Braganza
The title Duke of Braganza in the House of Braganza is one of the most important titles in the peerage of Portugal. Since the House of Braganza acceded to the throne of Portugal in 1640, the male heir of the Portuguese Crown was known as the Duke of Braganza and Prince of Brazil until 1822, or...
, 9th Count of Barcelos and 3rd Count of Neiva and 3rd Lord of Faria.
In 1471, when King Afonso V fled again to North Africa to conquer the city of Arzila, he remained in mainland Portugal as regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
of the Kingdom.
Marriage and children
Fernando I of Braganza married, on 28 December 1429, Dona Joana de Castro (c. 1410 – LisbonLisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, 14 February 1479) (daughter and heir of Dom João de Castro, 2nd Lord of Cadaval
Cadaval
Cadaval is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 174.9 km² and a total population of 14,385 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 10 parishes, and is located in Lisbon District....
), and they had nine children:
- Isabel, died single;
- Fernando IIFernando II, Duke of BraganzaFerdinand II was the older son of Fernando I, 2nd Duke of Braganza and of his wife, Doña Joana de Castro....
(1430–1483), 3rd Duke of BraganzaDuke of BraganzaThe title Duke of Braganza in the House of Braganza is one of the most important titles in the peerage of Portugal. Since the House of Braganza acceded to the throne of Portugal in 1640, the male heir of the Portuguese Crown was known as the Duke of Braganza and Prince of Brazil until 1822, or...
; - John, Marquis of Montemor-o-Novo, died single without issue;
- Catherine, engaged to the 3rd Count of MarialvaCount of MarialvaCount of Marialva was a Portuguese title of nobility created by a royal decree, issued in 1440, by King Afonso V of Portugal, and granted to Vasco Fernandes Coutinho, 3rd...
, killed during the conquest of Arzila; - Alphonse, 1st 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....
and 2nd Count of OdemiraCount of OdemiraCount of Odemira was a Portuguese title of nobility granted to D. Sancho de Noronha by royal decree issued on October 9, 1446, by King Afonso V of Portugal....
– origin of the Counts 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....
and Counts of Vimieiro - Álvaro of BraganzaÁlvaro of BraganzaÁlvaro of Braganza was the 4th son of Ferdinand I, 2nd Duke of Braganza and his wife, Dona Joana de Castro.-Biography:...
, Lord of TentúgalTentúgalTentúgal is a parish of Montemor-o-Velho Municipality, Coimbra District, Portugal. The village is well known in Portugal for its old and unique conventual cakes. Sisnando Davides, Count of Coimbra, was born in Tentúgal in the 11th century....
, Póvoa, BuarcosBuarcosBuarcos is a freguesia in the municipality of Figueira da Foz, Portugal. It is a traditional fishing town that has grown also as a noted beach resort due to the calm waters of its sea, which is protected by the Boa Viagem small mountain range . Many of its inhabitants still work in the fishing...
and CadavalCadavalCadaval is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 174.9 km² and a total population of 14,385 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 10 parishes, and is located in Lisbon District....
– origin of the Dukes of CadavalDuke of CadavalThe Dukes of Cadaval have their origins in Álvaro of Braganza, Lord of Tentúgal, Póvoa, Buarcos and Cadaval, 4th male son of Ferdinand I, 2nd Duke of Braganza. Dom Álvaro married Dona Phillipa of Melo, the rich daughter and heir of Rodrigo of Melo, 1st...
; - Anthony, died young;
- Beatrice, married to the 1st Marquis of Vila RealMarquis of Vila RealMarquis of Vila Real was a Portuguese title of nobility created by a royal decree, dated from March 1, 1489, by King John II of Portugal, and granted to Dom Pedro de Menezes, also known as Peter II of Menezes, 3rd Count of Vila Real.The House of Vila Real was the most powerful aristocratic House...
; - Guiomar, married to the 1st Count of LouléCount of LouléCount of Loulé was a Portuguese title of nobility granted to Henrique de Menezes by royal decree issued on November 12, 1471, by King Afonso V of Portugal....
.
Nobility Titles
Besides his most important nobility title (2nd Duke of BraganzaDuke of Braganza
The title Duke of Braganza in the House of Braganza is one of the most important titles in the peerage of Portugal. Since the House of Braganza acceded to the throne of Portugal in 1640, the male heir of the Portuguese Crown was known as the Duke of Braganza and Prince of Brazil until 1822, or...
) Fernando I was also:
- 1st Marquis of Vila ViçosaMarquis of Vila Viçosa.The title Marquis of Vila Viçosa was created by royal decree, dated May 25th, 1455, by King Afonso V of Portugal), to Fernando of Braganza, second son of Afonso, 1st Duke of Braganza....
, - 9th Count of BarcelosCount of BarcelosCount of Barcelos is a title of nobility, the first to be granted in Portugal. It was created in 1298 by king Denis I and initially it was a non hereditary title, although most of the holders belonged to the Teles de Menezes family...
, - 5th Count of OurémCount of OurémCount of Ourém is a Portuguese title granted, in 1370 by King Fernando I of Portugal, to Dom João Afonso Telo de Meneses, uncle of Queen Leonor Telles de Menezes...
, - 3rd Count of ArraiolosCount of ArraiolosCount of Arraiolos is a Portuguese title granted, in 1377 by King Fernando I of Portugal, to Dom Álvaro Pires de Castro, a galician noble, brother of Inês de Castro...
and - 3rd Count of NeivaCount of NeivaCount of Neiva is a Portuguese title granted, in 1373 by King Fernando I of Portugal, to Dom Gonçalo Teles de Meneses, brother of Queen Leonor Telles de Menezes....
.
Ancestry
See also
- 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...
- Duke of BraganzaDuke of BraganzaThe title Duke of Braganza in the House of Braganza is one of the most important titles in the peerage of Portugal. Since the House of Braganza acceded to the throne of Portugal in 1640, the male heir of the Portuguese Crown was known as the Duke of Braganza and Prince of Brazil until 1822, or...
- Marquis of Vila ViçosaMarquis of Vila Viçosa.The title Marquis of Vila Viçosa was created by royal decree, dated May 25th, 1455, by King Afonso V of Portugal), to Fernando of Braganza, second son of Afonso, 1st Duke of Braganza....
- List of Portuguese Dukedoms