The 3rd Count of Portalegre, D. Álvaro da Silva, was succeeded by his granddaughter, D. Filipa da Silva, thanks to a royal dispensation of the Lei Mental, which stated that all Crown assets, including titles of nobility, could only be inherited by male primogeniture.
Filipa married twice, in both cases with distant cousins. Firstly to D. Pedro de Lancastre, son of the 1st Duke of Aveiro, with whom she had one daughter who died young. Her second marriage was to the Spanish ambassador, Juan de Silva, very influential during the reign of Sebastian I of Portugal and who, on his marriage, became 4th Count of Portalegre and inherited the office of Mordomo-mór. He participated with the Portuguese in the Battle of Alcacer Quibir, where he fell prisoner to the moors. During the transitional reign of Henry I of Portugal, the Cardinal King, he was a firm supporter of Philip II of Spain's claims to the throne of Portugal.
The Habsburgs rewarded this House's fidelity with new honours and titles, elevating the 6th Count to the marquessate of Gouvêa, a Portuguese noble title granted by Letters Patent of King Philip III of Portugal, (IV of Spain), dated 20 January 1625). The title of Count of Portalegre was then used by the heir presumptive of the House of Gouvêa.
When the 2nd Marquess of Gouvêa died without issue, this assets, honours and titles were incorporated into the House of the Counts of Santa Cruz, with the 5th Count inheriting the office of Mordomo-mor and his eldest son the marquessate of Gouvêa.
The 6th Marquess of Gouvêa died without legitimate issue, following the unfortunate trial of his father, 5th Marquess of Gouvêa and 8th Duke of Aveiro, who was found guilty of treason. His inheritable assets were passed on to his cousin, the 3rd Marquess of Lavradio, eldest grandson of his father's sister, whose legitimate issue continues to the present day.
List of the Counts of Portalegre
Diogo da Silva, 1st Count of Portalegre (1430-? );
João da Silva, 2nd Count of Portalegre (1480-? ), son of the 1st count;
Álvaro da Silva, 3rd Count of Portalegre (1505–1580), son of the 2nd count;
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Duke of Aveiro was a Portuguese title of nobility, 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.
Jorge de Lancastre was a Portuguese prince, illegitimate son of King John II of Portugal and Ana de Mendonça, a lady-in-waiting to Joanna la Beltraneja. He was created the second Duke of Coimbra in 1509. He was also master of the Order of Santiago and administrator of the Order of Aviz from 1492 to 1550.
The highest hereditary title in the Portuguese monarchy. By tradition, there are a total of five royal and seven non-royal dukes in Portugal, out of 28 dukedoms that have ever been created. In the majority of cases, the title of duke was attributed to members of the high nobility, usually relatives of the Portuguese Royal Family, such as the second son of a monarch.
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Marquess of Lavradio is a Portuguese title of nobility created by Letters Patent of King José I of Portugal on 18 October 1753 for D. António de Almeida Soares de Portugal, 1st Count of Lavradio and 4th Count of Avintes.
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Count of Lavradio is a Portuguese title of nobility created twice.
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