Duke of Vila Real (in Portuguese Duque de Vila Real) was a Portuguese title of nobility created by royal decree, dated from February 28, 1585, by King Philip I of Portugal (also known as Philip II of Spain), and granted to Dom Manuel de Menezes, 5th Marquis of Vila Real and 7th Count of Vila Real.
The title was granted by the King in one life, to the 5th Marquis of Vila Real, due his personal support to the Spanish Habsburgs during the 1580 Portuguese succession crisis.
”Nobreza de Portugal e do Brasil" – Vol. III, pages 523/528. Published by Zairol Lda., Lisbon 1989.
The highest hereditary title in the Portuguese nobility. 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.
Duke of Osuna is a Spanish noble title that was first awarded in 1562 by King Philip II of Spain to Pedro Girón de la Cueva,. Pedro was also Viceroy of Naples, (1582–1586), Ambassador in Portugal and 5th Count of Ureña.
Count of Cantanhede was a Portuguese title of nobility created by a royal decree, dated from 6 August 1479, by King Afonso V of Portugal, and granted to D. Pedro de Menezes, 5th Lord of Cantanhede.
The title duke of Terceira, de juro e herdade was created by decree of King Pedro IV of Portugal, on 8 November 1832. António José de Souza Manoel de Menezes Severim de Noronha, 7th Count of Vila Flor, de juro e herdade, and 1st Marquis of Vila Flor, was the first holder of the title.
Count of Linhares was a Portuguese title of nobility created by a royal decree of king John III of Portugal dated from May 13, 1532, and granted to Dom António de Noronha, 2nd son of Pedro de Menezes, 1st Marquis of Vila Real.
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 (1530-1608), nephew of Dom Pedro de Mascarenhas, 6th Viceroy of Portuguese India.
Duke of Caminha was a title created by royal decree, dated 14 December 1620, by King Philip III of Portugal for Dom Miguel Luís de Menezes, 6th Marquis of Vila Real and 8th Count of Vila Real. He was the eldest son of Manuel de Menezes, Duke of Vila Real.
Marquis of Vila Real was a Portuguese title of nobility created by a royal decree, dated from 1 March 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.
Count of Vimioso is a Portuguese title of nobility which have its origins in Alphonse, Bishop of Évora, the natural son of Alphonse, 4th Count of Ourém and 1st Marquis of Valença. Therefore, the Counts of Vimioso were closely related to the Braganzas.
João de Lencastre, was the older son of Jorge de Lencastre, Duke of Coimbra and of his wife Dona Beatriz of Vilhena.
Count of Ourém is a Portuguese title granted in 1370 by King Fernando I of Portugal, to Dom João Afonso Telo, uncle of Queen Leonor Teles. Later he also became the fourth Count of Barcelos.
Count of Portalegre is a Portuguese title of nobility created by Letters Patent dated 6 February 1498 by King Manuel I of Portugal granted to D. Diogo da Silva.
Count of Alcoutim was a Portuguese title of nobility, subsidiary to the one of Marquis of Vila Real, created by a royal decree, dated from November 15, 1496, by King John II of Portugal, and granted to Dom Fernando de Menezes, also known as Ferdinand II of Menezes, 2nd Marquis of Vila Real, 4th Count of Vila Real and 2nd Count of Valença.
Count of Vila Real was a Portuguese title of nobility created by a royal decree, in 1424, by King John I of Portugal, and granted to Dom Pedro de Menezes, also known as Peter I of Menezes, 2nd Count of Viana.
Count of Valença was a Portuguese title of nobility, created by a royal decree, dated from July 20, 1464, by King Afonso V of Portugal, and granted to Dom Henrique de Menezes, who was already 3rd Count of Viana and 4th Count of Viana.
Manuel of Menezes was the second son of Pedro de Menezes 5th Marquis of Vila Real and of his wife, Beatrice of Lara.
Marquess of Abrantes was a Portuguese title of nobility, granted by a decree issued by King John V of Portugal on 24 June 1718, to Rodrigo Anes de Sá Almeida e Menezes, 3rd Marquess of Fontes and 7th Count of Penaguião.
Count of Penaguião is a Portuguese title of nobility, created by King Philip I of Portugal, on 10 February 1583, for Dom João Rodrigues de Sá.
Count of Vila Nova de Portimão was a Portuguese title of nobility granted on 28 May 1504, by King Manuel I of Portugal to D. Martinho de Castelo Branco, 2nd Lord of Vila Nova de Portimão.
The Count of Valadares is a noble title created by King Pedro II of Portugal, by royal letter on 20 June 1702, in favour of D. Miguel Luís de Menezes.