Count of Barcelos (in Portuguese ''Conde de Barcelos'') is a
title of nobility, the first to be granted in
Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...
. 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. It was only after the death of the 6th Count, when it was granted to
Nuno Álvares Pereira, that the title became hereditary. The 8th Count of Barcelos was created
Duke of Braganza in 1442, by his nephew king
Afonso V, and his descendants rose to the Portuguese throne after the country regained its independence from Spain in 1640.
Initially, the seat of the Counts of Barcelos was the
Palace of the Dukes of Barcelos, a large
medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...
structure that overlooks the
Cávado river. After having been granted the
Dukedom of Braganza, the family moved to a larger and more urbane palace in
Guimarães, the
Palace of the Dukes of Braganza.
The title is currently held by
Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza and 31st Count of Barcelos, claimant to the throne of Portugal.
List of counts of Barcelos
Non-hereditary title (1298)
*1.
João Afonso Telo;
*2. Martim Gil de Riba de Vizela, also known as Martim Gil de Sousa (1st Count's son in law);
*3.
Pedro Afonso, natural son of King
Denis I of Portugal;
*4.
João Afonso Telo, also 1st
Count of Ourém;
*5. Afonso Teles de Meneses, 4th count's son. Since he died before his father, the title reverted to his father;
*6.
João Afonso Telo, 4th count's nephew, son of
Martim Afonso Telo de Meneses, and also brother of Queen
Leonor Teles.
Hereditary title (1385)
*7.
Nuno Álvares Pereira
*8.
Afonso, also
Duke of Braganza (1442), son in law of the 7th Count.
For the list of holders after this date, see
Dukes of Braganza.
See also
*
Duke of Barcelos
Bibliography
"Nobreza de Portugal e do Brasil" – Vol. II, pages 376-401. Published by Zairol Lda., Lisbon 1989.
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Barcelos
Barcelos
1298 establishments in Europe
13th-century establishments in Portugal