Count of Anadia
Count of Anadia is a noble title created by Dom João, Prince Regent for Dona Maria I of Portugal, by decree of 17 December 1808, in favour of João Rodrigues de Sá e Melo, previously the 1st Viscount of Anadia.
History
The House of the Counts of Anadia, part of the Portuguese nobility, brought together several family lines, including the Paes do Amaral of Mangualde and the Sá of Anadia. The Paes do Amaral family, established in the sixteenth century, held estates in Mangualde, where they built the Palácio Paes do Amaral. The Sá family, descended from João Rodrigues de Sá, Admiral under King João I, was granted the titles of Viscount the eighteenth century, with some of its members serving in diplomatic and governmental roles in Portugal and Brazil.João Rodrigues de Sá e Melo was a nobleman of the Royal Household, Lord of the town of Anadia, Commander of São Paulo das Maçãs, Minister of Portugal in Naples and Berlin, and Secretary of State for the Navy and War. The 1st Count of Anadia, in his capacity as Secretary of the Navy, was responsible for organising the Royal Family’s journey to Brazil. He also, as Secretary of State for the Navy in Brazil, founded the Navy in this Kingdom and future Empire.In the nineteenth century, the Houses of Anadia, Alverca, Paes do Amaral of Mangualde, Almeida of Abrantes and Quifel Barberino were brought together through the marriage of Maria Luísa de Sá Pereira e Menezes, 3rd Countess of Anadia, and her cousin Manuel Paes do Amaral de Almeida e Vasconcellos Quifel Barberino. Their son, José Maria de Sá Pereira e Menezes, 4th Count of Anadia, was the last holder of the family’s morgadios before their abolition in 1863. His son, Carlos de Sá Paes do Amaral, became Count and Viscount of Alferrarede and commissioned the construction of the neo-Gothic Castle of Alferrarede on the family’s estate.
The present representative of these combined houses is Miguel Maria de Sá Paes do Amaral, 8th Count of Anadia and 4th Count of Alferrarede, owner of the Palace of the Counts of Anadia in Mangualde.