Count of Vila Real
Count of Vila Real is a Portuguese title of nobility created twice in the Kingdom of Portugal, firstly, 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 (do Alentejo), and, secondly, in the 19th century, King John VI of Portugal, revived the title and granted it, by royal decree, on July 3, 1823, to José [Luís de Sousa Botelho Mourão e Vasconcelos].
History
First creation (1424)
The Menezes, a high nobility and influential family, quite close to the first dynasty kings in Portugal, were negatively affected when the new Aviz kings came to power, after the 1383–1385 crisis, but Pedro de Menezes supported the new king John of Aviz and was later rewarded.He was involved in the north African conquests, and became the first governor of Ceuta after the Portuguese conquest.
He married four times from which he had three daughters. The eldest was Beatrice of Menezes, married to Fernando of Noronha. Their issue used Menezes as family name and they originated the powerful House of Vila Real.
In recognition of their support during the Portuguese [succession crisis of 1580|1580 Portuguese succession crisis], the Spanish Habsburgs granted the House of Vila Real new titles, including Duke of Vila Real and Duke of Caminha. However, following the Portuguese Restoration in 1640, all these titles and estates were confiscated, and Miguel Luís II, 2nd Duke of Caminha, was executed for high treason by order of King John IV of Portugal, due to his allegiance to the Spanish Habsburg claim to the Portuguese throne, consequently, this line became extinct in 1641.