Duke of Cadaval
Duke of Cadaval is a title of Portuguese nobility. It was created on 26 April 1648 by King John IV of Portugal for his distant cousin, Dom Nuno Álvares Pereira de Melo, who was already 4th Marquis of Ferreira and 5th Count of Tentúgal.
The Dukes of Cadaval trace their origins to Dom Álvaro of Braganza, Lord of Tentúgal, Póvoa, Buarcos and Cadaval, fourth son of Dom Ferdinand I, 2nd Duke of Braganza. Dom Álvaro married Dona Filipa de Melo, the rich daughter and heiress of Rodrigo Afonso de Melo, 1st Count of Olivença.
List of dukes of Cadaval
- D. Nuno Álvares Pereira de Melo
- D. Luís Ambrósio Álvares Pereira de Melo
- D. Jaime Álvares Pereira de Melo
- D. Nuno Caetano Álvares Pereira de Melo
- D. Miguel Caetano Álvares Pereira de Melo
- D. Nuno Caetano Álvares Pereira de Melo
- D. Maria da Piedade Álvares Pereira de Melo
- D. Jaime Segismundo Álvares Pereira de Melo
- D. Nuno Maria José Caetano Álvares Pereira de Melo
- D. Jaime Álvares Pereira de Melo
- D. Diana Álvares Pereira de Melo
Other titles
- Count of Tentúgal
- Marquis of Ferreira
Family name
Dom Nuno Álvares Pereira, the remarkable Constable of Portugal, is among their ancestors.
Duchess of Cadaval-Hermès
When Jaime Álvares Pereira de Melo, 10th Duke of Cadaval died in 2001, he left four daughters: two from his first marriage, and two others from his second marriage. Leadership of the house and its possessions was disputed by the elder daughters of each marriage:- Rosalinda Álvares Pereira de Melo, elder daughter of the Duke's first marriage;
- Diana Álvares Pereira de Melo, elder daughter of the Duke's second marriage.
However, he also granted to her eldest half-sister, Rosalinda Álvares Pereira de Melo, the new title of Duchess of Cadaval-Hermès, because she is married to Hubert Guerrand-Hermès, the House of Hermès's heir. Dona Rosalinda also obtained both titles of Marquise of Ferreira and Countess of Tentúgal, historically allocated to the heir of the Duke of Cadaval. But Rosalinda isn't the designated heir to the Duchy and the person to succeed her younger half sister as Duchess of Cadaval will be chosen by the Duke of Braganza at the time of the death of the current Duchess.
There is some controversy about the Cadaval-Hermès title, as effectively it constitutes a new creation since the inauguration of the republican regime in Portugal. The Republic abolished all titles of Portuguese nobility in 1910.