Count of Abrantes (in Portuguese Conde de Abrantes) was a Portuguese title of nobility created by a royal decree, dated from June 13, 1476, by King Afonso V of Portugal, and granted to his 4th cousin, Lopo de Almeida.
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Dom Lopo was closely related to the Portuguese royal House, once his great-grandfather was Infante João, Duke of Valencia de Campos (son of King Peter I of Portugal and of Inês de Castro).
This title became extinct when the 4th Count, Miguel de Almeida, a hero of the Portuguese uprising of December 1, 1640, died without issue in 1650.
Genealogical Summary
Pedro I (1320–1367) King of Portugal | __________________________|............................. | | : | | : Fernando I Infante João João I (1345–1383) (1349–1397) (1357–1433)King of Portugal Duke of Valencia de Campos King of Portugal | (Spanish title) | | : | | : | | : | Beatrice Pedro da Guerra Duarte I (1372–1408) (c.1380- ? ) (1391–1438) Queen de jure | King of Portugal | | | | Brites Anes | (c.1380-1431) | m.Diogo Fernandes de Almeida | Mayor of Abrantes | | | | | | | Lopo de Almeida Portuguese Royal House (1416–1486) 1st Count of AbrantesList of the Counts of Abrantes (1476)
Family Name
The family name associated with the Counts of Abrantes was Almeida.
The Almeida clan was closely associated with King John II of Portugal played a pivotal role in the 1490s succession crisis, strongly backing John II's preferred candidate, Jorge de Lencastre against the eventual winner, Manuel, Duke of Beja.
According to Subrahmanyam (1997: 49), Lopo de Almeida, the first Count of Abrantes, had at least six notable sons:
The Almeida clan remained the principal political opponents of Manuel I of Portugal throughout his reign.