Count of Ourém (in Portuguese Conde de Ourém) is a Portuguese title granted, in 1370 by King Fernando I of Portugal, to Dom João Afonso Telo de Meneses, uncle of Queen Leonor Telles de Menezes. Later he also became 4th Count of Barcelos.
Then the County passed to João Fernandes Andeiro (a Galician noble, lover of the Queen) but, when King John I of Portugal took the power, his Constable, Nuno Álvares Pereira, inherited it.
As the Constable daughter married the 1st Duke of Braganza, Count of Ourém became a subsidiary title of the House of Braganza.
In 1483, Fernando II 3rd. Duke of Bragança, is condemned for treason by order of king John II of Portugal. The House of Braganza estates were confiscated and the County of Ourém was granted to Pedro de Menezes, 1st Marquis of Vila Real, a great-great-grandson of João Afonso Telo de Menezes, 1st Count of Ourém.
When king Manuel I inherited the Portuguese throne, he restored the Braganzas with all their previous honours and, from then on, the County of Ourém was included in the Braganzas’ assets.
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(for the list of holders after this date, see Duke of Braganza)
”Nobreza de Portugal e do Brasil” – Vol. III, pages 82-84. Published by Zairol Lda., Lisbon 1989.