This was a Portuguese Nobility title granted by King Luís I of Portugal to António José de Ávila, 1st Duke of Ávila and Bolama, a remarkable Portuguese politician and ambassador during the liberal period.
Originally, the title was granted, in 1864 as Count of Ávila (in Portuguese Conde de Ávila) and it was successively upgraded, by the same King, to Marquis of Ávila and Bolama (in Portuguese Marquês de Ávila e Bolama) in 1870, and finally by a royal decree dated from May 14, 1878, to Duke of Ávila and Bolama (in Portuguese Duque de Ávila e Bolama).
This was the first Dukedom to be granted to a non-noble born person, once in Portugal the title of Duke was, traditionally, granted to members of high nobility, relatives of the Portuguese Royal Family, such as the second sons of monarchs.
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”Nobreza de Portugal e do Brasil" – Vol. II, pages 348/351. Published by Zairol Lda., Lisbon 1989.