House of Abrantes

House of Abrantes
Casa de Abrantes
Parent house House of Almeida
Titles
Founded June 13, 1476
Founder Lopo de Almeida
Current head José Maria da Piedade de Lancastre e Tavora
Cadet branches
  • House of Lancastre e Távora

The House of Abrantes (Portuguese: Casa de Abrantes) was a Portuguese aristocratic house of the Almeida family, who supplied the city of Abrantes' high-Mayors. The honor of commanding the estate was successively inherited by the Sá family, Counts of Penaguião, and the Lencastre family, Counts of Vila Nova. The House of Abrantes now belongs to the Lencastre e Távora branch.

The Counts of Abrantes

In 1476, King Afonso V of Portugal granted Don Lopo de Almeida, a descendant of King Pedro I of Portugal through an illegitimate line, the title of Count of Abrantes, which had become extinct when Don Miguel de Almeida, the 4th Count of Abrantes and a Restoration hero, died without issue.

When Isabel de Mendonça, the Count of Abrantes’ heir, married João Rodrigues de Sá, 1st Count of Penaguião, the Count of Abrantes representation passed to the Sá family.

The Marquesses of Abrantes

In 1659, King Afonso VI granted Francisco de Sá e Menezes (1640–1677), 4th Count of Penaguião, the new title of 1st Marquess of Fontes, which was replaced in 1718 with the title of Marquess of Abrantes according to King John V’s will.

The Duchesses of Abrantes

Twice, on exceptional occasions, the title of Duchess of Abrantes was granted to two Marchionesses of Abrantes once they became the Queen of Portugal's Maid of Honour (in Portuguese Camareiras-Môr), the highest palatine position for a lady:

House of Lancastre e Távora

Coat of arms of the House of Lancastre e Távora

When the 2nd Duchess and 4th Marchioness of Abrantes died without issue, the House of Abrantes was inherited by the Lencastre family, Counts of Vila Nova de Portimão (who descended from infante George of Lencastre, 2nd Duke of Coimbra).

The marriage of the Lencastre heir, Isabel de Lencastre e Menezes, to Manuel Rafael de Távora originated the Lencastre e Távora (or Lancastre e Távora) branch which, at present, represents this house of nobility. José Maria da Piedade de Lencastre e Távora (born in 1960) claims, among other titles, the title of 11th Marquess of Abrantes.

Titles used by members of the House of Abrantes

The Palace of Santos

The Palace of Santos, or Palace of the Marquesses of Abrantes, where the French embassy is located in Lisbon, resulted from a major historical and architectural evolution.

The name "Santos" refers to three Christian martyrs executed on the top of a Lisbon hill and, in 589, when the Visigoth King Reccared I converted to Christianity, a temple in remembrance of the three saints was built there; it was later destroyed. Following the conquest of Lisbon, King Afonso I of Portugal rebuilt the church and gave it to the Order of Santiago, which made it their headquarters.

When the knights left to the Reconquista, the building was converted on the south into a noble ladies' convent (the Comendadeiras). In 1490, they abandoned the building in favor of a new convent, and the building then took the name of Santos-o-Velho (in Portuguese, literally, "the old Santos").

In 1497, under King Manuel I of Portugal, the building was transformed into a royal residence due to its unique location facing the Tagus river and between the centre of Lisbon and the new area of Belém. It was frequently used by Kings Manuel I, John III and Sebastian. In 1510, Gil Vicente presented some of his plays (in Portuguese: autos) there, and from that location King Sebastian of Portugal left to join the Battle of Alcácer Quibir.

Following Alcácer Kibir, the palace was abandoned and, in 1629, it was acquired by Francisco Luís de Lencastre, 3rd high-Commendator (in Portuguese Comendador-Môr) of the Order of Aviz, a descendant of infante George of Lencastre (natural son of King John II), and it was kept in the family for the next 300 years. Meanwhile, the family also inherited the title of Marquess of Abrantes.

It is not known how extensively the palace was damaged by the 1755 earthquake, but several relatives took shelter there at the time.

In the beginning of the 19th century, the palace was restored and the façade was rebuilt, which gave greater dignity to the building. In 1833, the infanta Ana de Jesus Maria and her husband, the 1st Duke of Loulé, rented part of the palace, as did Amélie de Beauharnais (widow of Pedro I of Brazil), who lived there between 1841 and 1849.

Following the death of the 8th Marquess in 1870, the palace was rented to Count Armand, French Minister in Lisbon, who established legation services there. The French government finally acquired the building in 1909.

Today, the rooms are decorated with paintings and tiles and house an excellent furniture collection dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Special attention was given to the pyramidal roof room, which was completely covered with porcelains, and to the chapel tiles, which date from the 16th century.

The gardens provide a wonderful view over the Tagus. Visitors are welcome, depending on availability in accord with the needs of the embassy of France, which usually opens some rooms to public viewing on International Museum Day (18 May).

See also

Bibliography

"Nobreza de Portugal e do Brazil" – Vol. II, pages 203/205. Zairol Lda., Lisbon 1989.

External links