Castelo-Melhor (Count of)
Original title: Castelo-Melhor (Conde de)
Portuguese noble title created in 1611, whose holders inherited the captaincy of Funchal through the marriage of the 9th donatary, D. Mariana de Alencastre, to the 2nd count.
This title was granted by Philip II to Rui Mendes de Vasconcelos on 21 March 1611. Simão Gonçalves da Câmara, 7th captain-donatary (capitão-donatário) of Funchal, married a daughter of this count, Dona Maria de Vasconcelos, by whom he had João Gonçalves da Câmara, 8th captain-donatary, and Dona Mariana de Alencastre. She inherited the captaincy from her brother, who died without issue, although he had been married to Dona Inês de Meneses. Dona Mariana de Alencastre, 9th holder of the donatary captaincy (donataria), married the 2nd Count of Castelo-Melhor, João Rodrigues de Vasconcelos, son of Luís de Sousa e Vasconcelos and Dona Maria de Sousa. In this way the captaincy passed into the possession of the counts, later marquises, of Castelo-Melhor, who held it until it was abolished.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 01Place
Places mentioned · 01
- Funchal
Seat of the captaincy that passed to the Castelo-Melhor family.
The capital of the archipelago and seat of the principal captaincy, where settlement began; it was made a vila c.1451–52. Its bay, the widest in the archipelago, lies between Ponta do Garajau and Ponta da Cruz and offers sheltered anchorage, though its harbour had never been studied oceanographically. The Elucidário discusses it as a health resort with climate data and records the January 1906 disturbances, the Danish prince's visit in May 1846 and recent volcanic cones in the area.
People
People mentioned · 10-
9th donatary of Funchal, whose marriage to the 2nd Count of Castelo-Melhor brought the captaincy to that house.
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First Count of Castelo-Melhor (1611), whose daughter married the 7th captain-donatary of Funchal.
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Wife of the 8th captain-donatary João Gonçalves da Câmara.
- João Gonçalves da Câmara1414–1501
8th captain-donatary of Funchal, who died without issue so the captaincy passed to his sister.
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2nd Count of Castelo-Melhor, husband of the 9th donatary of Funchal.
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Father of the 2nd Count of Castelo-Melhor.
- Maria Clementinad. 1867
Daughter of the 1st Count of Castelo-Melhor and wife of the 7th captain-donatary of Funchal.
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Mother of the 2nd Count of Castelo-Melhor.
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King of Portugal (Philip III of Spain) who created the title of Count of Castelo-Melhor in 1611.
- Simão Gonçalves da Câmara1579–1580
7th captain-donatary of Funchal, married to D. Maria de Vasconcelos.