Noble titles

The oldest noble title known to us relating to people of this archipelago is the one granted to Simão Gonçalves da Câmara, 5th captain-donatary (capitão-donatário) of Funchal, by royal decree (alvará régio) of 20 August 1576 (volume I, pages 180 and 198).

We know of no other title granted in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. In 1812, by decree of 17 December, the royal grant of Viscount of Torre Bela was conferred on the holder of the entail (morgado) Fernando José Correia Brandão Bettencourt de Noronha Henriques, who represented Portugal in Hamburg, Stockholm, Berlin, Vienna and Naples (see Torre Bela).

The statesman and diplomat António de Saldanha da Gama, who married Dona Antónia Basília Herédia de Bettencourt, representative and heir of the entailed house (casa vinculada) of the Herédias of this island, was granted the title of Count of Porto Santo (‘holy harbour’) by decree of 26 October 1823.

Charles Stuart, a British subject who represented his country at the court of Lisbon, held the title of Count of Machico, granted by decree of 22 November 1826 (see volume II, page 280).

The title of Count of Carvalhal (‘oak grove’) was granted by decree of 13 September 1835 to João Xavier de Carvalhal Esmeraldo Vasconcelos de Atouguia Bettencourt de Sá Machado, the wealthiest landowner on this island and one of the richest in the whole country (volume I, page 243 ff.). The illustrious Madeiran João Gualberto de Oliveira, statesman and parliamentarian, received the royal grant of Baron of Tojal by decree of 4 April 1838, and that of Count of the same title by decree of 17 September 1844 (see Tojal).

Dr Aires de Ornelas e Vasconcelos, peer of the realm, was honoured with the title of Baron of São Pedro by decree of 12 August 1845 (volume III, page 23).

On 15 October 1851 António Manuel de Noronha, a former governor and captain-general of this archipelago (volume II, page 427), was granted the title of Viscount of Santa Cruz (‘Holy Cross’), after the town (vila) of that name on this island.

The distinguished Madeiran António Aluísio Jervis de Atouguia (volume I, page 99) received the title of Viscount of Atouguia by decree of 15 March 1853. Fortunado Joaquim Figueira was granted the title of Baron of Conceição (‘Conception’) by decree of 11 September 1855. He was the father-in-law of the Viscount of Andaluz and of the lawyer Dr Nuno Ferreira Jardim, and the grandfather of Dr Alberto Figueira Jardim.

The title of Viscount of Nogueiras, granted by decree of 16 January 1867, was held by the Madeiran Jacinto de Santana e Vasconcelos Moniz de Bettencourt, husband of the Viscountess of Nogueiras (volume II, page 423) and father of the 2nd Viscount of Nogueiras (volume II, page 420).

By decree of 25 February 1871 the royal grant of Viscount of Calçada (‘paved way’) was bestowed on the holder of the entail (morgado) and great landowner Diogo de Orneias de França Carvalhal Frasão Figueiroa (volume I, page 179), who was later made Count of the same title. Diogo Berenguer de França, holder of an entail and landowner, received the title of Viscount of São João (‘St John’) by decree of 3 March 1871.

By the decree of 4 May 1871 Francisco Correia Herédia was granted the title of Viscount of Ribeira Brava (see that entry).

Dr João de Freitas da Silva was granted the title of Viscount of Monte Belo by decree of 24 March 1880 (volume II, page 53).

João Bettencourt de Araújo Carvalhal Esmeraldo (volume III, page 199) was granted the title of Viscount of Ribeiro Real by decree of 23 March 1882, and was later raised to Count of the same title.

Dr António Evaristo de Orneias received the royal grant of Baron of Orneias by decree of 14 October 1886 (volume III, page 20).

Of the titleholders whose decrees of grant are of unknown date to us, we shall mention the Count of Canavial (volume I, page 221), the Viscount of Gonçalves de Freitas (volume II, page 92), the Viscount of Casa Branca (General Alexandre César Mimoso), the Viscount of Bianchi (Augusto César de Bianchi), the Viscount of Vale Paraíso (João António Bianchi), the Baron of Jardim do Mar (Tristão Vaz Teixeira de Bettencourt e Câmara), the Baron of Uzel (Luís Augusto Ribeiro de Mendonça) and the Baron of Nora (Frederico Teles de Meneses).

Dom Álvaro da Costa de Sousa Macedo, governor and captain-general of this archipelago (volume II, page 276), held the title of Count of Madeira, and Domingos António de Sousa Coutinho that of Count and Marquis of Funchal (volume II, pages 56). To the same family belongs Agostinho de Sousa Coutinho, who also held the title of Marquis of Funchal and twice served as civil governor of this district (volume II, page 56).