List of countships in Portugal

Noble Titles of Portugal
  Dukedoms of Portugal
  Marquisates of Portugal
  Countships of Portugal
  Viscountcies of Portugal
  Baronies of Portugal

This is a list of countships in Portugal (Portuguese: Condados; singular Condado; the title is Conde, for Count, and Condessa, for Countess):

Historical overview

Portugal first emerged as county of the Kingdom of León, the Condado Portugalense (County of Porto). The first Portuguese county that apears in the historical record is the county of Sousa granted by king Sancho I to the rico-homem (name given to the highest nobility) Mendo de Sousa, but was of personal nature, meaning that was only to the receiver and was not renewed on his heirs and was not linked to any territory. The first territorial county was Barcelos, granted to João Afonso Teles de Meneses in 1298. During the first dinasty the titles of nobility were scarce and only given to the most proeminent nobles, as was the case of the counts of Barcelos, all members of the Meneses family. All counties where returned to the Crown after the death of the holder, being the King able to chose if he was going to renew the title on a relative of the deceased or extinguish it.

With the 1383-5 revolution and the ascent of the Master of Avis to the throne, the counties existing where removed to the holders, as they had sided against the new King. Later, King João I granted the 3 counties that where active (Barcelos, Ourém and Arraiolos) to the Constable of the kingdom, Dom Nuno Alvares Pereira, who was his main supporter during the war. When Nuno's daughter, Beatriz Pereira Alvim, married the king's illegitimate son, Afonso, he gave the county of Barcelos to his son-in-law. Later, Nuno would give his other 2 counties to his grandsons (sons of Afonso and Beatriz): Afonso (Ourém) and Fernando (Arraiolos). Thus in the begin of the Avis Dinasty, the counties where belonging of relatives to the Crown.

In 1910, the Republic was implanted and since then the titles of nobility are extict, altough several descendants of the counts still claim their titles. As curiosity, the last county to be granted was granted in April 16 1910 (172 days before the Republic) to Manuel António da Costa Pereira, made Count of Costa Pereira.

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I

J

K

L

M

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O

P

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R

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T

U

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X

Y

Z

See also

allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countships_in_Portugal