Family Name
The family name associated with the Counts of Abrantes was Almeida.
The Almeida clan was closely associated with King John II of Portugal played a pivotal role in the 1490s succession crisis, strongly backing John II's preferred candidate, Jorge de Lencastre against the eventual winner, Manuel, Duke of Beja.
According to Subrahmanyam (1997: 49), Lopo de Almeida, the first Count of Abrantes, had at least six notable sons:
- 1. D. João de Almeida - 2nd Count of Abrantes married D. Inês de Noronha (a niece of Christopher Columbus)
- 2. D. Diogo Fernandes de Almeida - tutor of Jorge de Lencastre and, from 1492, Prior of Crato (Portuguese branch of St. John Hospitaller).
- 3. D. Jorge de Almeida, Bishop of Coimbra from mid-1490s.
- 4. D. Pedro da Silva - used his mother's surname, sent on king's 1494 mission to Pope Alexander VI.
- 5. D. Fernando de Almeida - sent with Pedro on the papal mission.
- 6. D. Francisco de Almeida - commander of 1505 expedition to India, first Vice-roy of Portuguese India.
The Almeida clan remained the principal political opponents of Manuel I of Portugal throughout his reign.
Read more about this topic: Count Of Abrantes
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