Duke of Cadaval
| Ducal House of Cadaval | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Country | Portugal |
| Parent house | House of Braganza |
| Titles |
|
| Founded | 1648 |
| Founder | Nuno I Álvares Pereira de Melo |
| Current head | Diana Álvares Pereira de Melo |
The Dukes of Cadaval have their origins in Dom Álvaro of Braganza, Lord of Tentúgal, Póvoa, Buarcos and Cadaval, 4th male son of Dom Ferdinand I, 2nd Duke of Braganza. Dom Álvaro married Dona Filipa de Melo, the rich daughter and heir of Rodrigo Afonso de Melo, 1st. Count of Olivença.
The title was created on April 26, 1645, by King John IV of Portugal to his distant cousin, Dom Nuno Álvares Pereira de Melo (1638–1727), who was already 3rd Marquis of Ferreira and 5th Count of Tentúgal.
The Dukes family name is Álvares Pereira de Melo.
Dom Nuno Álvares Pereira, the remarkable Constable of Portugal, is among their ancestors.
When Jaime III Álvares Pereira de Melo, 10th Duke of Cadaval died in 2001, he left four daughters: two from his first (civil) marriage (with Antoinette Louise Schweisguth, ex-wife of René Durrieu, 4th Baron Durrieu), and two others from his second (religious) marriage (with Claudine Marguerite Marianne Tritz). Leadership of the house and its possessions was disputed by the elder daughters of each marriage:
Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza, in the de jure capacity of Head of the historical Royal House of Portugal, recognized Diana Álvares Pereira de Melo as 11th Duchess of Cadaval.
However, he also granted to her eldest half-sister, Rosalinda Álvares Pereira de Melo, the new title of Duchess of Cadaval-Hermès, because she is married to Hubert Guerrand-Hermès, the House Hermès heir. Dona Rosalinda also obtained both titles of Marquise of Ferreira and Countess of Tentúgal, historically allocated to the heir of the Duke of Cadaval. Rosalinda (or her heirs) is designated to succeed her younger half sister as Duchess of Cadaval.
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Wikipedia