Duke of Terceira
| Ducal House of Terceira | |
|---|---|
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| Country | Portugal |
| Parent house | House of Vila Flor |
| Titles |
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| Founded | 1832 |
| Founder | António José Severim de Noronha, 1st Duke of Terceira |
| Current head | D. Lourenço Bandeira Manoel de Vilhena de Freitas, 4th Duke of Terceira |
The title duke of Terceira, de juro e herdade (meaning "forever granted") was created by decree of King Pedro IV of Portugal, on 8 November 1832. António José de Souza Manoel de Menezes Severim de Noronha, 7th Count of Vila Flor, de juro e herdade, and 1st Marquis of Vila Flor, was the first holder of the title.
The Duke of Terceira was the head of the Manoel de Vilhena family. Heads of the Portuguese branch of that family have been ennobled since the marriage of Constance Manoel with King Pedro I of Portugal. Her brother, Henrique Manoel, was brought into her entourage, and he was made Count of Seia, in Portugal, by his brother-in-law, the king.
This family is also represented in Spain, where the family head is the Duke of Arévalo d'El Rey, Count of Via Manoel, Marquis of Puebla de la Rocamora, etc.
The family dates back to Juan Manuel de Villena, the second son of the 3rd Lord of Cheles, knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece and Mayordomo-Mor of the Emperor Charles V, who descended from the Infante Juan Manuel, Prince of Villena, the grandson of King Fernando III of Castile.
The 1st Duke of Terceira (1792-1860) descended from Sancho Manoel de Vilhena, the 1st Count of Vila-Flor and Marshal of the Portuguese Army during the Portuguese Restoration War against Spain, winner (together with the 1st Marquis of Marialva) of the battles of Linhas de Elvas, Montes Claros and the Ameixial. He was also appointed Viceroy of Brazil.
Hero of the Liberal Wars, the 7th Count of Vila-Flor received the highest aristocratic title, duke, as well as the profound honor of being named Marshal of the army, honors he received because of the resistance he led on Terceira against the Miguelist forces. After conquering Porto, he led the liberal forces into Lisbon, on 24 July 1833. He won the Battle of Asseiceira, which put an end to the civil war, and he signed the peace treaty (Concession of Evoramonte) on behalf of King Pedro IV of Portugal.
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