Manuel de Menezes, Duke of Vila Real

Manuel of Menezes (born ca. 1530) was the second son of Pedro de Menezes (in English, Peter (III) of Menezes) 5th Marquis of Vila Real and of his wife, Beatrice of Lara (daughter of Afonso, 8th Constable of Portugal).

Initially, he was baptized Manuel of Noronha, but when his older brother (the 4th Marquis of Vila Real) died unexpectedly without issue in 1564, he inherited his house and changed his family name from Noronha to Menezes, once this was the name used by the Heads of the House of Vila Real.

He inherited all titles and honours, becoming 5th Marquis of Vila Real as well as all the subsidiary titles of this House: 7th Count of Vila Real, 4th Count of Alcoutim, 5th Count of Valença and 7th Governor of Ceuta.

When King Sebastian of Portugal visited for the first time Ceuta, Dom Manuel, as Governor of the city, received the monarch with extreme magnificence.

In recognition of his strong support during the 1580 Portuguese succession crisis, Philip I of Portugal rewarded him the new title of Duke of Vila Real, on 28 February 1585.

He married D. Maria da Silva (granddaughter of the 2nd Count of Redondo), a chamberlady of Queen Catherine of Austria, wife of King John III of Portugal.

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