Afonso of Braganza, 1st Marquis of Valença

Alphonse of Braganza (in Portuguese Afonso) (1400–1460) was the eldest son of Afonso, 1st Duke of Braganza, natural son of King John I of Portugal, and of his wife, Beatriz Pereira Alvim, the only daughter of Nuno Álvares Pereira and Leonor de Alvim.

Through a formal document dated 4 April 1422, his maternal grandfather, the Constable Nuno Álvares Pereira, granted to him the County of Ourém. However, this grant only gained the Portuguese King Edward’s royal confirmation on 24 November 1433.

Alphonse was sent by the King as his special ambassador to the Council of Basel (1436) and to the Council of Florence (1439), during which time he also visited Ferrara and Rome.

In a document issued on 11 October 1451, King Afonso V of Portugal granted him the title of Marquis of Valença. He was the first Portuguese nobile to be made a Marquis.

During October 1451, he escorted Infanta Eleanor of Portugal (King Edward’s daughter) on her journey from Lisbon to Livorno, where she met her betrothed, Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor. They were married in Rome, with Pope Nicholas V blessing their marriage.

In 1458, Alphonse took part in the Portuguese expedition to north Africa which led to the capture of the Moroccan city of Alcácer Ceguer (Al Qsar as-Seghir).

Alphonse had a natural son with Dona Beatriz de Sousa (it is said that they were secretly married). This son, Afonso de Portugal, was required to join the clergy by King John II of Portugal. Afonso de Portugal was appointed Bishop of Évora. He had a natural son named Francisco de Portugal (Francis of Portugal) who was later appointed as Francis I, 1st Count of Vimioso, from whom Counts of Vimioso descend.

Ancestry

Family of Afonso of Braganza, 1st Marquis of Valença

16. Afonso IV of Portugal               8. Peter I of Portugal                       17. Beatrice of Castile               4. John I of Portugal                             18. Lourenço Martins               9. Teresa Lourenço                       19. Sancha Martins               2. Afonso, 1st Duke of Braganza                                   20. Estevão Peres               10. Pero Esteves, o Barbadão                       21. Leonor Anes               5. Inês Pires                             22. Joane Anes Marceiro               11. Maria Anes                       23. Constança Garcês               1. Afonso, Marquis of Valença                                         24. Gonçalo Pereira, 97th Archbishop of Braga               12. Álvaro Gonçalves Pereira, Prior of Crato                       25. Teresa Peres Vilarinho               6. Nuno Álvares Pereira                             26. Pedro Gonçalves do Carvalhal               13. Iria Gonçalves do Carvalhal                       27. Aldonça Rodrigues da Silva               3. Beatriz Pereira de Alvim                                   28. Martim Pires de Alvim               14. João Pires de Alvim                       29. Margarida Pires Ribeiro               7. Leonor de Alvim                             30. Estevão Coelho               15. Branca Pires Coelho                       31. Maria Mendes Petite

See also

• House of Braganza
• Duke of Braganza
• List of Marquesses in Portugal
• List of Countships in Portugal

Bibliography

Afonso of Braganza, 1st Marquis of Valença House of Braganza Cadet branch of the House of Aviz Born: 1400 Died: 1460
Portuguese nobility
Preceded by Nuno Álvares Pereira	Count of Ourém 1422–1460	Succeeded by Fernando I of Braganza