Count of Mangualde (Portuguese: Conde de Mangualde) was a Portuguese noble title granted for two lives, with honours of Grandeza, by royal decree of 17 May 1905 of King Carlos I of Portugal, in favour of Dom Francisco de Almeida Cardoso e Albuquerque, who had previously been created Viscount of Mangualde, a title of which he was the only holder. The second life was verified in 1906 in favour of his son, Fernando de Almeida Cardoso de Albuquerque.

History

Creation of the title

The title was created in favour of Francisco de Almeida Cardoso e Albuquerque (1841–1921), who served as civil governor of several districts, including Viseu, as president of the municipality of Mangualde, as director-general of National Properties (Próprios Nacionais), as a deputy, and as a member of the Council of His Most Faithful Majesty. He was the fourth son of Tiago da Silva Albuquerque e Amaral de Almeida Cardoso, 5th administrator of the entailed estate of Nabais, and of Maria Cândida da Paixão Pinto Cardoso, lady of the House of Mesquitela; his father was also lord of the House and entailed estates of Mangualde.

King Carlos I granted him the title of Viscount of Mangualde by decree of 23 April 1891 and, by decree of 17 May 1905, raised him to count, with honours of Grandeza and for two lives. The second life was verified by decree of 17 May 1906, during the lifetime of the first holder, in favour of his only son, Fernando de Almeida Cardoso de Albuquerque (1874–1932), an artillery officer.

In 1900, Fernando married Maria Teresa de Sousa Botelho e Melo (1871–1947). As her only brother had no legitimate issue, she became the representative of the titles of Count of Vila Real and Count of Melo, and was styled 4th Countess of Vila Real and 3rd Countess of Melo.

House of the Counts of Mangualde

Fernando de Almeida Cardoso de Albuquerque, 2nd Count of Mangualde, acquired the manor house in Mangualde from the heirs of Bento José do Amaral and made it the family's residence.

Built in the 18th century, the house has a main façade with curved-lintel windows and a doorway crowned by a semicircular pediment bearing the arms of the Amaral and Saraiva families. The rear façade opens onto a Baroque-style garden with beds of ornamental plants, mazes and a water basin.

The building has been classified as a Property of Municipal Interest (Imóvel de Interesse Municipal) since 2010. It was later converted into tourist accommodation.

Connection to the House of Mateus

Francisco de Sousa Botelho de Albuquerque (1909–1973), only son of the 2nd Count and a civil engineer who graduated from the Instituto Superior Técnico, inherited the Mateus Palace, near Vila Real. From 1943 he devoted himself to its restoration together with his mother. The works he promoted included the Cedar Tunnel, the Water Garden and the Water Mirror, the last designed by Gonçalo Ribeiro Telles. He also opened the house's museum to the public in 1961. On 3 December 1970, he established the Casa de Mateus Foundation (Fundação da Casa de Mateus). He donated to it the house, the chapel, the gardens, the surrounding land, and the documentary and museum collections. The foundation was recognised as a public-utility institution in 1971. He died in Lisbon on 8 January 1973.

He was succeeded by his eldest son, Fernando de Sousa Botelho de Albuquerque (1941–2022). Fernando was a chemical engineer who graduated from the Instituto Superior Técnico, and he led the foundation as executive director from 1973 until his death. Under his leadership, the foundation created the following:

the "Repensar Portugal" (Rethinking Portugal) seminars, in 1978; the International Music Meetings of the Casa de Mateus; the D. Dinis Prize, in 1980; the Casa de Mateus International Institute, in 1986; the Artists' Residency, in 1998.

In 2021, the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, awarded him the Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry. He died on 14 January 2022. The President sent his condolences to the family, and the foundation published a note of mourning.

Leadership of the foundation then passed to his daughter, Teresa Margarida Gomez de Sousa Botelho de Albuquerque. She has continued the work of preserving the biodiversity of the estate, which covers about 30 hectares. The palace has been classified as a National Monument since 1910 and received about 113,000 visitors in 2024. The foundation marked its 55th anniversary in December 2025.

Arms

The arms of the Counts of Mangualde are a quartered shield:

first quarter: the arms of the Amaral family; second quarter: the arms of the Albuquerque family; third quarter: the arms of the Silva family; fourth quarter: the arms of the Fonseca family.

As a mark of difference, they bear a brica gules charged with a barb argent. The arms were granted by letters of 20 May 1789 to Bernardo António Albuquerque da Silva, a male-line ancestor of the counts. From that date, the family held the status of fidalgos de cota de armas (nobles entitled to coat armour).

Viscounts of Mangualde (1891)

# Name Dates Titles Notes Ref. 1 Francisco de Almeida Cardoso e Albuquerque 1841–1921 1st Viscount of Mangualde Only holder of the viscountcy; raised to count on 17 May 1905.

Counts of Mangualde (1905)

# Name Dates Titles Notes Ref. 1 Francisco de Almeida Cardoso e Albuquerque 1841–1921 1st Viscount and 1st Count of Mangualde Countship granted for two lives, with honours of Grandeza, by decree of 17 May 1905. 2 Fernando de Almeida Cardoso de Albuquerque 1874–1932 2nd Count of Mangualde Son of the above. Title verified in the second life by decree of 17 May 1906. Married Maria Teresa de Sousa Botelho e Melo, 4th Countess of Vila Real and 3rd Countess of Melo. Acquired the family house in Mangualde.

Claimants under the Republic

After the establishment of the Republic in 1910, the State ceased to grant noble titles. (art. 3, no. 3) Since then, the following members of the family have claimed the representation of the title:

# Name Dates Titles claimed Notes Ref. 3 Francisco de Sousa Botelho de Albuquerque 1909–1973 3rd Count of Mangualde Son of the above. Also 5th Count of Vila Real and 4th Count of Melo. Founder of the Casa de Mateus Foundation (1970). 4 Fernando de Sousa Botelho de Albuquerque 1941–2022 4th Count of Mangualde Son of the above. Also 6th Count of Vila Real and 5th Count of Melo. Executive director of the Casa de Mateus Foundation (1973–2022). 5 Teresa Margarida Gomez de Sousa Botelho de Albuquerque b. 1966 5th Countess of Mangualde Daughter of the above. Executive director of the Casa de Mateus Foundation since 2022.

Gallery

Notes

This article was originally translated, in whole or in part, from the Portuguese Wikipedia article titled "Conde de Mangualde".

References