Dukedoms in Portugal


The highest hereditary title in the Portuguese monarchy. By tradition, there are a total of five royal and seven non-royal dukes in Portugal, out of 28 dukedoms that have ever been created. In the majority of cases, the title of duke was attributed to members of the high nobility, usually relatives of the Portuguese Royal Family, such as the second son of a monarch.
There are exceptions, like António José de Ávila, who, although not having any relation to the royal family, was given the title of duke of Ávila and Bolama.

[Royal duke]doms

Hereditary royal dukedoms

These titles were occasionally given to other infantes of the Royal Family, but did not automatically descend to their heirs:
All of these dukedoms are inherited, but only some of them are titles de juro e herdade – this meant that the reigning monarch was obliged to renew the title for its rightful heir whenever a titleholder died. Only Aveiro, Lafões, Terceira, Palmela, Saldanha and Loulé were dukedoms de juro e herdade. Some of these dukes enjoyed Honras de Parente, i.e. certain honours associated with being an officially recognised relative of the king.
These titles were traditionally granted to the Lady Chamberlain, the highest royal court office for a woman, only during her life: