Portuguese Nobility

[Elsa M.]

A few nobles (attending last week's gala):

Baron of Horta e Costa and Diana Polignac de Barros
Baron Miguel António Igrejas Horta e Costa (*1948) accompanied by the widow of the Italian Count of Nigra, D.ª Diana Isabel de Polignac Mascarenhas de Barros (*1954).

Count and Countess of Albuquerque
D. Augusto Duarte de Andrade Albuquerque Bettencourt de Ataíde (*1965) is the 4th Count of Albuquerque. He's married to the 8th Countess of Azambuja, D.ª Maria Joana Aouad de Mendoça de Siqueira (*1966).

Count and Countess of Calheiros with their son, Francisco
Francisco da Silva de Calheiros e Menezes (*1950) is the 3th Count of Calheiros. He's married to Maria do Rosário Duarte de Sousa Coutinho (*1954).

D. Sebastião de Herédia and his wife, Luísa Albuquerque Bettencourt de Athayde
D. Sebastião Augusto de Castro Curvello de Herédia (*1964) is the eldest brother of the Duchess of Bragança. He's married to Luísa Ana de Andrade Albuquerque Bettencourt de Athayde (*1971).

D. Afonso de Herédia
D. Afonso Miguel de Herédia (*1977) is the youngest brother of the Duchess of Bragança.

[Regina]

Originally Posted by Elsa M.

A few nobles (attending last week's gala):

Baron of Horta e Costa and Diana Polignac de Barros
Baron Miguel António Igrejas Horta e Costa (*1948) accompanied by the widow of the Italian Count of Nigra, D.ª Diana Isabel de Polignac Mascarenhas de Barros (*1954).

Since when Miguel Horta e Costa is a Baron? Elsa, do you know when this title was given to him, or is it a family title? I had no idea he was a Noble...

D. Afonso de Herédia
D. Afonso Miguel de Herédia (*1977) is the youngest brother of the Duchess of Bragança.

Who's the lady close to Afonso?
I always find this brother of Dª Isabel a very joyful person. At least, he is always smiling and relaxed. I can't feel the same about D. Sebastião who seems much more reserved than his younger brother. Dª Isabel has another brother, Manuel. Does anyone has a picture of him?

[Elsa M.]

Originally Posted by Regina

Since when Miguel Horta e Costa is a Baron? Elsa, do you know when this title was given to him, or is it a family title? I had no idea he was a Noble...

The correct title is Baron of Santa Comba Dão. It runs in the family since 1825.
Here's an article (in English) about his profile:
British-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce

Originally Posted by Regina

Who's the lady close to Afonso?

The photo caption says she's Christiane Neuvy... have no idea who the lady is.

Originally Posted by Regina

Dª Isabel has another brother, Manuel. Does anyone has a picture of him?

Only these old ones, from the wedding in 1995:
ImageShack - Hosting :: 187iq.jpg
http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums...5&d=1111775562

[Regina]

Originally Posted by Elsa M.

The correct title is Baron of Santa Comba Dão. It runs in the family since 1825.
Here's an article (in English) about his profile:
British-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce

Well, here at TRF we are always learning. Who would tell that Santa Comba has a Baron? I was quite surprised. Thanks Elsa, for the reply.

Only these old ones, from the wedding in 1995:
ImageShack - Hosting :: 187iq.jpg
http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums...5&d=1111775562

Manuel is quite different from the other brothers. I find a lot of physical similarities between Isabel and Afonso. Manuel reminds me the actor Sean Penn.

[Elsa M.]

SIC Online


Next Sunday, 9:00 PM, SIC television is airing a reportage about some of the Portuguese nobles. Among those, the piece will focous on the Duchess of Cadaval (D. Diana Mariana Vitória Álvares Pereira de Melo), the Count of Albuquerque (D. Augusto Duarte de Andrade Albuquerque Bettencourt de Athayde), the Marquis of Abrantes (D. José Maria da Piedade de Lencastre e Távora) and the Marquis of Fronteira (D. Fernando José Fernandes Costa Mascarenhas).


According to genealogists, more than 300.000 Portuguese men and women descend from noble families and about 500 noble titles are recognized by the Institute of the Nobility (an entity that was created by the current Duke of Bragança), althouth they're not recognized by the State since the Republic was proclamed, almost 100 years ago.

[Elsa M.]

Originally Posted by Elsa M.

Next Sunday, 9:00 PM, SIC television is airing a reportage about some of the Portuguese nobles.

A video of the whole reportage is available here:

SIC Online

[tdarlene]

Originally Posted by Elsa M.

A video of the whole reportage is available here:

SIC Online

Thank you very much Elsa.

[JSP]

Originally Posted by Regina

A friend of mine sent me this Interview with D. Rosário Poidimani.

< ed Warren: defamatory statement >

He approached Hilda Toledano aka Maria Pia de Bragança and promised to pay her an allowance if she would make him her "successor".

The old lady agreed, but he paid her a very small part of the agreement.

Not satisfied with that, he decided to strenghten his cause pretending he is a descendant of Infante D.Afonso - King D.Carlos'brother who died in exile near Naples.

He is only interested in selling titles and decorations and do everything he can to damage D.Duarte's reputation.

The man is a fraud !

[Menarue]

There is a saying in Portugal that "one cannot sell one´s coat of arms" (brasão) and in this case I think we should say that one cannot sell a throne, especially if the seller has no legitimate right to that throne, a throne which incidentally doesn´t exist and hasn´t since the beginning of the republic.

[Regina]

Rosario doesn't care for Portugal, why would he? He cares for himself and his interests. The only thing he is interested are the benefits he would get if the Government recognized him as the Head of the House of Braganza... something that won't happen for obvious reasons.

But I don't take him too seriously since he doesnt have a change to reach anything. I still think he seems to be a smart man and he does have a nice figure, IMO.

We can never be sure if he paid an allowance to Maria Pia. Maybe the old lady really liked him and decided to adopt him as her son... It's kinda weird but it's possible. But IMO it doesn't matter if she had maternal feelings for him or not... Poidimani has no chances. He is only the adopted son of D. Carlos' illegitimated daughter.