Marquis of Arronches

House of Miranda Tavares
Titles Marquis de Arronches
Duque de Lafões
Conde de Miranda de Corvo
Visconde de Miranda Corvo
Founded 1674
Current head D. Aires Manuel, Marquis de Arronches, Conde de Miranda de Corvo
Cadet branches Casa de Sousa Tavares

The noble title of Marquis de Arronches was created on 27 April 1674 by D. Afonso VI of Portugal for Henrique de Sousa Tavares, 3º conde de Miranda do Corvo. The heir presumptive to the title is the only male descendant of the family, D. Pedro Miguel Vasques Milhinhos, who due to primogeniture will be the only one eligible to succeed D. Aires Manuel to the title.

History

Following the departure of several nobles and members of the court to Spain, much land and territory and goods, from the North of Portugal to the Alentejo regions were left behind. D. Henrique de Sousa Tavares was a Count and was forced to flee to Spain with his counter-parts. There, he did many a favour for the Portuguese King as well as providing support to several nobleman. In recognition of these services and to ensure the continuation of the Portuguese nobility the titles of Duke de Lafões and Marquis de Arronches were created.

Following the death of D .João Carlos de Bragança e Ligne de Sousa Tavares Mascarenhas da Silva (1719-1806), 2º Duke de Lafões e 8º Count de Miranda do Corvo, his eccentric, hedonistic life as well as his spending habits, led to the sale of the majority of the family's properties and goods. Following the payment of the family debts, the image of the title fell into disuse due to the stigmas associated with it as well as due to the creation of the Portuguese Republic, which led to the end of titles being recognised legally.

Present Day Usage

Following an extensive of the history of the Miranda/Tavares Clan by the family, the title has been brought back to usage by the present holder D. Aires Manuel Tavares Marques, 10º Marquis de Arronches, as well as his mother Dowager Countess Isabel Miranda. Aires is a senior civil servant at the Ministry of Defence, following his father's footsteps who was a commander in the Portuguese Air Force and died in an airplane crash when he was little. Although the title has not been formally and legally recognised by the Duke of Braganza, due to contentions that the Duke even has powers to do so it has been used informally by the family for certain purposes.

The direct heir to the title, as D. Aires has had only two daughters, is found in D. Paulo Augusto Tavares Milhinhos, Visconde de Miranda de Corvo, who is a first cousin of D.Aires. He has made it known that he will abdicate this title in favour of his only son D. Pedro Miguel Vasques Milhinhos, therefore making him D.Aires' direct successor.

Born in May 1996, D. Pedro Miguel is the first heir presumptive to the Marquis de Arronches and to the Count de Miranda de Corvo who does not have Miranda or Tavares in his surname (both of which are the original names of the family and its house). Following completion of his studies in International Schools in Portugal and at Harrow School in London, D. Pedro Miguel has now proceeded to study for his Bachelor's degree at the University of Leeds, in the United Kingdom.

List of Successions

Titulares
  1. D. Henrique de Sousa Tavares (1626-1706), 3º conde de Miranda do Corvo e 28º senhor da Casa de Sousa
  2. Dona Mariana Luisa Francisca de Sousa Tavares Mascarenhas e Silva (1672-1743), 5ª condessa de Miranda do Corvo e 29ª senhora da Casa de Sousa; neta do predecessor
  3. D. Pedro Henrique de Bragança (1718-1743), 1º duque de Lafões e 7ª conde de Miranda do Corvo; neto do predecessora
  4. D.João Carlos de Bragança e Ligne de Sousa Tavares Mascarenhas da Silva (1719-1806), 2º duque de Lafões e 8º conde de Miranda do Corvo
  5. Dona Ana Maria de Bragança e Ligne de Sousa Tavares Mascarenhas da Silva (1797-1851), 3ª duquesa de Lafões e 9ª condessa de Miranda do Corvo
  6. Dona Maria Carlota de Bragança e Ligne de Sousa Tavares Mascarenhas da Silva (1820-1865), 34ª senhora da Casa de Sousa
  7. Dona Isabel Miranda Tavares, 12ª Condessa Víuva de Miranda de Corvo, (1929- Presente
  8. D. Aires Manuel Tavares Marques, 10º Marquês de Arroches, 13º Conde de Miranda de Corvo, (1963- Presente
    1. Married to Isabel Marques, 10º Marquesa de Arroches, 13º Condessa de Miranda de Corvo with whom he has two daughters.
  9. D. Paulo Augusto Tavares Milhinhos, Visconde de Miranda de Corvo (1964- Presente
    1. Married to Teresa Vasques Milhinhos, Viscondessa de Miranda de Corvo with whom he has two children.
    2. Sucedido por D. Pedro Miguel Vasques Milhinhos (1996- Presente
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