João Afonso Telo (died May 1304), was the 4th Lord of Albuquerque and the 1st

Count of Barcelos Count of Barcelos (in Portuguese ''Conde de Barcelos'') is a title of nobility, the first to be granted in Portugal. It was created in 1298 by king Denis I and initially it was a non hereditary title, although most of the holders belonged to the ...

Family origins

João Afonso Telo was the son of Rodrigo Anes de Meneses, 3rd Lord of Albuquerque, and Teresa Martins de Soverosa, daughter of Martim Gil de Soverosa and Inés Fernández de Castro His paternal grandparents were João Afonso Telo, 2nd Lord of Albuquerque, and his wife Elvira González Girón.

Life

A Castilian and Portuguese nobleman, he returned to Portugal, the birthplace of his parents, where he served King Denis as his '' mordomo-mor'' and was entrusted with important diplomatic missions as the king’s ambassador and trusted advisor. A member of the '' curia regis'', he confirmed many royal charters. In March 1279, he confirmed the

fuero (), (), () or () is a Spanish legal term and concept. The word comes from Latin , an open space used as a market, tribunal and meeting place. The same Latin root is the origin of the French terms and , and the Portuguese terms and ; all ...

s of Alfaiates and in 1297 played a key role in the negotiations prior to the signing of the

Treaty of Alcañices The Treaty of Alcañices ( pt, Tratado de Alcanizes; es, Tratado de Alcañices) was made in Alcañices between King Denis of Portugal and King Fernando IV of Castile in 1297. Denis was the grandson of King Alfonso X of Castile and essentially an ...

. He was named the first Count of Barcelos on 8 May 1298 by King Denis who in 1302 appointed him ambassador to Castile. He executed his last will on 5 May 1304 and probably died in the same month.

Marriage and issue

He married Teresa Sánchez, an illegitimate daughter of King

Sancho IV of Castile Sancho IV of Castile (12 May 1258 – 25 April 1295) called the Brave (''el Bravo''), was the king of Castile, León and Galicia from 1284 to his death. Following his brother Ferdinand's death, he gained the support of nobles that ...

. Two daughters were born of this marriage: * Teresa Martins Telo (died after 1341), was the 5th Lady of Albuquerque and the wife of

Afonso Sanches Alphons (Latinized ''Alphonsus'', ''Adelphonsus'', or ''Adefonsus'') is a male given name recorded from the 8th century (Alfonso I of Asturias, r. 739–757) in the Christian successor states of the Visigothic kingdom in the Iberian peninsula. ...

, an illegitimate son of King Denis of Portugal and Aldonça Rodrigues Talha. She and her husband founded the Monastery of Santa Clara in

Vila do Conde Vila do Conde (, ; "the Count's Town") is a municipality in the Norte Region of Portugal. The population in 2011 was 79,533, in an area of 149.03 km². The urbanized area of Vila do Conde, which includes the parishes of Vila do Conde, Azurar ...

in 1318. They had one son

João Afonso de Albuquerque João Afonso de Albuquerque, (28 September 1354), Juan Alfonso de Alburquerque in Spanish and nicknamed "o do Ataúde", 6th Lord of Alburquerque, was a member of the highest ranks of the nobility of the Kingdom of Portugal, an astute politician, ...

, ''mayordomo mayor'' of King

Peter of Castile Peter ( es, Pedro; 30 August 133423 March 1369), called the Cruel () or the Just (), was King of Castile and León from 1350 to 1369. Peter was the last ruler of the main branch of the House of Ivrea. He was excommunicated by Pope Urban V for ...

who is suspected of having him poisoned in 1354. * Violante Sanches Telo (died before November 1312), the wife of Martim Gil de Riba de Vizela who was named 2nd Count of Barcelos on 15 October 1304 and was the ''

alférez In medieval Iberia, an ''alférez'' (, ) or ''alferes'' (, ) was a high-ranking official in the household of a king or magnate. The term is derived from the Arabic ('' al-fāris''), meaning "horseman" or "cavalier", and it was commonly Latinised ...

'' of King Denis.

Notes

References

Bibliography

* * * , * {{DEFAULTSORT:Telo, João Afonso, 1st Count of Barcelos 13th-century births 1304 deaths 13th-century Portuguese people Medieval Portugal Portuguese nobility