View source for List of peers and fidalgos in Portuguese India

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{{More citations needed|date=June 2025}}
[[File:Retrato de Afonso de Albuquerque (após 1545) - Autor desconhecido.png|thumb|[[Afonso de Albuquerque]], Duke of Goa]]
The [[Kingdom of Portugal]] gave titles and created coats of arms for notable persons in [[Portuguese Goa]], including native [[Goans]]. However, these titles lost their recognition after the [[5 October 1910 revolution]] and start of the [[First Portuguese Republic]] in 1910.

These families formed the highest echelons of the nobility of [[Portuguese India]] which was a mix of  Gaunkars and warriros who founded villages, lawyers, doctors and industrialists who founded its largest enterprises.

==Peerages==

=== Peers ===

''Portuguese and Mestico''
[[File:D._Pedro_Miguel_de_Almeida_Portugal,_1.º_Marquês_de_Alorna_(Fundação_das_Casas_de_Fronteira_e_Alorna).png|thumb|''[[:pt:Pedro Miguel de Almeida Portugal e Vasconcelos|Pedro Miguel de Almeida Portugal e Vasconcelos]]'', 1st Marquis of Alorna]]
* '''[[Marquis of Alorna]] and [[Count of Coculim]]'''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.navhindtimes.in/2023/01/13/opinions/opinion/the-land-grab-of-a-militant-people/|title=The land grab of a militant people &#124; The Navhind Times &#124; Goa News|first=Navhind|last=Times|date=January 13, 2023}}</ref> These hereditary titles are currently held by the present [[Marquis of Fronteira]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mail-archive.com/goanet@goanet.org/msg10491.html | title=Re: &#91;Goanet&#93;FEATURE: Killer cocktail of prescription drugs, narcotics haunts Goa coastline }}</ref> Count of Coculim is a Portuguese title of nobility created by King Afonso VI of Portugal, by a decree of 3 May 1666, in favour of D. Francisco Mascarenhas, a Portuguese nobleman. Marquis of Alorna was a Portuguese title of nobility granted, on 9 November 1748, by King John V of Portugal, to D. Pedro Miguel de Almeida Portugal e Vasconcelos, 3rd Count of Assumar and 44th viceroy of India.Originally, on 24 March 1744, the title was granted to him as Marquis of Castelo Novo but, due to his victories in India, it was changed, in 1748, to Marquis of Alorna, a town in Portuguese India after capturing the [[Alorna Fort]]. While the Count of Cuncolim <ref>chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://epaper.navhindtimes.in/PageImages/pdf/2023/01/13/1301023-md-ga-06.pdf</ref> received the villages of Assolna, Velim, Cuncolim, Veroda and Ambelim as a grant from the king and this continued till the [[Liberation of Goa]], the Marquess of Alorna was an honorific title for the capture of the Fort, [[Alorna]] never became a countship. In the Code of Communidades of 1961 in independent India Alorna had a communidade. <ref>https://indiankanoon.org/doc/163331569/</ref>. Similar to Mayem, Goa (Abolition of Proprietorships, Titles and Grants of Lands) Act, 2014 was to solve the land title issue of Cuncolim, yet villagers are still awaiting a solution <ref>https://indiankanoon.org/doc/123549076/</ref><ref>https://www.heraldgoa.in/goa/meet-calls-for-moving-cuncolim-out-of-land-act-preview/424206/</ref><ref>https://www.thegoan.net/goa-news/cuncolim-sociedade-draws-red-lines-on-mhaje-ghar-scheme/139771.html</ref>The connection of these two titles is that they are now held by the same person.<ref>https://institutodanobrezaportuguesa.pt/titulos-de-nobreza/</ref>

[[File:Pernem_taluka_in_North_Goa_district.png|thumb|Pernem Taluka in dark blue, the Viscondado]]
* '''[[Count of Nova Goa]]'''. This hereditary title was originally bestowed on Luis Caetano de Castro e Almeida Pimentel de Sequeira e Abreu (1840—1914) of [[Panjim]] in 1864 by [[Luis I of Portugal]]. The current holder of the title is his descendant Luis Eduardo de Mendia de Castro (1943—).
* '''[[:pt:Conde de Maém|Count of Mayem]]'''. This is a hereditary title given to the Noronha family of Mayem in [[Bicholim taluka]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay.aspx?newsID=140997|title=Colonialism's Shadow Lingers over Goa Village|website=www.daijiworld.com}}</ref> The Noronha family were descendants of [[Francisco de Távora, 1st Count of Alvor]] who was the governor of [[Portuguese India]], the same family  of the infamous [[Távora affair]]. The first Count of Maem was Jose Joaquim Noronha, a [[mestico]], the grandson of Diogo da Costa Ataide Teive, one of the Maquinez, and owners of the famous [[List of palaces in India|Maquinez Palace]],  who purchased Mayem, the palace was donated by the Conde de Mayem and served as [[Goa Medical College]] at [[Panaji]].<ref>https://m.rediff.com/news/2000/sep/04goa.htm</ref><ref>https://www.gomantaktimes.com/ampstories/web-stories/tune-into-entertainment-at-panjims-maquinez-palace</ref>. Jose Joaquim Noronha, bequeathed half of his lands to his daughter's son Eurico da Silva Noronha, son of ''[[:pt:Francisco António Wolfgango da Silva|Francisco António Wolfgango da Silva]]'', director of [[Goa Medical College]]. He could not pass his title as within his lifetime Portugal had abolished the monarchy. Their lands were designated as evacuee property in 1967 which was challenged by the family.<ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/mayem-evacuee-property-issue-to-be-finally-resolved/articleshow/40529768.cms</ref> After decades of court battles with the Government of Goa, the government passed the Goa (Abolition of proprietorships, titles and grants of lands) bill, 2014 primarily to solve the Mayem property issue.<ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/bill-introduced-to-abolish-landlord-rights-over-evacuee-properties/articleshow/31497174.cms</ref>. The heirs, some of whom have now acquired [[Overseas Citizenship of India]] and others who are Indian citizens, are continuing to challenge this bill over loss of their rights.
* '''[[:pt:Conde de Ribandar|Viscount and Count of Ribandar]]''' and '''[[:pt:Barão de Combarjua|Baron of Cumbarjua]]''' The Viscount and Count of Ribandar are noble title created by King [[Carlos I of Portugal]] , by Decree of September 19 , 1890 , in favor of Joaquim Mourão Garcês Palha, formerly the  1st Viscount of Ribandar. The title of Viscount  was created by King [[Luís I of Portugal]] , by Decree of June 25, 1880.  for Joaquim Mourão Garcês Palha grandson of ''[[:pt:Joaquim Mourão Garcez Palha|Joaquim Mourão Garcez Palha]]''  the 48th Governor of Macau ( 1825–1827 ) and the 90th Governor of Portuguese India ( 1843–1844 ) at [[Ribandar]] in [[Tiswadi]].The Baron of Cumbarjua was a  title created by King [[Luís I of Portugal]], by decree of November 21 , 1865 , in favor of Ludovico Xavier Garcês Palha (1814-1871), son of Joaquim Mourão Garcês Palha , governor of India and Macau.The Garcez Palha family were [[mestico]], Tomás de Aquino Mourão Garcês Palha , 2nd Baron of Combarjua was a pioneer in Konkani and Marathi in the Devnagiri script, popularizing it and ensuring its resilience, unheard of for a noble whose ancestors came from Portugal.<ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/garces-palha-an-unsung-hero-in-the-fight-for-konkani/articleshow/66711861.cms</ref> He held the role of Inspector of Government Primary School and published a Marathi Monthly<ref>chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://irgu.unigoa.ac.in/drs/bitstream/handle/unigoa/3922/desai_n_b_2002.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y</ref>

====Goans====
* '''[[Pernem|Baron and Viscount of Perném]]'''. He, along with the Viscount of Bardez, is the highest-ranked patrilineally non-European noble in European history<ref>https://portugality.yolasite.com/vila-deshprabhu.php</ref> and the only one with an extant line. The title of Baron was given to the ruler of [[Pernem taluka|Pernem]], Vassudeva Deshprabhu, by decree of 14/6 /1878 ([[Luís I of Portugal]]). His son Atmaram Vassudeva Deshprabhu, Commander of the Order of Christ (1891), was elevated to Viscount by decree of 19/8/1893 ([[Carlos I of Portugal]]). There is succession from the first Viscount to the present day. MLA [[zamindar|Jitendra Deshprabhu]] and [[Pernem]] Municipal Council member and politician Vasudeva Deshprabhu are direct descendants. Jitendra Deshprabhu had the title re-affirmed by [[Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza]] heir to the throne of Portugal in the 21st Century. While this was also given to Viscount Deshprabhu in his life (comparable to the British [[Life peer]] as the Portuguese royal family made few hereditary peerages) his heir Jitendra had it renewed by [[Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza]] in the 21st century.  Deshprabhu was one of the largest landowners of Portuguese India and part of their land was acquired for [[Manohar International Airport]] <ref>https://www.heraldgoa.in/review/is-the-mopa-name-game-overshadowing-some-of-the-larger-concerns-that-affect-land-losers/384214/</ref>
*'''[[Dempo|Baron Dempo]]'''. Created in 1873 for Krishna Govinda Rayú Sinai Dempo, [[Dempo|1st Baron Dempo]], a wealthy [[zamindar]] and trader.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dempos.com/kalpavriksha-family/|title=Kalpavriksha Family|first=Sancoale|last=Technologies|date=October 14, 2000}}</ref> His descendant Vaikuntrao Dempo was the last member of parliament in [[Portugal]] prior to the independence of [[Portuguese India]]. His brother [[Vasantrao S. Dempo]] was the founder of [[Dempo|Dempo Mining Corporation]] and owner of football club [[Dempo S.C.]]. While the family is extant, the title is considered as extinct because it was given for his lifetime and was not renewed. The Dempo family continues to be involved  in politics and business, and is considered Goa's wealthiest family.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegoan.net/goa-news/srinivas-dempo-only-goan-to-feature-in-indias-rich-list/105266.html|title=Srinivas Dempo only Goan to feature in India's rich list|website=The Goan EveryDay}}</ref> The Dempo family was among the 10 richest in India post independence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/economy/story/19781231-new-breed-of-millionaires-in-goa-in-the-offing-823236-2014-03-11|title=New breed of millionaires in Goa in the offing|date=March 11, 2014|website=India Today}}</ref>
*'''[[St. Cruz, Goa|Baron Kenkre of Calapor]]'''. given to a wealthy capitalist and trader named Purshottam Sinai Kenkre, Hindu [[zamindar]], residing in Diu, Knight of the Order of the Tower and Sword, by decree of 3/2/1853. Decree of 26/6/1873 [[Luis I]], in his life. While the family is extant, the title is considered as extinct because it was given for his lifetime and was not renewed.
[[File:Bust of Luís de Menezes Bragança.jpg|thumb|Bust of Luis de Menezes Bragança, nobleman and freedom fighter]]

=== Extinct ===
[[File:Miranda de Miranda.jpg|thumb|Famous cartoonist from the noble Miranda family, Mario Miranda]]
* '''[[Duke of Goa]]'''. This hereditary title was given to [[Afonso de Albuquerque]] by [[Manuel I of Portugal]] following the [[Portuguese conquest of Goa]].

*'''[[Bardez|Viscount of Bardez]]'''. Inácio Caetano de Carvalho, lawyer and journalist, was born in [[Camurlim]], Bardez, on 9/5/1843 and died on 9/15/1907, of an ancient [[Brahmin]] family from [[Salcette]]. At the beginning of the 19th century, when a plague broke out, the Carvalho family settled in the beginning of the 19th century in the village of [[Camurlim]]. He was the son of Joaquim Salvador de Carvalho, one of the most eminent jurists of his time. He obtained a lawyer's license at just 20 years old, occupying various positions in the local administration and in Diu. As a journalist, he was editor-in-chief of the newspaper O Mensageiro and later of O Oriente, a newspaper that later merged into Gazeta de Bardez. In 1877 he founded ''A Pátria'', which for many years occupied a distinguished place in the local press. As a politician, he was head of a large party that, for many years, dominated the councils of [[Bardez]], affiliated to the “dynastic-left” association, founded in Portugal by [[José Vicente de Freitas]]; and then in the [[Regenerator Party|Regenerator]] Party, then under the leadership of [[António de Serpa Pimentel]]. On 8/19/1893 he was awarded the title of Viscount of Bardez.

==Fidalgos==
{{unsourced|section|date=April 2025}}
[[File:Pinto Arms.jpg|thumb|Coat of Arms of the Pintos, awarded by the King of Portugal in 1770, 17 years before their infamous revolt for independence]]
The [[fidalgo]] is a Portuguese noble distinction granted to certain [[Goans]] who were lawyers, merchants and diplomats. These Christians were considered to be included in the [[Portuguese nobility]]. The fidalgos detailed here are only those whose distinction was hereditary.
This distinction ranks above [[baronet]] as they form part of the nobility similar to the Spanish [[Hidalgo (nobility)]] while the baronet is a commoner despite it being a hereditary title. However fidalgo ranks below Baron.

=== Extant ===
*'''[[Vincent Alvares|Alvares of Margao]]'''. Created in 1798 for Pedro Antonio Alvares, doctor and descendant of [[Vincent Alvares]], a medical practitioner and chemist of [[John V of Portugal]]. His descendant José Filipe Alvares assisted [[Swami Vivekananda]] in studying [[Christianity]] during the latter's visit to Goa. These arms and position of nobility could be bequeathed to their heirs.
*'''[[Conspiracy of the Pintos|Pinto of Candolim]]'''. Created in 1770 twice for both António and Ignacio Pinto individually. The Pintos descended from the [[Roman Catholic Brahmin |Brahmin]] [[Candolim|Salvador Pinto alias Santu Sinay]], a historic figure in the village of [[Candolim]]. They were a military family who initially supported the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] government before participating in the [[Conspiracy of the Pintos]]. The Pinto family were defeated in their plans, convicted of treason and had their noble privileges revoked. The family went on to assist in the [[French Revolution]] and fight for the [[Maratha Empire]] before returning to [[Goa]]. The house of the Pintos today stands as Bosio Hospital in Candolim which was donated to he Sisters of Charity of Sts. Bartolomea Capitanio and Vincenza Gerosa by heirs of Ignacio Pinto in Pinto Vaddo. 
*'''[[Chico Monteiro|Monteiro of Candolim]]'''. Created in 1802 for [[Roman Catholic Brahmin |Brahmin]] José João Monteiro, a military officer from Candolim. His descendants are Dr. Gustavo Monteiro, the benefactor of Dr. Gustavo Monteiro Football Ground of Candolim and [[Chico Monteiro]], a freedom fighter. 
[[File:Fr. Chico Monteiro.jpg|thumb|Famous priest and freedom fighter from the noble Monteiro family, Fr. Chico Monteiro]]
*'''[[Luís de Menezes Bragança|Bragança of Chandor]]'''. Created in 1877 for ''[[Roman Catholic Kshatriya|Chardo]] nobleman ''Francisco Xavier de Bragança of [[Chandor]]. His heir [[Luís de Menezes Bragança]] was a prominent  journalist, writer, politician and anti-colonial activist. During his lifetime, Menezes Bragança was widely hailed around the [[Lusosphere]] (Portuguese speaking world) as "O Maior de todos" ("The Greatest of all Goans") and in the Indian mainland as "The Tilak of Goa". At his 25th death anniversary in 1963, the Instituto Vasco da Gama was renamed by its management to [[Institute Menezes Braganza]] in honour of his memory. These arms and position of nobility could be bequeathed to their heirs.

*'''[[Mario Miranda|Miranda of Loutolim]]'''. Created in 1872 for Constâncio do Rosário de Miranda of [[Loutolim]]. After serving as a soldier in the Portuguese Army, his father Pedro Joaquim de Miranda was the Fiscal Administrator of the [[Novas Conquistas]]. One of his descendants was the cartoonist [[Mario Miranda]]. These arms and position of nobility could be bequeathed to their heirs.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Portuguese India]]
[[Category:Lists of peerages|Portugal India]]
[[Category:Lists of Portuguese nobility]]
[[Category:Portuguese barons]]