Marquis of Castelo Rodrigo

Marquis of Castelo Rodrigo (Portuguese: Marquês de Castelo Rodrigo) is a hereditary title of Spanish nobility, accompanied by the dignity of Grandee. Originally, it was a title of Portuguese nobility. The title was created by Philip III of Spain (II of Portugal) on 27 December 1598 for Dom Cristóvão de Moura, 1st Count of Castelo Rodrigo. The Moura family claimed its origin from the re-conquest of Moura (Alentejo, Portugal) from the Moors, during the Reconquista in 1165. In July 1621, King Philip IV (III of Portugal) granted the dignity of Grandee to the holder of the title.

Cristóvão de Moura was born in Lisbon 1538. As a Portuguese national, he supported the House of Habsburg during the Portuguese succession crisis of 1580. Moura was rewarded for his service with the title Count of Castelo Rodrigo by Philip I of Portugal (and II of Spain). His son Philip II and III advanced him to Marquis in 1600.

The newly created Marquis was appointed Viceroy of Portugal, controlling Portugal from 29 January 1600 to 1603, again in 1603, and again from February 1608 to 1612. His tenure of the office was not well received by the Portuguese and the high taxes he implemented were strongly resented. The 1st Marquis married Margarita de Corte Real, an heiress who brought the titles and wealth of the Corte-Real family, including governorship of some of the Azores Islands. As a result of this union the two family names were combined to become Moura e Corte-Real.

The couple built a large palace in Lisbon next to the Royal Palace, the Corte Real palace, 50 metres square with wings extending down to the river Tagus, it became the most celebrated private palace in Lisbon. The first Marquis died in Madrid in 1613.

Following the overthrow of the House of Habsburg, by the House of Braganza, in 1640, the family were accused of collaboration and their estates forfeited to the Portuguese crown. These included a hunting estate at Queluz near Lisbon on which now stands the former royal palace Queluz National Palace.