The
family name associated with the Counts of Abrantes was
Almeida. The Almeida clan was closely associated with King
John II of Portugal and played a pivotal role in the 1490s
succession crisis after the death of John's son,
Prince Alfonso. They strongly backed John's preferred candidate, his illegitimate son
Jorge de Lencastre, against the eventual winner,
Manuel, Duke of Beja. According to Subrahmanyam (1997: 49), Lopo de Almeida, the first Count of Abrantes, had at least six notable sons: • D. João de Almeida - 2nd Count of Abrantes married D. Inês de Noronha (a niece of
Christopher Columbus) • D. Diogo Fernandes de Almeida - tutor of Jorge de Lencastre and, from 1492,
Prior of Crato (Portuguese branch of
St. John Hospitaller). • D. Jorge de Almeida, Bishop of
Coimbra from mid-1490s. • D. Pedro da Silva - used his mother's surname, sent on king's 1494 mission to
Pope Alexander VI. • D. Fernando de Almeida - sent with Pedro on the papal mission. • D.
Francisco de Almeida - commander of
1505 expedition to India, first
Vice-roy of
Portuguese India. The Almeida clan remained the principal political opponents of
Manuel I of Portugal throughout his reign. ==See also==