Duke of Victoria

Coat of arms of the British Dukes of Wellington, also Dukes of Victoria

Duque da Vitória (officially translated as Duke of Victoria[1] and literally translated as Duke of the Victory) is a Portuguese title of nobility retained by the Duke of Wellington.

The title was created by Prince Regent John of Portugal (later King John VI) on 18 December 1812 to honour the British General Arthur Wellesley, who was the general commander of the armies that eventually defeated the troops of Emperor Napoleon I of France in the Peninsular War. It is the only time that a Portuguese dukedom was granted to a foreigner.

Arthur Wellesley had already received the Portuguese titles Conde de Vimeiro (Count of Vimeiro, 18 October 1811) and Marquês de Torres Vedras (Marquis of Torres Vedras, August 1812), which became subsidiary titles to that of Duque da Vitória. He also received the British peerage title Duke of Wellington, that in addition to other titles and honours from the United Kingdom, Spain and Netherlands. All these titles were passed to his heirs until the present day.

Dukes of Victoria since 1812

Pretenders

With the end of the Portuguese monarchy in 1910, all titles of Portuguese nobility were abolished. Since then, all descendants of Portuguese nobility are only claimants to their previous titles.

The heir apparent is the present holder's son Arthur Gerald Wellesley, whose heir apparent is his son Arthur Darcy Wellesley.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Issue 21388". London Gazette. 6 December 1852. pp. 3563,3564.
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