Lopo de Almeida, 1.º conde de Abrantes

Lopo de Almeida (1416–1486) was the first Count of Abrantes bestowed with the title on June 13, 1476 by King D. Afonso V of Portugal. Biography Fidalgo of the Portuguese court during the reigns of kings D. Afonso V and D. João II, he was a knight, diplomat, Finance Minister, businessman and benefactor, beyond Mayor of Abrantes, Punhete, Amêndoa, the castle of Torres Novas, lord of Sardoal and Mação and member of the Royal Counsil, governor of the lands of the Queen and other high roles on the Portuguese Court. Lopo de Almeida was a grandson of Fernão Álvares de Almeida, knight of Avis and a son of Diogo Fernandes de Almeida, both very important fidalgos of the Portuguese Court. During his lifetime, D. Lopo provided several services to Country and Crown. In 1451 he accompanied infanta D. Leonor, older sister of king D. Afonso V, to Rome, where she married Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor. In this trip he wrote a series of letters to the king, which he sent one every month, describing the journey, the people and the landscape, which were edited for the first time in 1739.