Blessed Nuno Álvares (also spelled Nun'Álvares) Pereira was a Portuguese general of great success with an decisive role in the 1383-1385 Crisis that assured Portugal's independence of Castile. Later on, he became a mystic. Portrait of Nuno Alvares Pereira a 14th century Portuguese general. ... The 1383–1385 crisis is a period of civil war and anarchy in the Portuguese history, also known as the Interregnum, since there was no crowned king. ... A former kingdom of Spain, Castile comprises the two regions of Old Castile in north-western Spain, and New Castile in the centre of the country. ...

He was born in June 24, 1360 in Quinta do Bonjardim, parish of Cernache de Bonjardim, near Sertã, central Portugal. His father was Álvaro Gonçalves Pereira (Nuno had at least 20 siblings) and Iria Gonçalves do Carvalhal. His grand father was Gonçalo Pereira, bishop of Braga. June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... Events Treaty of Brétigny King Valdemar Atterdag of Denmark seizes Scania (from 1658 a Swedish province). ... Cernache do Bonjardim is a parish (freguesia) (municipality of Sertã) in central Portugal. ... Sertã is a municipality in central Portugal. ... Braga is a city in northwestern Portugal, in the province of Minho. ...

He married, at age 17, Leonor de Alvim, in Vila Nova da Rainha, near Azambuja. There are parishes that have the name Vila Nova da Rainha in Portugal: Vila Nova da Rainha, a parish in the municipality of Azambuja Vila Nova da Rainha, a parish in the municipality of Tondela This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise...

Military life

Nuno started a military career very early. He was in the army when he was only 13, in 1373, and helped stopping a Castilian invasion. However, according to his own words, his first military campaigns were no more than skirmishes on the borders of Portugal. He was an impetuous and brave young man who soon showed himself to be an excellent leader.

Later on, when king Fernando of Portugal died in 1383, with no heir besides Beatrice married to king Juan I of Castile, the Portuguese independence was again very fragile. Nuno was one of the first nobles to support the claim of D. João, Master of Aviz to the throne. True that John was a bastard son of Pedro I, but, like many others, it was a better option than the loss of independence. After his the first victory over the Castilians, in the battle of Atoleiros (April 1384), João of Aviz names Álvares Pereira protector and constable of the kingdom (Condestável do Reino), in practice commander of Portugal’s armies and Count of Ourém. He was only 23 years old. Fernando king of Portugal, sometimes referred to as o Formoso (the Beautiful), was born on October 31, 1345. ... Events End of the reign of Emperor Chokei of Japan Emperor Go-Kameyama ascends to the throne of Japan Births Pope Eugenius IV Deaths March 1 - Amadeus VI of Savoy, Count of Savoy (b. ... Princess Beatrice of Portugal, Beatriz in Portuguese, (1372, Coimbra-1410) was the daughter of king Fernando of Portugal and his wife, the Castilian Leonor Telles de Menezes. ... John I (August 24, 1358 – 1390) (in Spanish: Juan I) was the king of Castile, was the son of Henry II and of his wife Joan, daughter of John Manuel of Villena, head of a younger branch of the royal house of Castile. ... João I, tenth king of Portugal (in English, John I) (the Good or sometimes, the Great or even the One With Good Memory), was born in Lisbon in April 11, 1357 and died in the same city in August 14, 1433. ... Pedro I of Portugal, king of Portugal (in English, Peter I), sometimes known as Pedro the Cruel (not to be confused with Pedro I of Castile, also known as Pedro the Cruel), was born in April 8, 1320 and died in January 18, 1367. ... The Battle of Atoleiros took place on 6 April 1384, between a Portuguese force and a punitive expedition from Castile sent by John I. The battle took place near the population centre of the same name in Alentejo. ... Coat of Arms Ourém, is a concelho (municipality) in Portugal with a total area of 417. ...

In April 1385, João is recognized and accepted as king by the kingdom assembly (the Cortes). This strong Portuguese position for independence triggers an invasion of the country by Juan of Castile, willing to defend his wife's rights to the throne. Álvares Pereira engages in a pursuit against the cities loyal to the Castilians, namely in the North of the country. In August, he was the mastermind of the Portuguese victory in the battle of Aljubarrota, after which the threat of annexation was over. After the 1383-1385 Crisis, Álvares Pereira received from João I the titles of Count of Arraiolos and Count of Barcelos. Battle of Aljubarrota Conflict 1383–1385 Crisis Date August 14, 1385 Place Near Aljubarrota, central Portugal Result Decisive Portuguese victory The Battle of Aljubarrota took place on August 14, 1385, between the Portuguese forces commanded by D. João I of Portugal and his general Nuno Alvares Pereira, and the Castilian... The 1383–1385 crisis is a period of civil war and anarchy in the Portuguese history, also known as the Interregnum, since there was no crowned king. ...

Not wanting to give the enemy room to manoeuvre, João I and his favourite general raided several Castilian towns and continued to watch out for John I of Castile, until his death in 1390. The final peace and the recognition from Castile came only later on 30 October 1411, with the signature of the Treaty of Ayton-Segovia. October 30 is the 303rd day of the year (304th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 62 days remaining. ... Events Births September 21 - Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York. ...

Nuno sired only one daughter, Beatrice, which was to become the wife of Afonso, the first duke of Bragança. Therefore, Nuno Álvares Pereira was the, ancestor of the Braganza house which became the Portuguese royal house in the 17 th century.

Religious life

After the death of his wife, he became a Carmelite (he joined the Order in 1423) at the Convent of Carmo (Lisbon) which he had founded in fulfilment of a vow, and took the name of Friar Nuno of St. Mary. There he lived until his death on April 1, 1431, Easter Sunday. He was noted for his prayer, his practise of penance and his filial devotion to the Mother of God. April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... Events February 21 - The trial of Joan of Arc March 3 - Eugenius IV becomes Pope May 30 - In Rouen, France, 19-year old Joan of Arc is burned at the stake. ...

During the last year of his life, King John I went to visit and embrace him for the last time. He wept, for he considered Nuno his closest friend, the one who had put him on the throne and saved his country independence.

Nuno's tomb was lost in the famous 1755 Lisbon earthquake. His epitaph was as follows: "Here lies that famous Nuno, the Constable, founder of the House of Bragança, excellent general, blessed monk, who during his life on earth so ardently desired the Kingdom of Heaven that after his death, he merited the eternal company of the Saints. His worldly honors were countless, but he turned his back on them. He was a great Prince, but he made himself a humble monk. He founded, built and endowed this church in which his body rests." This 1755 copper engraving shows the ruins of Lisbon in flames and a tsunami overwhelming the ships in the harbor. ...

Beatification. Canonization procedure

Nuno was beatified on 23 January 1918 by Pope Benedict XV. His memorial is on 1 April. January 23 is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Pope Benedict XV Benedict XV, né Giacomo della Chiesa (November 21, 1854-January 22, 1922), was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1914 to 1922; he succeeded Pope Saint Pius X. He was born in Genoa, Italy, of a noble family. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ...

He was on the point of being canonized by decree in 1940 by pope Pius XII. Apparently his canonisation was postponed for diplomatic reasons (the Portuguese government itself raised some difficulties) and the canonisation did not materialise. However the procedure for his canonisation is still open and active. The Venerable Pius XII, born Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Eugenio Pacelli (Rome, March 2, 1876 - October 9, 1958) served as the Pope from March 2, 1939 to 1958. ...

Prayer

Lord God,
you called Blessed Nuno Álvares Pereira
to put aside his sword and follow Christ
under the Patronage of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Through his prayers may we too deny ourselves,
and devote ourselves to you with all our hearts.
We ask this through Christ, Our Lord.