Nuno Álvares Pereira (1360? – 1431)

Nuno Álvares Pereira was a Portuguese knight, a natural son of the Prior of the Military Order of the Hospital. He was educated according to the ideals of medieval chivalry.

At the age of 13, he was presented at court, where his qualities and military genius soon became evident. He became a squire to Queen Leonor Teles. At the age of 16, by order of his father and despite his resistance, he married Leonor Alvim – a lady with great lands – with whom he had three children, including Beatriz – who married Afonso, the 1st Duke of Braganza, the natural son of King João I.

During the crisis of 1383 – caused by the death without direct descendants of King Fernando – Nuno Álvares Pereira took the command of the Portuguese army and inflicted heavy defeats on the Spaniards at Atoleiros and Aljubarrota, thus ensuring the independence of the country and of the crown for João I. In 1385, at the Cortes of Coimbra, the Master of Avis was proclaimed king of Portugal and Nuno Álvares Pereira was appointed Constable of the Kingdom.

He participated in the conquest of Ceuta in 1415. In 1422, he divided his titles and possessions among his grandchildren. In 1423, he professed in the Convent of Carmo (Lisboa), which he had helped to build, taking the name of Nuno de Santa Maria. He spent the last years of his life there, devoted to penance and serving the poor.

He died in 1431 and is currently buried in the Church of the Holy Constable in Lisboa. He was beatified on January 23, 1918 – by Pope Benedict XV – and canonized on April 26, 2009 – by Pope Benedict XVI. Saint Nuno Álvares Pereira is venerated on the 6th of November.