Nuno Álvares Pereira

Nuno was born as illegitimate son of Álvaro Gonçalves Pereira, the grand prior of Crato. He was legitimized as an infant by royal fiat and received an education appropriate for nobleman. At the age of 13 Nuno joined the army and due to his military talent and merrit received a knightood.

Following the death of King Ferdinand I in 1383, Portugal was involved in civili war between the forces of the king's daughter Beatrice and the king's brother, John of Aviz. Nuno supported the king's brother and following his victory he was named the third count of Ourém, second count of Arraiolos, and seventh count of Barcelos. Each title was hereditary and came with valuable lands, castles, and palaces. He continued to provide a support and serve as a military commander to John I until 1411 when the latter was recognized as undisputable ruler of Portugal.

After peace was finally restored in country, Nuno started to give his possessions to his friends, the needy, and to military veterans. In 1423 he renounced his titles and remaining wealth to become a monk. As a brother Nuno of St. Mary he served at the Carmelite monastery in Lisbon. He died seven years later at the age of seventy. In 1918 he was beatified by the pope Benedict XV and in 2008 the pope Benedict XVI proclaimed him a saint.

Nuno is also remembered as the progenitor of the house of Bragança, which later ruled Portugal (1640-1910) and Brazil (1815-1889).