António de Ataíde

Dom António de Ataíde (c. 1500 - 1563), 1st count of Castanheira, was a childhood friend and favorite of King John III of Portugal (D. João III). He served as a diplomat in missions to several European countries, was a Minister of the King and played a key role in Portugal's policies towards its colony of Brazil.

He was born in 1500. His father, Dom Álvaro de Ataíde, senhor (Lord) da Castanheira, had participated in the conspiracy of the Duke of Viseu against king John II and from 1484 to 1496 was exiled in Spain. He was invited back to the kingdom of Portugal by John's successor, king Manuel. He married for a second time after his return to Portugal. António de Ataíde was the only son from this second marriage.

He was raised at court with the Infante Dom João (later to become King John III) the heir to king Manuel I, who was about the same age. They thus became close friends from early childhood.

John III sent him on diplomatic missions to several European countries while he was still in his 20s and appointed him state councilor in 1525 and then vedor da fazenda (Minister of Finance or chancellor) in 1530, a post that he would hold until the king's death in 1557. He created him 1st Count of Castanheira in 1532.

Ataíde was one of the main proponents ofthe establishment of the regime of captaincies of Brazil and later on, in 1549, of the creation of the general government of Brazil in the city of Salvador da Baía. As a close advisor to the King he was the key figure behind the nomination of two of his 1st cousins, Martim Afonso de Sousa and Tomé de Sousa to the number one position in the colonial government of Brazil.

The collection of letters of King John III assembled and published by J D M Ford under the title Letters of John III are full of references to Ataíde and provide a quite clear picture of his role as an adviser and Minister of the King.

He left court service after the death of King João III in 1557. He died on 7 October 1563 and was buried in the Monastery of Santo António da Castanheira.

He married Ana de Távora, a daughter of the 4th senhor (Lord) de Mogadouro. They had 7 children. The eldest of the children, Dom António de Ataíde, was the 2nd Count of Castanheira.