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This is week 2 of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. This week’s theme: King. I am writing about Goncalo Vaz Botelho, descendant of kings and queens. In scanning the list I see the first connection is Fernando I, the King of Castille and Leon (1345-1383). Goncalo is his 12 great grandson.
Not many know, and I certainly didn’t before I delved into genealogy, that the Azores Island were first populated by minor nobles. They were ordered by the Infante (you know him as Henry the Navigator). Goncalo showed up on Sao Miguel Island in 1450. He is known as one of the founders and first settlers of the island. It would be interesting to see if my Botelho’s of the 1800s link back to Goncalo.
Goncalo was probably born around 1420 in Portugal. His parents were Pedro Botelho, a High Commander in the Ordem da Cristo (the Order of Christ) and Isabel Anes Buarcos.
I do not know the name of his wife, but according to the works of Gaspar Frutuoso and Rodrigo Rodrigues, they had five children: Nuno, Antao, Goncalo, Joao, and Francisco. Amazingly, they all took the same surname: Goncalves Botelho.
I descend from his son, Nuno and his wife, Catarina Rodrigues.
According to Wikipedia, Goncalo is the founder of Vila Franca do Campo on Sao Miguel Island. It was considered one of the larger settlements. Today, Vila Franca do Campo looks like this…
By Ruben JC Furtado (Photo taken by contributor) [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsFrutuoso doesn’t say much about Goncalo in his book “Livro Quarto das Saudades da Terra: Volume 1”. He does note that Goncalo was a favorite of the Infante. He also notes that he had the nickname “O Grande”, noting that he was large in size and stature, a respected man on the island.
My connection to Goncalo is through my 3rd great grandmother, Rosa Medeiros Pacheco, who was born in Maia, Ribeira Grande, Sao Miguel Island in 1810. Goncalo is my 15th great grandfather. Think I can cash in on some of that royalty today?
3 thoughts on “52 Ancestors: Goncalo Vaz Botelho, Descendant of a King”
What an interesting post! I found your website whilst looking up some information on my husband’s Botelho ancestry. His family come originally from Ilha Sao Miguel, Azores. We are at the beginning of our journey and excited at the many possibilities!
Ferdinand I ( c. 1015 – 24 December 1065), called the Great (el Magno), was the Count of Castile from his uncle’s death in 1029 and the King of León after defeating his brother-in-law in 1037.
Ferdinand I of Portugal (Portuguese: Fernando) 31 October 1345 – 22 October 1383), died with only his daughter Beatriz as a successor. She got deposed by his illegitimated brother who founded the Aviz Dynasty of Portugal.
My question is did you mix the dates up? Because Goncalo couldnt be Ferdinand of Portugals 12th great grandson. I wonder what relation Goncalo and his father had to the Aviz rulers. Id like to find out where in-between the rule of Ferdinand of Castile and Leon and the birth of Goncalos father the surname came along. How do we know he is a descendent of Ferdinand?
I have had a hard time trying to trace my Azorean Lineage and ive finally stumbled onto something here, then i noticed the date discrepancy. This post is pretty old but if you happen to get back to me thanks a bunch
Hi Walter,
Thank you for your comment on this post. I’m not sure about the date, but I’m going to look into this. I got most of my information on Goncalo Vaz Botelho from the genealogies in the books by Rodrigo Rodrigues and Gaspar Frutuoso. Are you familiar with their works?
What an interesting post! I found your website whilst looking up some information on my husband’s Botelho ancestry. His family come originally from Ilha Sao Miguel, Azores. We are at the beginning of our journey and excited at the many possibilities!
Ferdinand I ( c. 1015 – 24 December 1065), called the Great (el Magno), was the Count of Castile from his uncle’s death in 1029 and the King of León after defeating his brother-in-law in 1037.
Ferdinand I of Portugal (Portuguese: Fernando) 31 October 1345 – 22 October 1383), died with only his daughter Beatriz as a successor. She got deposed by his illegitimated brother who founded the Aviz Dynasty of Portugal.
My question is did you mix the dates up? Because Goncalo couldnt be Ferdinand of Portugals 12th great grandson. I wonder what relation Goncalo and his father had to the Aviz rulers. Id like to find out where in-between the rule of Ferdinand of Castile and Leon and the birth of Goncalos father the surname came along. How do we know he is a descendent of Ferdinand?
I have had a hard time trying to trace my Azorean Lineage and ive finally stumbled onto something here, then i noticed the date discrepancy. This post is pretty old but if you happen to get back to me thanks a bunch
Hi Walter,
Thank you for your comment on this post. I’m not sure about the date, but I’m going to look into this. I got most of my information on Goncalo Vaz Botelho from the genealogies in the books by Rodrigo Rodrigues and Gaspar Frutuoso. Are you familiar with their works?