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Marquis of Arronches
The noble title of Marquis de Arronches was created on 27 April 1674 by D. Afonso VI of Portugal for Henrique de Sousa Tavares, 3º conde de Miranda do Corvo. The heir presumptive to the title is the only male descendant of the family, D. Pedro Vasques Milhinhos, who due to primogeniture will be the only one eligible to succeed D. Aires Manuel to the title.[citation needed] HistoryFollowing the departure of several nobles and members of the Portuguese court to Spain, lands and goods from northern Portugal to the Alentejo regions were left behind. Among those forced to flee to Spain was D. Henrique de Sousa Tavares, a count. There, he performed favours for the king, also providing support for several noblemen. In recognition of these services and to ensure continuation of the Portuguese nobility the titles of Duke de Lafões and Marquis de Arronches were created.[citation needed] Following the death of D. João Carlos de Bragança e Ligne de Sousa Tavares Mascarenhas da Silva (1719-1806), 2º Duke de Lafões e 8º Count de Miranda do Corvo, his eccentric, hedonistic life and his spending habits led to sale of most of the family's properties and goods. Following payment of family debts, the title fell into disuse due to stigma associated with it, as well as the creation of the Portuguese Republic which ended legal recognition of titles of nobility. Recent usageFollowing an extensive review of the history of the Miranda/Tavares clan by the family the title has been brought back into usage by the present holder, D. Aires Manuel Tavares Marques, 10º Marquis de Arronches, as well as his mother, Dowager Countess Isabel Miranda. Aires is a senior civil servant at the Ministry of Defence, following in the footsteps of his father, a former commander in the Portuguese Air Force who died in an airplane crash during his son's youth. Although the title has not been formally recognised by the Duke of Braganza, due to dispute over the Dukes' authority to do so, the title has been used informally by the family for certain purposes.[citation needed] The direct heir to the title (as D. Aires has two daughters but no sons) is found in D. Paulo Augusto Tavares Milhinhos, Visconde de Miranda de Corvo,[citation needed] who is a first cousin of D.Aires. The third in line to the family's titles is his only son, D. Pedro Vasques Milhinhos. Born in May 1996, D. Pedro Miguel is the first heir presumptive to the Marquis de Arronches and the Count de Miranda de Corvo titles who does not have Miranda or Tavares in his surname (both of which are the original names of the family). Following completion of his studies in Portugal and at Harrow School in London, D. Pedro has undertaken study at the University of Leeds and the London School of Economics in the United Kingdom. D.Pedro lives and works in London.  Successors
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