CASTRO (Julio de Melo de). HISTORIA Panegyrica da Vida de Dinis de Mello de Castro, Primeyro Conde das Galveas. ...

CASTRO (Julio de Melo de). HISTORIA Panegyrica da Vida de Dinis de Mello de Castro, Primeyro Conde das Galveas. Lisboa. 1744.
CASTRO (Julio de Melo de)
HISTORIA Panegyrica da Vida de Dinis de Mello de Castro, Primeyro Conde das Galveas. Lisboa: Na Officina de Antonio Duarte Pimenta, 1744.

4.º; a-e, A-Z, Aa-Zz, Aaa-Iii4; 1 grav., [40], 438 pp., 1 ret.; 205 mm.

Second edition of this esteemed biography illustrated with a portrait of the Count of Golveias and an engraving with the Coat of Arms of Portugal. Dinis de Melo de Castro, 1st Count of Galveias (1624-1709), at the age of 16 joined the forces of King João IV under the orders of the Count of Vimioso. Wounded 22 times in combat, he took part in the battles of Montijo, the fort of S. Miguel, the Lines of Elvas, Ameixial and Montes Claros, climbing the entire scale of promotion from soldier to battle general. In the fight for Fort S. Miguel, he was wounded seven times, his horse was killed and taken as a prisoner towards Badajoz, until his soldiers managed to rescue him, almost by the walls of the Spanish city. Recovered from his wounds and incorporated into the army of the Count of Cantanhede, he had the opportunity to cover himself with glory in the battle of Linhas de Elvas. In 1662, he was governor of Alentejo twice. When he was replaced in this position by the Count of Vila Flor, he returned to field service as a general of cavalry. When Évora was attacked and occupied by D. João de Austria, he once again proved his competence and bravery, especially in the battle of Ameixial. In 1663, he was once again governor of Alentejo and in 1665 he commanded the Cavalry in the battle of Montes Claros. D. Pedro II, in recognition of his merits, appointed him Councilor of State and War. When this sovereign took part in the War of the Spanish Succession, the Count was already in advanced age, but even so, in 1705, as governor of the Arms of the Alentejo, he invaded Spain and took over Valencia de Alcântara and Albuquerque. He was commander of Santa Marta de Lordelo, Santa Maria de Torredeita and others. The work, written by his nephew, is therefore important for the history of the Restoration War. Rare and treasured.