Saint Nuno Álvares Pereira
Constable of Portugal who won at Aljubarrota and ended his life as a Carmelite friar
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Layperson, Religious
- Life
- 1360 – 1431
- Era
- 15th century
- Feast
- 6 November
- Countries
- Portugal
Life story
Nuno Álvares Pereira was born on 24 June 1360 at Cernache do Bonjardim, Portugal. As a young man he followed a military career. After the death of King Ferdinand I in 1383 the kingdom fell into a succession crisis, and Nuno sided with João of Aviz, later King João I.
In 1385 King João appointed him Constable of Portugal, the commander of the kingdom's army. On 14 August 1385 at Aljubarrota the Portuguese army he led defeated a much larger Castilian force. The victory helped to secure Portugal's independence.
He also built the Carmo Carmelite convent in Lisbon. In 1423 he entered that convent as a friar, taking the name Nuno of Saint Mary, and lived humbly there. Sources record that he gave away most of his lands and wealth.
He died on 1 November 1431 at the Carmo convent. The Church beatified him on 23 January 1918 under Benedict XV. Benedict XVI decreed his canonisation on 3 July 2008, and the ceremony took place on 26 April 2009. His feast day is 6 November.
Works and witness
- Sided with João of Aviz in the 1383–1385 succession crisis
- Constable of Portugal from 1385
- Led the Portuguese army to victory at Aljubarrota (14 August 1385)
- Built the Carmo convent in Lisbon and entered it in 1423
- Canonised in 2009
Saints from the same country
References
- Martyrologium Romanum
- Decrees of beatification (1918) and canonisation (2008–2009)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.