House of Sacadura Botte

Mateus Gomes de Aguiar was born in 1628, and at age 20 he sailed to Bahia, Brazil, under the orders of the 2nd Count of Castelo Melhor, who was Governor of Brazil from 1650 to 1654. During his stay in Bahia, he took part in the Dutch–Portuguese War and rose to prominence in a naval battle against the Dutch in 1651. As a result, and at the Count of Castelo Melhor's behest, he was elevated to the nobility in 1653.[4]

His eldest son, João Baptista de Aguiar e Azevedo, married thrice, to three heiresses from different families. Although he had male issue from all three wives, the heirs from each of his marriages adopted their mother's surnames in order to succeed in the patrimonial possessions of their corresponding mothers' families. In doing so, they created three cadet branches of the House of Gomes de Aguiar: Pereira de Azevedo e Vasconcelos, Macedo Sottomayor e Castro, and Sacadura Botte.[5]

Upon the extinction in the male line of both the remaining Gomes de Aguiar lines and the Pereira de Azevedo e Vasconcelos and Macedo Sottomayor e Castro cadet branches, the Sacadura Botte branch became the main agnatic line, and the name Gomes de Aguiar fell into disuse in its favor.

In an anecdotal testament to the Portuguese Empire's longevity and extent, Mateus Gomes de Aguiar and his agnatic descendants served Portugal across four centuries in three continents. Notably:

• His grandson José Pereira de Vasconcelos, Captain-at-Sea, served and died in the Portuguese State of India;
• His great-grandson Dom José de Macedo Sottomayor e Castro, Captain of Dragoons, served and died in São Paulo, Brazil; and
• His patrilineal descendant Theodorico de Sacadura Botte was a colonial administrator in Mozambique.

A few roads in the Beira Region are named after the House of Sacadura Botte or its members, such as the "Rua Sacadura Botte" and "Beco Sacadura Botte" (both located in the village of Aguieira), the "Rua Dr. José Maria de Sacadura Botte" (located in the village of Santa Comba), the "Ponte Sacadura Botte" and "Avenida José de Sacadura Botte" (both in the village of Arrifana), or another "Rua Sacadura Botte" (this one located in the village of Tramaga).

The 16th century Quinta de São Simão da Aguieira, seat of the House of Sacadura Botte for the better part of three centuries, was sold at the end of the 20th century and is now a monument bearing the name "Sacadura Botte Manor".

Main gate of Quinta da Bica

Likewise, the Quinta da Bica, seat of the cadet branch of the House of Sacadura Botte known as the Viscounts of Sardoal, is a Grade 2 Listed Building (Imóvel de Interesse Público), and is the only residential listed building in the Seia region which remains in the hands of the original family.[6]

In Coimbra, the Sacadura Botte name is still present in the eponymous palace, which was inhabited by members of the family until 1972, when it was ceded to the University of Coimbra. The Sacadura Botte Palace formerly housed the National Science and Technology Museum, and currently serves as the University's School of Psychology and Education Science.[7]

Sacadura Botte Palace

• João de Azevedo Pacheco de Sacadura Botte (1751-1807): notable 18th century desembargador, involved in many of the most contentious legal cases of his time.[2]
• João de Sande de Sacadura Botte Côrte-Real (1812–1887): one of the foremost Portuguese viticulturists of the 19th century, his work was instrumental to the creation and popularization of the Dão Wine Region.[8]
• José da Costa Pereira Estaço de Sande de Sacadura Botte Côrte-Real (1896-1961): CavTE, GCA, Artillery Colonel, World War I veteran, and Chief of Staff of the Lisbon Army.
• Theodorico de Sacadura Botte (1902-1987): colonial administrator and entrepreneur.[9]
• Maria Madalena Frazão de Sacadura Botte (1949-): distinguished equestrian, founder and former Chair of the Portuguese Combined Driving Association.

• Mateus Gomes de Aguiar's genealogy
• Mateus Gomes de Aguiar's Qualification Inquiry to join the Order of Santiago
• Mateus Gomes de Aguiar's Charter of Knight of the Royal Household
• History of Quinta da Bica
• Júlio César de Sacadura Botte's entry in the History of Science at the University of Coimbra