João Galvão

João Galvão, originally João Rodrigues da Costa or João Rodrigues Galvão (c. 1426 - 1485), was a Portuguese Catholic clergyman and the first to hold the title of Count of Arganil.

Family and origins João Galvão was the son of Rui Galvão and his wife Branca Gonçalves, and the brother of the chronicler Duarte Galvão. There are two seals from this João Galvão from 1467 on which, as well as a religious figure, there is a shield with the da Costa coat of arms, which confirms that he was descended by varony from Afonso Lopes da Costa. In fact, he used the name João Rodrigues da Costa as a young man.

Career

Early career He was a Friar at the Monastery of Santa Cruz de Coimbra, receiving the habit of Canon Regent in 1448, Canon of the Cathedral of Coimbra and Abbot of the Church of São Julião de Azurara and São Martinho de Pindo. On 31 May 1451, King Afonso V gave João Rodrigues da Costa, son of Rui Galvão, his secretary and knight of his house, an annual pension of 5,000 reals of silver for his studies. On 7 July 1451, King Afonso V granted Vasco de Resende, Professor of Logic in the city of Lisbon, at the request of João Rodrigues, son of Rui Galvão, his servant, Canon of the Cathedral of Coimbra and Abbot of the Church of São Julião de Azurara and São Martinho de Pindo, granting them permission to carry a sword in both hands throughout the kingdom.

Papal Legate In 1451 he traveled to Italy as chaplain to the Infanta Leonor, sister of King Afonso V of Portugal, who was about to marry Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor. He was received in Siena by Prelate Enea Silvio Piccolomini, Patrician of Siena, with whom he corresponded on historical matters. That Prelate ascended the pontifical throne under the name of Pius II and appointed João Galvão his Legate in Portugal.

Count of Arganil Galvão was part of the expeditions to Asilah, taken on 24 August 1471, and to Tangier. On 18 August 1472, King Afonso V appointed João Galvão, Bishop of Coimbra and Count of Santa Comba, a member of his Council and already his Clerk of the Purity, to the post of Chief Intendant of the Kingdom's Works and Lord Mayor of the Counties' Bags of Beira e Ribacoa. On 3 January 1473 D. Afonso V favoured D. João Galvão, Bishop of Arganil. Afonso V favours João Galvão, Bishop of Coimbra, Count of Arganil, of his Council, Clerk of the Purity, Chief Viceroy of the Royal Works, granting him and his successors who are Bishops of the city of Coimbra licence to appoint a notary for the place of Arganil.

Archbishop of Braga In the last years of his life, he lost the good graces of the King, who was then John II, and the Pope, who was then Sixtus IV. Appointed the 33rd Archbishop of Braga in 1481, he took possession of the Archdiocese in 1482 before receiving the relevant Papal Bull, which never reached Portugal. He resigned from the Archbishopric in 1485, when he had already been replaced in the See of Coimbra.