ÁLVAREZ PEREIRA, Nonio, Blessed. — Constable of Portugal, b. at Bomjardim in 1360 of a noble family. Although honored by Queen Eleanor, seeing that her government was fatal to the fatherland and detestable to morality, he did not hesitate in 1383 to embrace the party of the future King John I, making him triumph in Lisbon after a brilliant battle. He did the same in Alentejo and finally at Aljubarrota against the King of Castile, ally of Eleanor. Full of zeal for the Catholic faith, he later directed his arms against the Moorish Muslims of Morocco, taking the city of Ceuta from them. Through the marriage of his daughter Beatrice with Prince Alfonso he founded the royal dynasty of Braganza; but in 1422 he laid down all honors and riches to take the Carmelite habit in the convent of Lisbon, where he died a saint in 1431. Benedict XV, in 1918, approved his liturgical cult.
ÁLVAREZ PEREIRA, NONIO, BEATO
Bibl.: J. P. Oliveira Martins, Vida de Nun'A. P., Lisbon 1902; E. Battaglia, L'Eroe Nazionale Portoghese b. Nonio A. P., Rome 1918. Giuseppe M. Pou y Marti