81 - Who this Diogo Lopes Pacheco was, and the occasion of his leaving for Castile

Summary

Not foolishly, but rather with good reason, any sensible man who reads this book may ask, inasmuch as Diogo Lopes Pacheco was Portuguese and such a favourite of King Fernando, as some historians relate, what it was that moved him to leave for Castile and induce King Enrique to invade the kingdom of which he was a native, an invasion which caused so much evil and harm. Not only might a prudent person muse on this, but also wonder what kind of man he was and of what lineage, and also what sort of dignity and status he held, considering that his advice in matters of such moment was so readily accepted and had so much weight. Touching very briefly on these points, his descent was from Dom Fernão Jeremias, who was married to Dona Mor Soares, the daughter of Soeiro Viegas, who built the Monastery of Ferreira, and from Dom Rui Peres de Ferreira, who was the great-grandson of Dom Jeremias. From Dona Teresa Peres de Cambar was born the most excellent knight Fernão Rodrigues Pacheco, who held the castle of Celorico, when the Count of Boulogne came in as regent of this kingdom, as we have told in its place. He was the first to be called by this surname. From Diogo Lopes Pacheco, the great-grandson of this Fernão Rodrigues and his wife Dona Joana Vasques, the daughter of Dom Vasco Pereira, was born Lopo Fernandes Pacheco, who was a high noble of great honour in the time of King Afonso IV. To this Lopo Fernandes and his wife Dona Maria de Villalobos was born this Diogo Lopes, of whom we are now speaking.

His honour and status were great, both in the time of the aforesaid King Afonso, to whose Royal Council he belonged, and also later in the household of other kings under whose protection and in whose lands he lived. He went to Castile on account of the death of Dona Inês, as you have already heard, and lived there with King Enrique, with whom he shared great mutual affection on account of the wars in which he had accompanied him, both in the armies of France and in the war between Aragon and Castile.