Background
He was the only son of Dom Álvaro Vaz de Almada, 1st Count of Avranches second marriage to Dona Catarina de Castro. He succeeded his father at the office of Captain Major of the Galleys by Letter of 28 February 1456.
He was the only son of Dom Álvaro Vaz de Almada, 1st Count of Avranches second marriage to Dona Catarina de Castro. He succeeded his father at the office of Captain Major of the Galleys by Letter of 28 February 1456.
He went along with Dom Afonso V to France in 1476 and, at Tours, Louis XI granted him the title of Comte d" Avranches, since Normandy was then included in the Crown of France. He had the confirmation of the title in 1476 or 1477, being designated as "of our Council and Captain Major in all our Kingdoms". The grace was again confirmed on 7 May 1478 by Dom João, Prince Heir and Regent (later Dom João II), with the settlement of 102,864 reais brancos (white reals).