Count of Ribeira Grande

The Counts of Ribeira Grande (Portuguese: Condes de Ribeira Grande) was a title of nobility granted to a hereditary line of nobles from the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, most closely associated with the Gonçalves da Câmara familial line.

Although D. Manuel Luís Baltazar da Câmara, 9th Captain-Donatário of the island of São Miguel, was created first Count, by a decree of King Afonso VI of Portugal, issued on 15 September 1662, the origins of this title date to the fall of the Count of Vila Franca, and specifically Manuel da Câmara's father Rodrigo da Câmara.

[1] Supported by various complaints, testimonies and even the defendant's own confession, the Count of Vila Franca was convicted, his family possession confiscated and incarcerated in the Convent of Cape St. Vincent until his death.

Owing to the tarnished nature of the Countship of Vila Franca, it was decided by the King to substitute Ribeira Grande for the blemished former provincial capital.

[1] The use of Vila Franca had already been a polemic decision in the first place, since Philip II of Spain had not consulted local politicians before instituting the honorific.