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This introductory chapter surveys the literature on Portuguese nobility and situates the development of the Mascarenhas family within the broader currents of developments in Early Modern Europe. It outlines how aristocratic power evolved through service, alliances, and empire-building, while negotiating crises such as the Habsburg annexation, restoration of 1640, and Napoleonic invasions. The Mascarenhas are traced from their medieval origins to their prominence in the royal household and overseas expansion, illustrating strategies of survival, marriage, and patronage. The chapter defines the book’s thesis and methodology, presenting case studies across dynasties and the evolving empire to explore how noble families rose, adapted, and declined.

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Introduction

  • 章节

  • 发表日期：

    2026年

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  • Lorraine White,
  • Teddy Y.H. Sim

摘要

This introductory chapter surveys the literature on Portuguese nobility and situates the development of the Mascarenhas family within the broader currents of developments in Early Modern Europe. It outlines how aristocratic power evolved through service, alliances, and empire-building, while negotiating crises such as the Habsburg annexation, restoration of 1640, and Napoleonic invasions. The Mascarenhas are traced from their medieval origins to their prominence in the royal household and overseas expansion, illustrating strategies of survival, marriage, and patronage. The chapter defines the book’s thesis and methodology, presenting case studies across dynasties and the evolving empire to explore how noble families rose, adapted, and declined.