He played an important role during the reign of King Afonso V of Portugal, when he was appointed Chancellor of the Kingdom. He took part in the king's expeditions against Castile (War of the Castilian Succession) and in the king's voyage to France. On his return to Portugal, he married "Dona" Filipa de Melo (c. 1460–1516), the rich daughter and heiress of Rodrigo Afonso de Melo, 1st Count of Olivença. They had two sons and four daughters: