by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2022

Maria I, Queen of Portugal; Credit – Wikipedia

The first of the two Queen Regnants of Portugal, Maria Francisca Isabel Josefa Antónia Gertrudes Rita Joana was born at Ribeira Palace in Lisbon, Portugal on December 17, 1734. She was the eldest of the four children and the eldest of the four daughters of José I, King of Portugal and Mariana Victoria of Spain, and as the heir presumptive to the throne of Portugal, Maria held the titles Princess of Brazil and Duchess of Braganza. Maria’s paternal grandparents were João V, King of Portugal and Maria Anna of Austria. Her maternal grandparents were Felipe V, the first Bourbon King of Spain, and his second wife Elisabeth Farnese. Felipe V of Spain was born into the French royal family as Philippe, Duke of Anjou, and was a grandson of Louis XIV, King of France. In 1700, when the last Spanish king of the House of Habsburg, Carlos II, King of Spain, died childless with no immediate Habsburg heir, he named 16-year-old Philippe of Anjou, Duke of Anjou as his successor.

Maria at the age of five; Credit – Wikipedia

Maria had three younger siblings, all sisters:

• Maria Ana Francisca of Portugal (1736 – 1813), unmarried
• Maria Doroteia of Portugal (1739 – 1771), unmarried
• Maria Benedita of Portugal (1746 – 1829) married her nephew José, Prince of Brazil, Duke of Braganza (the eldest child and heir of Maria I, Queen of Portugal until his death from smallpox), no children

Maria’s husband and paternal uncle Infante Pedro of Portugal, later her co-ruler as Pedro III; Credit – Wikipedia

Because her father had no sons, it was inevitable that Maria would become the reigning Queen of Portugal. However, since female succession to the throne of Portugal had never happened before, her father decided that Maria would marry his younger brother Infante Pedro of Portugal, the first male in the line of succession. On June 6, 1760, 25-year-old Maria married her 42-year-old paternal uncle Pedro.

Maria and Pedro’s eldest son José, Prince of Brazil who died from smallpox; Credit – Wikipedia

Maria and Pedro had six children:

• José, Prince of Brazil (1761 – 1788), married his maternal aunt Infanta Benedita of Portugal, no children, José died from smallpox
• João Francisco of Braganza, Infante of Portugal (born and died 1763), died in infancy
• João VI, King of Portugal (1767 – 1826), married Infanta Carlota Joaquina of Spain, had nine children
• Mariana Victoria of Braganza, Infanta of Portugal (1768 – 1788), married Infante Gabriel of Spain, had three children, Mariana Victoria died from childbirth complications along with her last child
• Maria Clementina of Braganza, Infanta of Portugal (1774 – 1776), died in childhood
• Maria Isabella of Braganza, Infanta of Portugal (1776 – 1777), died in infancy

During the reign of Maria’s father José I, his government was completely dominated by Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal, his chief minister. Pombal effectively ruled the Portuguese Empire from 1750, when José I ascended the throne until he died in 1777. Maria and her mother Mariana Victoria disliked the influence Pombal had over José I. In 1759, after a failed assassination attempt on José I, Pombal held the powerful Távora family completely responsible, resulting in the scandal, the Távora Affair. Pombal ordered the execution of all members of the Távora family and it was only because of the intervention of Maria and her mother Mariana Victoria that some women and children were spared. The guilt or innocence of the Távoras family is still debated today by Portuguese historians. Some historians believe it was an attempt by Pombal to contain the growing powers of the old aristocratic families.

Maria I, Queen of Portugal and her husband and uncle Pedro III, King of Portugal; Credit – Wikipedia

After José I suffered a series of strokes, his wife Mariana Victoria was created Regent of Portugal on November 29, 1776, and remained Regent until José’s death on February 24, 1777, when his eldest daughter became the first queen regnant of Portugal, reigning as Maria I. Maria’s husband Pedro became co-monarch, as Pedro III, King of Portugal, when Maria ascended the throne. Pedro was only a nominal king because the actual regal authority was vested solely in Maria. He never participated in politics and always left government affairs to his wife. Mariana Victoria had a significant influence on her daughter Maria and acted as an advisor until her death in 1781. Maria hated her father’s chief minister Sebastião de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal, and she removed him from his positions. She then issued a restraining order, commanding that Pombal not be closer than twenty miles to her presence. If she were to travel near his estates, he was to remove himself from his house.

Maria I, Queen of Portugal, 1783; Credit – Wikipedia

Maria I, Queen of Portugal is considered to have been a good ruler in the period before her mental instability, which was first noticed in 1786 when she had to be carried back to her apartments in a state of delirium. Her mental instability continued to worsen. The deaths of her husband Pedro in 1786, her eldest son and heir José in 1788, and her confessor Inácio de São Caetano, Archbishop of Salonica in 1788 may have caused major depressive disorder. Another potential causal factor of her mental instability may have been inbreeding, as Maria’s two unmarried sisters Maria Ana Francisca and Maria Doroteia had similar conditions.

Maria’s second son and new heir, the future João VI, King of Portugal, as Prince Regent, pointing to a bust of his mother; Credit – Wikipedia

In February 1792, Maria was treated by Francis Willis, the same doctor who treated the British King George III. Willis wanted to take Maria to England, but the plan was rejected by the Portuguese Cortes (parliament). As a result, Willis’ role in Maria’s care was more advisory, rather than the hands-on care he had given to King George III, and Willis deemed her incurable. With no hopes of an improvement, Maria’s second son and new heir, the future João VI, King of Portugal, took over the government on her behalf but he did not assume the title of Prince Regent until 1799.

In late 1807, Spanish and Napoleonic forces threatened Portugal, causing Prince Regent João, in the name of his mother Queen Maria I, to move the royal court from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro, in the Portuguese colony of Brazil. In 1815, Prince Regent João’s government elevated Brazil to the status of a kingdom, and Maria was proclaimed Queen of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves. When Napoleon was finally defeated in 1815, Maria and her family remained in Brazil.

Maria I’s tomb in the Estrela Basilica; Credit – By © José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24597402

Maria spent the last eight years of her life in Brazil, always in a state of mental instability. On March 20, 1816, Maria I, Queen of Portugal died, aged 81, at the Carmo Convent in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She was initially interred at the Convent of Ajuda in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 1821, when the Portuguese royal family returned to Portugal, Maria’s remains were transported to Lisbon where she was buried in the Estrela Basilica, a church she ordered to be built. Shortly after her wedding to her uncle Pedro, Maria made a vow to build a church and convent if she was given the gift of children that would assure the succession of the House of Braganza. The Estrela Basilica was the fulfillment of her vow. Despite her mental instability, in Brazil, Maria is admired as an important figure in the eventual independence of Brazil. It was during her reign, although through the government of her son’s regency, that many of the national institutions and organizations in Brazil were created.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

• En.wikipedia.org. 2022. Estrela Basilica – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estrela_Basilica> [Accessed 15 June 2022].
• En.wikipedia.org. 2022. Maria I of Portugal – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_I_of_Portugal> [Accessed 15 June 2022].
• Flantzer, Susan, 2022. José I, King of Portugal. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/jose-i-king-of-portugal/> [Accessed 15 June 2022].
• Flantzer, Susan, 2022. Mariana Victoria of Spain, Queen of Portugal. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/mariana-victoria-of-spain-queen-of-portugal/> [Accessed 15 June 2022].
• Louda, Jiri and Maclagan, Michael, 2002. Lines of Succession. London: Little, Brown.
• Pt.wikipedia.org. 2022. Maria I de Portugal – Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre. [online] Available at: <https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_I_de_Portugal> [Accessed 15 June 2022].

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2022

José I, King of Portugal; Credit – Wikipedia

José Francisco António Inácio Norberto Agostinho was the third of the six children and the second but the eldest surviving of the five sons of João V, King of Portugal and Maria Anna of Austria. He was born on June 6, 1714, at Ribeira Palace in Lisbon, Portugal. José’s paternal grandparents were Pedro II, King of Portugal and his second wife Maria Sophia of Neuburg. His maternal grandparents were Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor and his third wife, Eleonore Magdalene of Neuburg. His grandmothers were sisters. José was baptized on August 27, 1714, and his godparents were Louis XIV, King of France and Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Holy Roman Empress.

José had five siblings:

• Infanta Barbara of Portugal (1711 – 1758), married Fernando VI, King of Spain, no children
• Infante Pedro of Portugal (1712 – 1714), died in early childhood
• Infante Carlos of Portugal (1716 – 1736), died of a high fever, aged 19
• Pedro III, King of Portugal (1717 – 1786), married his niece Maria I, Queen of Portugal (José’s daughter), and was her co-ruler, had six children
• Infante Alexandre of Portugal (1723 – 1728), died in childhood from smallpox

During his childhood, José was exposed to his mother’s highly religious influence and the influence of António Stief, an Austrian Jesuit priest who accompanied his mother Maria Anna of Austria to Portugal, as a royal confessor. José received an education typical of a prince of the time, studying science and languages. He was a devout Catholic and passionate about Italian opera, assembling one of the largest European collections of opera scores.

A contemporary engraving depicting the Exchange of Princesses over the Caia River on the Portugal-Spain border; Credit – Wikipedia

To strengthen an alliance with Spain, a double marriage between Portugal and Spain was arranged between José and Mariana Victoria of Spain, daughter of Felipe V, King of Spain, and between José’s elder sister Barbara and Felipe V’s son and heir Fernando, Prince of Asturias, later Fernando VI, King of Spain. In a complex and protocol-filled arrangement called the Exchange of Princesses, on January 19, 1729, the two sets of princes and princesses were escorted to the Portugal-Spain border by the two royal courts, and the princesses were exchanged in a richly decorated wooden pavilion built on a bridge over the Caia River that linked the towns of Elvas, Portugal and Badajoz, Spain. Then, both couples were married in richly decorated pavilions on the same day on the grooms’ sides of the Caia River.

Mariana Victoria of Spain, José’s wife; Credit – Wikipedia

José and Mariana Victoria developed a close relationship. They both enjoyed hunting as well as music. Mariana Victoria was an accomplished singer and they patronized Italian opera singers and the theater. They were both passionately religious but despite this, José had several mistresses much to his wife’s dislike.

Maria, José’s eldest daughter and his successor; Credit – Wikipedia

José and Mariana Victoria had four daughters but there were also four stillbirths including one stillborn son:

• Maria I, Queen of Portugal (1734 – 1816), married her paternal uncle Pedro of Portugal who was her co-ruler as Pedro III, King of Portugal, had six children
• Maria Ana Francisca of Portugal (1736 – 1813), unmarried
• Maria Doroteia of Portugal (1739 – 1771), unmarried
• Maria Benedita of Portugal (1746 – 1829) married her nephew José, Prince of Brazil, Duke of Braganza (the eldest child and heir of Maria I, Queen of Portugal until his death from smallpox), no children

Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal, chief minister of José I and de facto ruler of Portugal; Credit – Wikipedia

José did not become King of Portugal until he was 36-years-old, upon the death of his father in 1750. Almost immediately, José named Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal as his chief minister. Pombal effectively ruled the Portuguese Empire from 1750 until José I’s death in 1777. A liberal reformer influenced by the Age of Enlightenment, the Marquis of Pombal led Portugal’s recovery from the 1755 Lisbon earthquake and modernized Portugal’s administrative, economic, and religious institutions. As Pombal was the de facto ruler of Portugal, José and Mariana Victoria took less prominent roles in politics.

A contemporary engraving showing Lisbon in flames and a tsunami overwhelming the ships in the harbor; Credit – Wikipedia

José I’s reign was marred by the destructive 1755 Lisbon earthquake that killed an estimated 100,000 people. Seismologists today estimate the Lisbon earthquake had a magnitude in the range of 8.5 – 9.0 on the Richter Scale. Following the initial earthquake, Lisbon was devastated by a tsunami and fires. The earthquake caused José to develop a severe case of claustrophobia. He never again felt comfortable living within a walled building and moved the royal court to an extensive complex of tents in Ajuda, near Lisbon.

The attack on José I, King of Portugal; Credit – Wikipedia

On the night of September 3, 1758, José I was riding in an unmarked carriage, returning to the complex of tents in Ajuda after an evening with his mistress in Lisbon. The carriage was intercepted by two or three men who shot both José I and his driver but both survived. Sebastião de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal took control of the situation. Without disclosing the attack or José’s injuries, he initiated an inquiry. A few days later two men were arrested for the shootings and tortured. The men confessed their guilt and stated that they were following the orders of the Távora family, who supposedly were plotting to put José de Mascarenhas da Silva e Lencastre, 8th Duke of Aveiro on the throne because of the Távora family’s displeasure that José I did not have a male heir. The two men who confessed were hanged the following day, even before the attempted assassination was made public. Pombal later ordered the execution of all members of the Távora family and the 8th Duke of Aveiro, and it was only through the intervention of Jose I’s wife Mariana Victoria and his eldest daughter Maria that some women and children were spared. The scandal was called the Távora Affair. The guilt or innocence of the Távoras family is still debated today by Portuguese historians. Some historians believe it was an attempt by Pombal to contain the growing powers of the old aristocratic families.

Royal Pantheon of the House of Braganza at the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora in Lisbon, Portugal; Credit – Wikipedia

After José suffered a series of strokes, Mariana Victoria was created Regent of Portugal on November 29, 1776, and remained Regent until José’s death. José I, King of Portugal died at Sintra Palace in Sintra, Portugal on February 24, 1777, at the age of 62. He is buried at the Pantheon of the Royal House of Braganza in the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora in Lisbon, Portugal. Upon the death of José I, his eldest daughter became the first queen regnant of Portugal, reigning as Maria I. Maria I hated her father’s chief minister Sebastião de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal, and upon her accession to the throne, she removed him from his positions. Maria then issued a restraining order, commanding that Pombal not be closer than twenty miles to her presence. If she were to travel near his estates, he was compelled to remove himself from his house to fulfill the royal decree.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

• En.wikipedia.org. 2022. Joseph I of Portugal – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_I_of_Portugal> [Accessed 8 June 2022].
• En.wikipedia.org. 2022. Mariana Victoria of Spain – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariana_Victoria_of_Spain> [Accessed 8 June 2022].
• Flantzer, Susan, 2022. João V, King of Portugal. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/joao-v-king-of-portugal/> [Accessed 3 June 2022].
• Louda, Jiri and Maclagan, Michael, 2002. Lines of Succession. London: Little, Brown.
• Pt.wikipedia.org. 2022. José I de Portugal – Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre. [online] Available at: <https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_I_de_Portugal> [Accessed 8 June 2022].
• Pt.wikipedia.org. 2022. Mariana Vitória de Bourbon – Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre. [online] Available at: <https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariana_Vit%C3%B3ria_de_Bourbon> [Accessed 8 June 2022].

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2022

João V, King of Portugal; Credit – Wikipedia

João V, King of Portugal was born on October 22, 1689, at Ribeira Palace in Lisbon, Portugal. He was the second but the eldest surviving of the five sons and the second of the eight children of Pedro II, King of Portugal and his second wife Maria Sophia of Neuburg. João V’s paternal grandparents were João IV, King of Portugal and Luisa de Guzmán y Sandoval. His maternal grandparents were Philipp Wilhelm, Elector of the Palatinate, Count Palatine of Neuburg, Duke of Jülich and Berg and his second wife Elisabeth Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt. On November 19, 1689, the new heir to the throne of Portugal was baptized at the royal chapel of Ribeira Palace and given the names João Francisco António José Bento Bernardo.

Of all his parents’ children, João V was the only one who married and had children although some of his brothers had illegitimate children. João had seven siblings:

• Infante João, Prince of Brazil (born and died 1688), died in infancy
• Infante Francisco of Portugal, Duke of Beja (1691 – 1742), unmarried
• Infanta Francisca Xaviera of Portugal (born and died 1694), died in infancy
• Infante António of Portugal (1695 – 1757), unmarried
• Infanta Teresa Maria of Portugal (1696 – 1704), died in childhood
• Infante Manuel of Portugal, Count of Ourém (1697 – 1766), unmarried
• Infanta Francisca Josefa of Portugal (1699 – 1736), unmarried

João V had a much older sister from his father’s first marriage to Maria Francisca of Savoy:

• Isabel Luísa of Braganza, Princess of Beira (1669 – 1690), unmarried, was the heir presumptive to the throne of Portugal until 1689 when her half-brother, the future João V, King of Portugal was born, died from smallpox at the age of twenty-one

João was well educated. His governess was the Portuguese noblewoman Maria de Lencastre, Marquise of Unhão, later the governess for João’s younger brothers Francisco, António, and Manuel. The Jesuit priest Father Luís Gonzaga was in charge of the education of Pedro II’s sons. He taught them military science, politics, astronomy, nautical studies, mathematics, and history. As the heir to the throne, João was mentored in political affairs by Luís da Cunha, a prominent Portuguese diplomat.

João’s mother Maria Sophia of Neuburg; Credit – Wikipedia

On August 4, 1699, when João was nearly ten years old, his 32-year-old mother Maria Sophia died from erysipelas, a bacterial infection of the skin that can spread to other areas of the body through the bloodstream. His mother’s death caused changes in João’s behavior. He became withdrawn and depressed. His paternal aunt Catherine of Braganza, the widow of King Charles II of England, returned to Portugal to live in 1693. Catherine took over the responsibilities of caring for João and remained his main female role model until she died in 1705.

João’s father Pedro II, King of Portugal; Credit – Wikipedia

On December 5, 1706, João’s father Pedro II, King of Portugal had a seizure that resulted in a stroke and died on December 9, 1706, aged 58, at Palhavã Palace in Lisbon, Portugal. He was succeeded by his 17-year-old son João. On January 1, 1707, João was formally proclaimed “His Majesty, by the Grace of God, King of Portugal and the Algarves, before and beyond the sea in Africa, Lord of Guinea and of Conquest, Navigation, and Commerce of Ethiopia, Arabia, Persia, and India, our Lord, João, the fifth of that name in the table of the Kings of Portugal.” João was now king of an empire that had territory on four continents.

João’s wife, Maria Anna of Austria; Credit – Wikipedia

João’s father Pedro II had laid the groundwork for the marriage of his son with an Austrian archduchess to guarantee Portugal’s alliance with the Habsburgs. João V continued these negotiations and finally, a marriage contract was signed on June 27, 1707. João’s bride was Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria, the daughter of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor and his third wife, Eleonor Magdalene of Neuburg. João’s mother Maria Sophia of Neuburg and Maria Anna’s mother were sisters so João and his bride were first cousins. The current Holy Roman Emperor, Joseph II was Maria Anna’s brother. 19-year-old João V and 25-year-old Maria Anna of Austria were married on October 26, 1708, at Ribeira Palace in Lisbon, Portugal.

João V and Maria Anna’s two eldest children Pedro and Barbara; Credit – Wikipedia

João V and Maria Anna of Austria had six children:

• Infanta Barbara of Portugal (1711 – 1758), married Fernando VI, King of Spain, no children
• Infante Pedro of Portugal (1712 – 1714), died in early childhood
• José I, King of Portugal (1714 – 1777), married Mariana Victoria of Spain, had four daughters including his successor Maria I, Queen of Portugal who married her paternal uncle Pedro (below)
• Infante Carlos of Portugal (1716 – 1736), died of a high fever, aged 19
• Pedro III, King of Portugal (1717 – 1786), married his niece Maria I, Queen of Portugal, and was her co-ruler, had six children
• Infante Alexandre of Portugal (1723 – 1728), died in childhood from smallpox

João V reigned as an absolute monarch, modeled after King Louis XIV of France. He never convened the Portuguese Cortes, the legislature of Portugal, and ignored meetings of the Council of State. When he made decisions, he consulted a close circle of well-informed advisers. Tristão da Cunha Ataíde e Melo, 1st Count of Povolide, the brother of João V’s influential advisor Cardinal Nuno da Cunha de Ataíde e Melo, Bishop of Targa, Inquisitor-General of Portugal, said about João’s governing style, that “he established a predominance of personal consultation over institutional consultation.”

The Palace of Mafra, one of João V’s ambitious building projects; Credit – By Pedro from Maia (Porto), Portugal CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=84752297

During the reign of João V, a huge amount of money was deposited into the royal treasury from the Portuguese colonies. João spent large sums on ambitious building projects and expanding his sizable art and literary collections. Because it was important to him that Portugal be recognized internationally, João also spent large sums on embassies to the courts of Europe. He was deeply religious, spent much time in prayer and religious studies, and made large donations to the Holy See in the Vatican. Pope Benedict XIV granted him the style “Most Faithful Majesty.”

Royal Pantheon of the House of Braganza at the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora; Credit – Wikipedia

On May 10, 1742, 52-year-old João had a stroke and became partially paralyzed. He recovered somewhat but was left diminished and much less energetic. His wife Maria Anna served as regent for the rest of his life. After a reign of forty-three years, João V, King of Portugal, aged 60, died on July 31, 1750, at Ribeira Palace in Lisbon, Portugal. He was interred at the Royal Pantheon of the House of Braganza at the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora in Lisbon.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

• De.wikipedia.org. 2022. Johann V. (Portugal) – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_V._(Portugal)> [Accessed 2 June 2022].
• En.wikipedia.org. 2022. John V of Portugal – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_V_of_Portugal> [Accessed 2 June 2022].
• En.wikipedia.org. 2022. Maria Sophia of Neuburg – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Sophia_of_Neuburg> [Accessed 2 June 2022].
• Flantzer, Susan, 2022. Pedro II, King of Portugal. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/pedro-ii-king-of-portugal/> [Accessed 2 June 2022].
• Louda, Jiri and Maclagan, Michael, 2002. Lines of Succession. London: Little, Brown.
• Pt.wikipedia.org. 2022. João V de Portugal – Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre. [online] Available at: <https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo%C3%A3o_V_de_Portugal> [Accessed 2 June 2022].
• Pt.wikipedia.org. 2022. Maria Sofia Isabel de Neuburgo – Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre. [online] Available at: <https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Sofia_Isabel_de_Neuburgo> [Accessed 2 June 2022].

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2022

Pedro II, King of Portugal; Credit – Wikipedia

Pedro II, King of Portugal was born on April 26, 1648, at Ribeira Palace in Lisbon, Portugal. He was the youngest of the seven children and the fourth but the third surviving of the four sons of João IV, King of Portugal and Luisa de Guzmán y Sandoval. Catherine of Braganza who married Charles II, King of England and King of Scots, was Pedro’s sister. His paternal grandparents were the Portuguese nobleman Teodósio II, 7th Duke of Braganza and the Spanish noblewoman Ana de Velasco y Téllez-Girón. Pedro’s maternal grandparents were the Spanish nobles Juan Manuel Pérez de Guzmán y Silva, 8th Duke of Medina Sidonia and Juana Lorenza Gomez de Sandoval y de la Cerda.

Pedro had six elder siblings:

• Teodósio, Prince of Brazil, Duke of Braganza (1634 – 1653), died at age 19 due to tuberculosis
• Ana of Braganza (born and died 1635), died at birth
• Joana of Braganza, Princess of Beira (1635 – 1653), died in her teens
• Catherine of Braganza, Queen of England, Queen of Scots (1638 – 1705), married Charles II, King of England, King of Scots, no children, had at least three miscarriages
• Manuel of Portugal (born and died 1640), died at birth
• Afonso VI, King of Portugal (1643 – 1683), married Maria Francisca of Savoy, no children

Pedro’s eldest brother Teodósio was the heir to the throne. However, on May 13, 1653, Teodósio died at age 19 due to tuberculosis and Pedro’s brother Afonso became heir to the throne of Portugal. When Afonso was about three years old, he had a “malignant fever” that affected the right side of his body and left him physically and mentally challenged. Today, it is suspected that he had a disease of the central nervous system, perhaps meningoencephalitis. Meningoencephalitis can cause permanent neurological damage including memory difficulty, learning disabilities, brain damage, and gait problems, and Afonso appears to have had those issues. As he was the second son and was also mentally challenged, Afonso was not prepared to be king.

Pedro’s brother Afonso VI, King of Portugal; Credit – Wikipedia

When Pedro was eight years old, his father João IV, King of Portugal died on November 6, 1656, and his thirteen-year-old brother succeeded as Alfonso VI, King of Portugal. João IV had appointed his wife Luisa as the regent during the minority of their son Afonso VI. Luisa remained in power until 1662, when Afonso, with the help of his favorite Luís de Vasconcelos e Sousa, 3rd Count of Castelo Melhor, assumed power. Afonso appointed Castelo Melhor his escrivão da puridade (scribe of purity), a position that enabled Castelo Melhor to exercise the functions of a prime minister and control the Kingdom of Portugal. The Portuguese government was split between a pro-French faction led by Luís de Vasconcelos e Sousa, 3rd Count of Castelo Melhor, and a pro-English faction led by Afonso’s brother Pedro. In 1662, Afonso and Pedro’s sister Catherine had married King Charles II of England. Castelo Melhor and King Louis XIV of France saw a French marriage for Afonso as a way to offset his sister’s English marriage.

Maria Francisca of Savoy, Queen of Portugal, wife of both Afonso VI and Pedro II; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1666, Afonso married Marie Françoise of Savoy, daughter of French military leader Charles Amadeus of Savoy, Duke of Nemours, and Élisabeth de Bourbon-Vendôme, a granddaughter of King Henri IV of France and his mistress Gabrielle d’Estrées. Problems with the marriage began to occur immediately after the wedding ceremony. Afonso left the wedding celebrations early and showed no interest in consummating the marriage. Maria Francisca wanted to serve the French interests but she also wanted power. She soon discovered Afonso was controlled by Castelo Melhor who had no intention of sharing power. This caused her to cooperate with her brother-in-law Pedro and his pro-English faction, and then most likely, she began an affair with Pedro. Maria Francisca persuaded her first cousin once removed King Louis XIV of France that supporting Pedro was a better way to further French interests.

In 1668, after a palace coup led by Pedro and Maria Francisca, Afonso VI was forced to dismiss Castelo Melhor who went into exile and was not permitted to return to Portugal until 1685. Pedro assumed the role of Prince Regent. Afonso VI was sent to Terceira Island in the Azores. In 1673, a conspiracy to restore Afonso to the throne was discovered and squelched. A decision was made to return Afonso to Lisbon where he could be better monitored. Afonso was taken to the Palace of Sintra in Lisbon, and for the rest of his life, he lived there, under guard and shut up in his quarters. While Pedro never formally usurped the throne, Afonso was king in name only for the rest of his life. Maria Francisca retired temporarily to a convent and asked the Roman Catholic Church to annul her marriage on the grounds of non-consummation. This was approved by her uncle Louis de Bourbon, Cardinal Vendôme. Maria Francisca and Pedro were married on April 2, 1668, after receiving a papal bull authorizing the marriage.

Pedro and Maria Francisca’s daughter Isabel Luísa of Braganza, Princess of Beira; Credit – Wikipedia

Pedro and Maria Francisca had one daughter:

• Isabel Luísa of Braganza, Princess of Beira (1669 – 1690), unmarried

As Prince Regent, Pedro ensured Portugal’s independence with the Treaty of Lisbon in 1668, formally ending the Portuguese Restoration War with Spain. He formed an alliance with England based on clauses in the marriage contract of his sister Catherine of Braganza who had married King Charles II of England in 1661.

On September 12, 1683, 40-year-old Afonso VI, King of Portugal suffered a stroke and died later the same day. His brother succeeded him as Pedro II, King of Portugal, and Maria Francisca was Queen of Portugal for a second time. However, her second time as Queen of Portugal would be short. On December 27, 1683, 37-year-old Maria Francisca died at Palhavã Palace in Lisbon, Portugal, just three months after the death of her first husband Afonso.

Maria Sophia of Neuberg, Pedro’s second wife; Credit – Wikipedia

Portugal had a succession crisis. Isabel Luísa of Braganza, Princess of Beira, Pedro II’s only child and his heir presumptive, was not married. Because of her sickly nature and the Law of the Cortes of Lamego that prevented the marriage of an heiress to a foreign prince, all marriage possibilities failed. Pedro knew he had to marry again to provide for the succession. In a proxy marriage on July 2, 1687, in Heidelberg, Electorate of the Palatinate, now in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, 39-year-old Pedro II married 21-year-old Maria Sophia of Neuburg, the daughter of Philipp Wilhelm, Elector of the Palatinate, Count Palatine of Neuburg, Duke of Jülich and Berg and his second wife Elisabeth Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt. Marie Sophia was chosen as Pedro’s second wife because of her family’s reputation for producing fertile women. Maria Sophia arrived in Lisbon, Portugal on August 12, 1687, and on the same day, Pedro and Maria Sophia were formally married at Ribeira Palace.

Pedro and Maria Sophia’s eldest son João V, King of Portugal; Credit – Wikipedia

Pedro and Maria Sophia had eight children. Only their eldest surviving child João V, King of Portugal married and had children although some of their sons had illegitimate children. Isabel Luísa, Pedro’s daughter by Maria Francisca, remained the heir presumptive to the throne of Portugal until 1689 when her half-brother, the future João V, King of Portugal was born. A year later, Isabel Luísa died from smallpox at the age of twenty-one.

Pedro and Maria Sophia’s children:

• Infante João, Prince of Brazil (born and died 1688), died in infancy
• João V, King of Portugal (1689 – 1750), married Maria Anna of Austria, had six children
• Infante Francisco of Portugal, Duke of Beja (1691 – 1742), unmarried
• Infanta Francisca Xaviera of Portugal (born and died 1694), died in infancy
• Infante António of Portugal (1695 – 1757), unmarried
• Infanta Teresa Maria of Portugal (1696 – 1704), died in childhood
• Infante Manuel of Portugal, Count of Ourém (1697 – 1766), unmarried
• Infanta Francisca Josefa of Portugal (1699 – 1736), unmarried

The Royal Pantheon of the House of Braganza, the burial site for members of the House of Braganza, at the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora. The four tombs against the wall on the right under the window are the tombs of (top, left to right) Pedro II and Afonso VI (bottom, left to right) Maria Sophia of Neuburg and Maria Francisca of Savoy; Credit – Por Alegna13 – Obra do próprio, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16664413

Sadly, Pedro II became a widower for a second time. On August 4, 1699, 32-year-old Maria Sophia died at Ribeira Palace in Lisbon, Portugal from erysipelas, a bacterial infection of the skin that can spread to other areas of the body through the bloodstream. Pedro survived Maria Sophia by seven years. On December 5, 1706, he had a seizure that resulted in a stroke. Pedro II, King of Portugal died on December 9, 1706, aged 58, at Palhavã Palace in Lisbon, Portugal. He was succeeded by his 17-year-old son João V, King of Portugal. Pedro was interred at the Royal Pantheon of the House of Braganza at the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora in Lisbon.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

• En.wikipedia.org. 2022. Maria Sophia of Neuburg – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Sophia_of_Neuburg> [Accessed 28 May 2022].
• En.wikipedia.org. 2022. Peter II of Portugal – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_II_of_Portugal> [Accessed 27 May 2022].
• Flantzer, Susan, 2022. Afonso VI, King of Portugal. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/afonso-vi-king-of-portugal/> [Accessed 27 May 2022].
• Flantzer, Susan, 2022. Maria Francisca of Savoy, Queen of Portugal. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/maria-francisca-of-savoy-queen-of-portugal/> [Accessed 28 May 2022].
• Louda, Jiri and Maclagan, Michael, 2002. Lines of Succession. London: Little, Brown.
• Pt.wikipedia.org. 2022. Pedro II de Portugal – Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre. [online] Available at: <https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_II_de_Portugal> [Accessed 28 May 2022].

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2022

Afonso VI, King of Portugal; Credit – Wikipedia

Debilitated mentally and physically due to the effects of a disease he contracted in childhood, controlled by a favorite early in his reign, relieved of his sovereign power by his brother who married his wife after their marriage was annulled, and confined under guard for the last fifteen years of his life, Afonso VI, King of Portugal was born on August 21, 1643, at Ribeira Palace in Lisbon, Portugal. He was the sixth of the seven children and the third but the second surviving of the four sons of João IV, King of Portugal and Luisa de Guzmán y Sandoval. Catherine of Braganza who married Charles II, King of England and King of Scots, was Afonso’s sister. His paternal grandparents were the Portuguese nobleman Teodósio II, 7th Duke of Braganza and the Spanish noblewoman Ana de Velasco y Téllez-Girón. Afonso’s maternal grandparents were the Spanish nobles Juan Manuel Pérez de Guzmán y Silva, 8th Duke of Medina Sidonia and Juana Lorenza Gomez de Sandoval y de la Cerda.

A childhood portrait of Afonso’s sister Catherine of Braganza, who married King Charles II of England; Credit – Wikipedia

Afonso had six siblings:

• Teodósio, Prince of Brazil, Duke of Braganza (1634 – 1653), died at age 19 due to tuberculosis
• Ana of Braganza (born and died 1635), died at birth
• Joana of Braganza, Princess of Beira (1635 – 1653), died in her teens
• Catherine of Braganza, Queen of England, Queen of Scots (1638 – 1705), married Charles II, King of England, King of Scots, no children, had at least three miscarriages
• Manuel of Portugal (born and died 1640), died at birth
• Pedro II, King of Portugal (1648 – 1706), married (1) Maria Francisca of Savoy, had one daughter (2) married Maria Sophia of Neuburg, had eight children

At the time of his birth, Afonso was second in the line of succession to the Portuguese throne after his brother Teodósio who was nine years older. When Afonso was about three years old, he had a “malignant fever” that affected the right side of his body and left him physically and mentally challenged. Today, it is suspected that he had a disease of the central nervous system, perhaps meningoencephalitis. Meningoencephalitis can cause permanent neurological damage including memory difficulty, learning disabilities, brain damage, and gait problems, and Afonso appears to have had those issues. As he was the second son and was also mentally challenged, Afonso was not prepared to be king. However, on May 13, 1653, Afonso’s eldest brother Teodósio died at age 19 due to tuberculosis and Afonso became heir to the throne of Portugal.

Afonso’s mother Luisa who served as his regent; Credit – Wikipedia

Afonso’s father João IV, King of Portugal died on November 6, 1656, aged 52. Afonso was only thirteen years old when he succeeded his father. João IV had appointed his wife Luisa as the regent during the minority of their son Afonso VI. During her years as Regent of Portugal, Luisa defended the independence of Portugal and was responsible for the diplomatic success of the new alliance with England which included the marriage of her daughter Catherine to Charles II, King of England and King of Scots.

Afonso’s favorite Luís de Vasconcelos e Sousa, 3rd Count of Castelo Melhor; Credit – Wikipedia

Luisa appointed Luís de Vasconcelos e Sousa, 3rd Count of Castelo Melhor as one of Afonso’s gentlemen of the bedchamber. However, this appointment would work against Luisa and ultimately remove her from her power position. Because Afonso was physically and mentally challenged, his mother Luisa wanted to continue as regent after he reached the age of majority in November 1662. However, shortly after Afonso VI reached the age of majority, Luís de Vasconcelos e Sousa, 3rd Count of Castelo Melhor, who was seven years older than Afonso, saw an opportunity to gain power. Becoming Afonso’s favorite, Castelo Melhor convinced Afonso that his mother Luisa was planning to steal his throne and exile him from Portugal, although there was no evidence that this was true. As a result, Afonso took control of the throne and appointed Castelo Melhor his escrivão da puridade (scribe of purity), a position that enabled Castelo Melhor to exercise the functions of a prime minister. Luisa remained in the palace until March 1663, when she retired to the Discalced Carmelite convent in Xabregas, Lisbon, Portugal. She died there three years later.

The Portuguese government was split between a pro-French faction led by Luís de Vasconcelos e Sousa, 3rd Count of Castelo Melhor, and a pro-English faction led by Afonso’s brother Pedro. In 1662, Afonso’s sister Catherine had married King Charles II of England. Castelo Melhor and King Louis XIV of France saw a French marriage for Afonso as a way to offset his sister’s English marriage.

Afonso’s wife Marie Françoise of Savoy; Credit – Wikipedia

The chosen bride for Afonso was Marie Françoise of Savoy, daughter of French military leader Charles Amadeus of Savoy, Duke of Nemours, and Élisabeth de Bourbon-Vendôme, a granddaughter of King Henri IV of France and his mistress Gabrielle d’Estrées. Marie Françoise of Savoy arrived in Portugal on August 2, 1666. The wedding took place the same day and Marie Françoise became known as Maria Francisca. Problems with the marriage began to occur immediately after the wedding ceremony. Afonso left the wedding celebrations early and showed no interest in consummating the marriage. Maria Francisca was intelligent and wanted to serve the French interests but she also wanted power. She soon discovered Afonso was controlled by Castelo Melhor who had no intention of sharing power. This caused her to cooperate with her brother-in-law Pedro and his pro-English faction, and then most likely, she began an affair with him. Maria Francisca persuaded King Louis XIV of France that supporting Pedro was a better way to further French interests.

Afonso’s brother, the future Pedro II, King of Portugal; Credit – Wikipedia

Soon Luís de Vasconcelos e Sousa, 3rd Count of Castelo Melhor and his pro-France faction were losing ground to Pedro, Maria Francisca, and their pro-English faction. After a palace coup led by Pedro and Maria Francisca, Afonso VI was forced to dismiss Castelo Melhor who went into exile and was not permitted to return to Portugal until 1685. Pedro assumed the role of Prince Regent in 1668. While Pedro never formally usurped the throne, Afonso was king in name only for the rest of his life. Maria Francisca retired temporarily to a convent and asked the Roman Catholic Church to annul her marriage on the grounds of non-consummation. This was approved by her uncle Louis de Bourbon, Cardinal Vendôme. Maria Francisca and Pedro were married on April 2, 1668, after receiving a papal bull authorizing the marriage.

Afonso VI imprisoned in the Palace of Sintra by Alfredo Roque Gameiro, 1917; Credit – Wikipedia

Afonso was exiled to Terceira Island in the Azores. In 1673, a conspiracy to restore Afonso to the throne was discovered and squelched. A decision was made to return Afonso to Lisbon where he could be better monitored. Afonso arrived in Lisbon on September 14, 1674, and was taken to the Palace of Sintra in Lisbon. For the rest of his life, he lived there, under guard and shut up in his quarters.

The Royal Pantheon of the House of Braganza, the burial site for members of the House of Braganza, at the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora. Afonso’s tomb is against the wall with the window on the top right; Credit – Por Alegna13 – Obra do próprio, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16664413

On September 12, 1683, 40-year-old Afonso suffered a stroke and died later the same day. He was interred in the Royal Pantheon of the House of Braganza, the burial site for members of the House of Braganza, at the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora in Lisbon, Portugal. Afonso’s brother succeeded him as Pedro II, King of Portugal, and Maria Francisca was Queen of Portugal for a second time.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

• En.wikipedia.org. 2022. Afonso VI of Portugal – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afonso_VI_of_Portugal> [Accessed 27 May 2022].
• En.wikipedia.org. 2022. Maria Francisca of Savoy – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Francisca_of_Savoy> [Accessed 27 May 2022].
• Flantzer, Susan, 2022. João IV, King of Portugal. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/joao-iv-king-of-portugal/> [Accessed 27 May 2022].
• Flantzer, Susan, 2022. Luisa de Guzmán, Queen of Portugal. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/luisa-de-guzman-queen-of-portugal/> [Accessed 27 May 2022].
• Louda, Jiri and Maclagan, Michael, 2002. Lines of Succession. London: Little, Brown.
• Pt.wikipedia.org. 2022. Afonso VI de Portugal – Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre. [online] Available at: <https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afonso_VI_de_Portugal> [Accessed 27 May 2022].
• Pt.wikipedia.org. 2022. Maria Francisca de Saboia, Rainha de Portugal – Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre. [online] Available at: <https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Francisca_de_Saboia,_Rainha_de_Portugal> [Accessed 27 May 2022].

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2022

Luisa de Guzmán, Queen of Portugal; Credit – Wikipedia

Luisa de Guzmán was the wife of João IV, the first King of Portugal from the Portuguese House of Braganza. She was also the mother of Catherine of Braganza, the wife of Charles II, King of England and King of Scots. Luisa María Francisca de Guzmán y Sandoval was born on October 13, 1613 at the Castle of San Pedro de Huelva, the seat of the powerful Spanish House of Medina Sidonia, in Huelva, Andalucía, Spain. She was the only daughter of Manuel Pérez de Guzmán y Silva, 8th Duke of Medina Sidonia and Juana Lorenza Gomez de Sandoval y de la Cerda (died 1624). Luisa’s paternal grandparents were Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia, the commander-in-chief of the ill-fated Spanish Armada, and Ana Gomez de Silva y de Mendoza, daughter of Ana de Mendoza de la Cerda y de Silva Cifuentes, Princess of Eboli, Duchess of Pastran. Her maternal grandparents were Francisco de Sandoval y Rojas, 1st Duke of Lerma, a powerful favorite of King Felipe III of Spain, and Catalina de la Cerda y Portugal. Luisa was descended from the Kings of Portugal through her mother and her father. She was also a descendant of Ferdinand II, King of Aragon through one of his illegitimate children, and Pope Alexander VI, born Rodrigo Borgia, via one of his many mistresses.

Luisa had four brothers:

• Gaspar de Guzmán y Sandoval, 9th Duke of Medina Sidonia (1602 – 1664), married (1) Ana de Guzmán y Silva, had four children (2) Juana Fernández de Córdoba y Enríquez de Ribera, had two children
• Melchor de Guzmán y Sandoval (? – 1639), married Luisa Josefa Manrique de Zúñiga, 3rd Marquesa of Villamanrique, had two children
• Alonso de Guzmán y Sandoval (born circa 1611 – ?)
• Juan de Guzmán y Sandoval (born circa 1612 – ?)

In 1580, the throne of Portugal was taken by the Spanish Habsburgs. In 1578, King Sebastian of Portugal from the House of Aviz was killed in battle without any heirs, causing a succession crisis. He was succeeded by his elderly great-uncle Henrique, a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who had no descendants because he had taken a vow of chastity as a priest. When Cardinal-King Enrique died two years later, three grandchildren of Manuel I, King of Portugal (1469 – 1521) claimed the Portuguese throne:  King Felipe II of Spain (the son of Manuel I’s daughter Isabella of Portugal, Holy Roman Empress), António, Prior of Crato (the son of Manuel I’s son Luis, Duke of Beja), and João’s grandmother Catarina, Duchess of Braganza (the daughter of Manuel I’s son Duarte, Duke of Guimarães and the grandmother of Luisa’s husband João IV, King of Portugal). Ultimately, the grandchild who was successful in his claim was Felipe II, King of Spain. The Iberian Union was the union of the Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of Portugal that existed between 1580 and 1640, under the Spanish Habsburg kings Felipe II, Felipe III, and Felipe IV who reigned as Filipe I, Filipe II, and Filipe III of Portugal.

Felipe IV, King of Spain (also Filipe III, King of Portugal) planned to incorporate Portugal into the Kingdom of Spain. Part of the plan was to carry out a Spanish-Portuguese marriage policy to confuse and unify the nobles of Spain and Portugal. The marriage of the Spanish Luisa de Guzmán and the Portuguese João Braganza, 8th Duke of Braganza came as an opportunity not to be missed. By bringing together two important ducal houses, one from Spain and the other from Portugal, the Spanish government hoped to prevent a Portuguese uprising against Spain.

Luisa’s husband, João Braganza, 8th Duke of Braganza, later João IV, King of Portugal, in 1630; Credit – Wikipedia

On January 12, 1633, Luisa married João Braganza, 8th Duke of Braganza.

Luisa and João had seven children:

• Teodósio, Prince of Brazil, Duke of Braganza (1634 – 1653), died at age 19 due to tuberculosis
• Ana of Braganza (born and died 1635), died at birth
• Joana of Braganza, Princess of Beira (1635 – 1653), died in her teens
• Catherine of Braganza, Queen of England, Queen of Scots (1638 – 1705), married Charles II, King of England, King of Scots, no children, had at least three miscarriages
• Manuel of Portugal (born and died 1640), died at birth
• Afonso VI, King of Portugal (1643 – 1683), married Maria Francisca of Savoy, no children  -Afonso was physically and mentally challenged. In 1668, his brother Pedro had Afonso declared incapacitated. Pedro became Regent of Portugal, annulled Afonso’s marriage, and married Afonso’s former wife Maria Francisca of Savoy. Afonso spent the rest of his reign basically as a prisoner.
• Pedro II, King of Portugal (1648 – 1706), married (1) Maria Francisca of Savoy, had one daughter (2) married Maria Sophia of Neuburg, had eight children

Luisa’s daughter Catherine, later Queen of England and Queen of Scots, as a child; Credit – Wikipedia

Spain’s plan to prevent a Portuguese uprising through Luisa and João’s marriage did not work. By 1640, taxes on Portuguese merchants had increased. Portuguese nobles began to lose their influence as government posts in Portugal were increasingly given to Spaniards. They soon realized that if Portugal became part of the Kingdom of Spain, they would lose all their power. Luisa was ambitious by nature, and despite being Spanish, she supported a rebellion against Spain, saying to her husband, “Rather Queen for a day than Duchess all my life.”

This situation eventually caused a rebellion organized by the Forty Conspirators, a Portuguese nationalist group composed of forty men of the Portuguese nobility. On December 1, 1640, taking advantage that Spanish troops were fighting in the Thirty Years’ War and dealing with a revolution in the Catalonia region of Spain, the Forty Conspirators’ plot unfolded. Secretary of State Miguel de Vasconcelos was killed. Filipe III’s cousin Margaret of Savoy, the Habsburg Vicereine of Portugal who ruled in Filipe III’s place, was arrested. Within a few hours, Luisa’s husband João was proclaimed João IV, King of Portugal, claiming legitimate succession through his grandmother Catarina, Duchess of Braganza, and she was Queen of Portugal.

Luisa as Queen of Portugal; Credit – Wikipedia

After she became Queen of Portugal, Luisa settled at the Ribeira Palace in Lisbon. She oversaw her children’s education and took an active part in Portuguese politics. Luisa supported her husband’s policies during the Portuguese Restoration War (1640 – 1648), periodic skirmishes between Portugal and Spain that lasted into the reign of João IV’s son, and ended with Spain’s official recognition of Portugal’s independence in 1648. After the Revolt of 1641 and the attempted assassination of João IV on August 29, 1641, Luisa supported the execution of the conspirators. Luisa acted as the regent whenever João needed to leave Lisbon.

João IV, King of Portugal died on November 6, 1656, aged 52, at Ribeira Palace in Lisbon, Portugal. He had suffered from gout and its side effects since 1648. In his will, João IV had appointed Luisa as the regent during the minority of their son Afonso VI who became King of Portugal at the age of thirteen. During her years as Regent of Portugal, Luisa defended the independence of Portugal and was responsible for the diplomatic success of the new alliance with England which included the marriage of her daughter Catherine to Charles II, King of England and King of Scots.

Because Afonso VI was physically and mentally challenged, his mother Luisa wanted to continue as regent after he reached the age of majority in November 1662. However, shortly after Afonso VI reached the age of majority, 26-year-old Luís de Vasconcelos e Sousa, 3rd Count of Castelo Melhor saw an opportunity to gain power at court by befriending the mentally unstable king. Becoming Afonso’s favorite, Castelo Melhor convinced Afonso that his mother Luisa was planning to steal his throne and exile him from Portugal, although there was no evidence that this was true. As a result, Afonso took control of the throne and appointed Castelo Melhor his escrivão da puridade (scribe of purity), a position that enabled Castelo Melhor to exercise the functions of a prime minister. Luisa remained in the palace until March 1663, when she retired to the Discalced Carmelite convent in Xabregas, Lisbon, Portugal.

Royal Pantheon of the House of Braganza Credit – Wikipedia Commons

Luisa died on February 27, 1666, aged 52, at the Discalced Carmelite convent in Xabregas, Lisbon, Portugal where she was initially buried. Her remains were later transferred to the Royal Pantheon of the House of Braganza, the burial site for members of the House of Braganza, at the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora in Lisbon, Portugal.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

• En.wikipedia.org. 2022. Luisa de Guzmán – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luisa_de_Guzm%C3%A1n> [Accessed 22 May 2022].
• En.wikipedia.org. 2022. Manuel Pérez de Guzmán y Silva, 8th Duke of Medina Sidonia – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_P%C3%A9rez_de_Guzm%C3%A1n_y_Silva,_8th_Duke_of_Medina_Sidonia> [Accessed 22 May 2022].
• Es.wikipedia.org. 2022. Luisa Francisca de Guzmán – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre. [online] Available at: <https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luisa_Francisca_de_Guzm%C3%A1n> [Accessed 22 May 2022].
• Flantzer, Susan, 2022. João IV, King of Portugal. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/joao-iv-king-of-portugal/> [Accessed 22 May 2022].
• geni_family_tree. 2022. Luisa Maria de Guzmán, Rainha-Consorte de Portugal. [online] Available at: <https://www.geni.com/people/Luisa-Maria-de-Guzm%C3%A1n-Rainha-Consorte-de-Portugal/6000000000307250005> [Accessed 22 May 2022].
• Louda, Jiri and Maclagan, Michael, 2002. Lines of Succession. London: Little, Brown.
• Pt.wikipedia.org. 2022. Luísa de Gusmão – Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre. [online] Available at: <https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lu%C3%ADsa_de_Gusm%C3%A3o> [Accessed 22 May 2022].