Infantas of Portugal, Queens of Spain

[Elsa M.]

A Esfera dos Livros

Marsilio Cassotti - Infantas de Portugal, Rainhas de Espanha, Lisboa, Esfera dos Livros, 2007.


The book studies the eleven Infantas of Portugal who had been Queens of the Spanish kingdoms, between 1165 and 1816.

Here is an interview with the author, Marsilio Cassotti:
DN Online: "De Portugal, bons casamentos..."


While studying the history of Castile, the author realised that many of the Spanish queens were from Portugal; it was the nationality that reached the throne the most: eleven Portuguese princesses had been queens in the Spanish kingdoms.

We are talking of women like Dona Urraca (daughter of Afonso Henriques, who in spite of the good relationship with her husband, had to get separated, under orders of the Pope), Infanta Maria (who helped her husband to win the battle of Salado), Infanta Beatriz (who was in the origin of the battle of Aljubarrota), infanta Joana (who had to marry a supposedly homosexual prince), two strong characters who shared the same name (Isabel) and were famous for raising their own children (Isabel the Catholic and Felipe II), ending up with Infanta Maria Isabel de Bragança, who ordered the foundation of the Prado Museum and died due to a commanded caesarian, ordered by her own husband.

The author confesses that the history of Portugal is a gold mine of personages and situations. The queens, especially the medieval ones, are fascinating and these women had a personality that no one can even imagine.

[Elsa M.]

O Primeiro de Janeiro

"During 700 years, several events had taken place in Portugal and Spain, due to the narrow relation established by these princesses" - says Marsilio Cassotti. It's the case, among others, of the creation of the monasteries of Lorvão and Arouca, the establishment of the border with Castile (the eldest one, in the whole the Europe) or the foundation of the Prado Museum, currently one of most important museums in the world.

In the origin of everything, there were these women, who had always had "great importance, from the strategical point of view", since they contributed with their marriages to the consolidation of the Spanish monarchy and of the kingdom of Portugal.

Urraca, Teresa, Mafalda, Constança, Maria, Beatriz, Isabel of Portugal and Empress Isabel, Joana, Bárbara and Isabel de Bragança are now remembered in a book that enriches the Iberian history, since "these Portuguese Infantas were Queens of great value for Spain", as they contributed to enrich the Spanish culture as we know it. From musicians (as Domenico Scarlatti) to painters (as Domingos Sequeira), the Portuguese Princesses took many of these masters in their "luggage", thus enriching the Spanish culture.

[Elsa M.]

An excellent reading of this book can be found here:
[e-Cultura.pt] Destaques