On This Day: Portuguese Royal Family

[Blog Real]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

How was Ferdinand styled from his marriage until the birth of of their first son in 1837 ,Prince Consort of Portugal?

Yes for a few months it was the Prince Consort of Portugal. He later held the title of King Consort of Portugal.

[An Ard Ri]

Ok many thanks he was Prince Consort 1836-1837 ,then King 1837-1853 and then Regent 1853 to 1855.

[CyrilVladisla]

January 4, 1248 ~ Demise of King Sancho II of Portugal in exile in Toledo, Spain

[An Ard Ri]

Sancho II, King of Portugal is also buried at Toledo Cathedral,that I had not realized before.

[CyrilVladisla]

January 15, 1432 ~ Birth of King Afonso V of Portugal at Sintra Palace in Sintra, Portugal

[An Ard Ri]

At aged 6 he became king following the sudden death of his father King Duarte in September 1438.During Alfonso's minority he mother ,Queen Eleanor ruled as Regent until 1440.The queen who was an unpopular Regent was replaced by the kings uncle the Infante Pedro,Duke of Coimbra who ruled until 1448.

[CyrilVladisla]

January 26, 1876 ~ Demise of Amelie of Leuchtenberg, second wife of King Pedro IV of Portugal

[Countessmeout]

January 31 marks both the birth and death of King Henry known as the cardinal king of Portugal. He died on his 68th birthday.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry,...de_c._1590.jpg

He was born in 1512 in Lisbon. He was the son of Manuel I of Portugal. On his mother's side he was the grandson of Ferdinand and Isabella. His mother Maria was the sister of Catherine of Aragon and Juana the Mad. Maria was his father's second wife. His first wife had been Maria's elder sister Isabella. Her Aunt Isabella had born Manuel one son but he died at the age of two. Maria and Manuel had 10 children, of whom Henry was 7th born and the 5th son. All but two of their children made it to adulthood. After his mother's death his father would remarry a third time, this time to Eleanor of Austria with whom he had one daughter (Eleanor would late marry Francis I of France).



As a fifth son there was no reason to believe Henry would ever succeed the throne. His brother John became King John III in 1521 when Henry was 9. He was destined instead for a life in the church. He took holy orders at a young age in an attempt to establish some Portugese influence in the Catholic church where it was dominated by the Spanish. He would rise through the ranks quickly from Archbishop of Braga, Archbishop of Évora and Grand Inquisitor to eventually Archbishop of Lisbon. His interest was bringing the Jesuits into Portugal and having them work in their colonial empire.


His great nephew Sebastian took the throne in 1557 but he was only 3. He was the grandson of John III. His father had died from TB eighteen days before his birth, making him his grandfather's heir. Originally his grandmother Queen Catherine, Henry's sister in law, served as regent but she resigned in 1562. Henry was named the new regent for his young great-nephew. The three brothers who had separated Henry from John had all died, the last Luis in 1555. Luis had no legal children as he never married, and like Henry Alfonso had been a cardinal and never wed. Fernando was the only older brother besides John who married but he only had a daughter. John had only had 2 children to survive past their 6th birthday, Sebastian's late father and a daughter Maria who had been the wife of Philip II of Spain and died in 1545 (her only child died shortly after birth).

In 1578 Sebastian died in the Battle of Alcácer Quibir. The 24 year old was unmarried. Henry who at this point was 66 years old, found himself king.


He tried to seek to be released from his church vows. He wished to try and marry to continue the dynasty. But the Pope refused to release him from vows.

Henry would die 2 years later on his 68th birthday in 1580.


Unfortunately his heir was not clear. His only younger brother Duarte had died in 1540. And Duarte's own also named Duarte had died in 1576 leaving no direct male heir to the throne. The throne was claimed by Philip II of Spain who was elected on the agreement Portugal now become part of Spain.



The throne eventually returned to their line through a female line. Henry's niece (Duarte Sr's daughter) Catarina married the Duke of Braganza. Her grandson John would eventually succeed the throne as John IV.

[An Ard Ri]

Following the death of the Cardinal king ,Catherine de Médicis pressed her claims to the Portuguese crown which were through her mother, Madeleine de la Tour d'Auvergne who was descended from King Alfonso III and Matilda Countess of Boulogne.



António, Prior of Crato an illegitimate son of Louis, Duke of Beja also claimed the throne but later arrived at the court of Catherine de Médicis and ceded her his fabled rights to Brazil for a financial settlement.

Catherine it seems was always eager to brew mischief for Philip II or Elizabeth I.

[Countessmeout]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

Following the death of the Cardinal king ,Catherine de Médicis pressed her claims to the Portuguese crown which were through her mother, Madeleine de la Tour d'Auvergne who was descended from King Alfonso III and Matilda Countess of Boulogne.



António, Prior of Crato an illegitimate son of Louis, Duke of Beja also claimed the throne but later arrived at the court of Catherine de Médicis and ceded her his fabled rights to Brazil for a financial settlement.

Catherine it seems was always eager to brew mischief for Philip II or Elizabeth I.

I wasn't aware that Alfonso III and Matilda had any children. I thought she only had children from her first marriage.


I know Catherine supported Antonio's claim, but not that she had any claim of her own to the throne. Her support of Antonio seemed purely out of spite to the Spanish and perhaps English.


There was a Catherine with a claim, but it was Catherine Duchess of Braganza. She was the daughter of Henry's brother Duarte. And arguably she had a much stronger claim to the throne then either Antonio or Philip. Antonio was a bastard. And while Catherine was female, Philip was descended from a female line (his claim was through his mother) so a generation further then Catherine.

Eventually Catherine's claim was recognized, when her grandson John was made John IV of Portugal.



February 1, 1908 sadly marks the death of both Carlos I of Portugal and his eldest son and heir. They were assassinated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gYphMUSvG4

Carlos was born September 28, 1863 in Lisbon. His father was King Luis of Portugal. His mother Maria Pia was the daughter of Victor Emmanuel II of Italy. He had one younger brother Alfonso.

His father taught him to live modestly and be well educated. His education included travel to the courts of his Italian family as well as to the UK and Germany. He would serve as regent for his father at times when his father was traveling Europe. He came to the throne in 1889.


Portugal was in financial troubles. The country was bankrupt twice during his reign. He was a patron of the arts and sciences, with a deep interest in marine exploration.

The royal family on February 1st after having been away on a hunting trip. Despite political unrest the family traveled in an open carriage without any military escort. While his wife was not injured, the king and both of his sons were shot. The king died on the spot, while his son Luis died 20 minutes later at the navy arsenal where the carriage was taken. Prince Manuel survived, having only been shot in the arm. The assassins were killed on the spot.


He was succeeded by his only surviving son, Prince Manuel. The 19 year old became Manuel II.


Carlos had been married to Princess Amélie of Orléans. Amelie was the daughter of Philippe, Count of Paris. Besides their two sons they had a daughter who died the day she was born.

-Luis Filipe: He died 20 minutes after his father, less then 2 months before his 21st birthday. Around the time of his death there was discussion of marrying him to Princess Patricia of Connaught. Since Portugal didn't practice automatic succession, he would never become king. If they had automatic succession like other monarchies, he would have been one of the shortest reigning kings.

-Manuel: succeeded his father as Manuel II. He was the last king of Portugal. He married Princess Augusta Victoria of Hohenzollern. They had no children.



Carlos' line ended with his son Manuel. The claim to the throne after Manuel died passed to Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza. Duarte was a grandson of Miguel I of Portugal.

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by Countessmeout

I wasn't aware that Alfonso III and Matilda had any children. I thought she only had children from her first marriage.


I know Catherine supported Antonio's claim, but not that she had any claim of her own to the throne. Her support of Antonio seemed purely out of spite to the Spanish and perhaps English.

No they hadn't any children and Catherine's claims were very weak to say the least and I do think it was merely mischief on her behalf.

I will look up her biography later as I know there's a chapter on it.

Leonie Frieada's excellcent biography gives more insight into.

It seems Catherine wasted no time in her pressing her flimsily claims to the Portuguese Throne and did so immediately and her son Henri III formally pressed them.

Queen Catherine also presided over a Requiem Mass at Notre Dame de Paris in honour of the late Cardinal-King .

Its chief aim was to cause upset for her son in law Philip II who was 'exasperated' by his mother in laws constant intrigues but also a nod to highlight Catherine's maternal noble origins as she had been slighted in the past at her paternal family's mercantile origins.

[CyrilVladisla]

February 14, 1847 ~ Birth of Maria Pia of Savoy, Queen of Portugal, wife of King Luis I of Portugal

[An Ard Ri]

Maria Pia of Savoy was just 14 when she married King Luís I of Portugal in October,1862 and a year later gave birth to their son,Dom Carlos, Duke of Braganza.

At the age of just 16 she have birth to another son,Dom Afonso, Duke of Porto.

[CyrilVladisla]

February 16, 1279 ~ Demise of King Afonso III of Portugal at Alcobaca, Portugal

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by CyrilVladisla

February 16, 1279 ~ Demise of King Afonso III of Portugal at Alcobaca, Portugal

Following his death the king was buried at the Monastery de Alcobaça ,during the French Invasion of 1810 the royal tombs inside the church were desecrated and looted.

[CyrilVladisla]

February 24, 1777 ~ Birth of King Joseph I of Portugal

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by CyrilVladisla

February 24, 1777 ~ Birth of King Joseph I of Portugal

You mean death of King Pedro he was born in 1714
At the time of his birth he had an older brother,Dom Pedro, Prince of Brazil who died in 1717.

[Countessmeout]

February 27, 1666 death of Luisa de Guzman, Queen consort of Portugal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luisa_...lonso_Cano.png

Luisa María Francisca de Guzmán y Sandoval was born October 31, 1616 in Santucar, Spain. Her father was Juan Manuel Pérez de Guzmán, 8th Duke of Medina Sidonia. Her mother Juana Lorenza Gomez de Sandoval y de la Cerda was the daughter of Francisco Gómez de Sandoval, 1st Duke of Lerma. She had at least one brother Gaspar who succeeded her father as the 9th Duke.

In 1633 she was married to the powerful Portugese noble John, Duke of Braganza. The bride was 17 and the groom was 26. John had succeeded his father as Duke 3 years previous when his father died insane.

At the time Philip III (IV of Spain) was on the throne. But when he began taxing merchants and stripping power from the local nobles, rebelion grew. The Forty conspirators initiated a revolution against Philip, fearing he planned to turn Portugal into a province of Spain. Philip was busy fighting both the thirty years war and an uprising in Catalonia and didn't have the men to fight in Portugal as well.

The choice for new king fell to John. John's grandmother Catherine, Duchess of Braganza had been a claimant to the throne on the death of King Henry. Through his descent from Catherine John's claim was strong. It is said Luisa convinced her husband to accept the offer of the throne. She seems to have said 'a day as queen is better then a life time as duchess'. Luisa was described as ruthless in her time.

Her husband, now known as John IV, died in 1657. Their eldest remaining son was only 14 and Luisa was named regent. Her son was mentally unstable and even after he came of age in 1662 she retained her position.


Luisa was a strong ruler, defending the independence of Portugal. She knew Alfonso would never rule, and wished to maintain an independent throne for her youngest son. She maintained a strong army helping to ensure their victories of the war of Portugese restoration. She also helped to establish the strong political alliance with England.


She died at the age of 52, almost 9 years after her husband died. Of her seven children, she out lived 4 (2 of whom died at birth). While she would not live to see him take the throne, her youngest did come to the throne as she hoped.

Her children:

-Teodósio: was prince of Brazil, and after the death of his Uncle Duarte, his father made him 10th Duke of Braganza. He died unmarried at 19. His death left unease as his next brother was the mentally unstable Alfonso.

-Ana: died at birth

-Joana: Princess of Beira. She died unmarried at the age of 18.

-Catherine: married Charles II of England. The couple sadly had no children and he was succeeded by his brother James.

-Manuel: died at birth

-Alfonso: succeeded his father as Alfonso VI but he was mentally unstable and his mother reigned for him. He was married to Maria Francisca of Savoy but the marriage was annulled as he was impotent. After his mother's death, his younger brother Pedro seized power. He never officially deposed Alfonso but he too all power and Alfonso was basically a prisoner for the rest of his life.

-Pedro: Pedro became Pedro II officially when Alfonso died in 1683. He had married Alfonso's former wife Maria Francisca of Savoy. He was the father of Luisa's only grandchildren. He and Maria had one daughter Isabel. By his second wife Maria Sophia of Neuburg he had seven children (5 of whom reached adulthood). He was succeeded by his eldest son by his second wife, John V. Of his six children who reached adulthood, only John married and had any children.

[An Ard Ri]

Possibly one of the few non royal born Portuguese queen consorts.

[CyrilVladisla]

March 19, 1604 ~ Birth of King John IV of Portugal at the Ducal Palace of Vila Vicosa