João I, Duke of Braganza

Dom João I of Braganza (1543 – 22 February 1583) was the 6th Duke of Braganza and 1st Duke of Barcelos, among other titles. He is known for pushing the claims of his wife, Infanta Catherine of Guimarães, to the throne of Portugal.

João I
D. João I; Palace of the Dukes of Braganza
Duke of Braganza
Tenure22 September 1563 – 22 February 1583
PredecessorTeodósio I
SuccessorTeodósio II
Born1543
Vila Viçosa, Alentejo, Kingdom of Portugal
Died22 February 1583(1583-02-22) (aged 39–40)
Vila Viçosa, Vila Viçosa Municipality, Kingdom of Portugal
SpouseInfanta Catherine of Guimarães
Issue
among others...		Teodósio II
HouseHouse of Braganza
FatherTeodósio I
MotherIsabel of Lencastre
ReligionRoman Catholicism

Life

In 1563 he married his 1st cousin Infanta Catherine, daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Guimarães and Isabel of Braganza (João's aunt).

After the disaster of the Battle of Ksar El Kebir, where heirless King Sebastian of Portugal died, the aged Cardinal Henry of Portugal had become King. Because Henry was old and was not allowed to have legitimate children, a dynastical crisis occurred even before the death of the Cardinal. The Duke of Braganza supported his wife's claim to the throne (she was a granddaughter of King Manuel I). Philip II of Spain (another grandson of Manuel I and also claimant to the throne), tried to bribe him to abandon his wife's pretensions, offering him the Vice-Kingdom of Brazil, the post of Grand-Master of the Order of Christ, a license to send a personal ship to India every year, and the marriage of his eldest son Teodósio of Braganza to one of his daughters (either Isabella Clara Eugenia or Catherine Michaela). The Duke of Braganza, influenced by his wife, refused the proposal.

Portuguese succession crisis
Main article: Portuguese succession crisis of 1580

When the Cardinal-King died, the Duke accompanied the governors of the Kingdom to Lisbon and Setúbal, trying to assure recognition for his wife's claim, but ultimately gave up and accepted the rule of Philip II (future Philip I of Portugal). After the civil war that followed, Anthony, Prior of Crato was defeated at the Battle of Alcântara, and Philip II entered Portugal and was confirmed by the Cortes of Tomar, where João occupied the post of Constable.

When King Philip left to Spain, he endowed the post of Constable of Kingdom to João's heir Teodósio, 7th Duke of Braganza, a marquessate (Flexilla-Xarandilla) to his second son, Dom Duarte, and a commandment and many concessions to the third, Dom Alexandre, who was destined to become an ecclesiastic. He confirmed João's title of His Excellency and his rights of chancellery.

He died at Vila Viçosa in 1583.

Marriage and issue

Of Catherine, Duchess of Braganza:

Ancestry

Bibliography
  • "Nobreza de Portugal e Brasil", Vol. II pages 445 to 448. Published by Zairol Lda., Lisbon 1989

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