Royal history of Portugal the House of Aviz
The lovely country Portugal and its former royal history always have
fascinated me, due to the strong family ties with the noble house of
Saxe-Coburg.
But if we went further back in time, Portugal only was ruled by members
of the noble house of Aviz.
Some royal history
On 22 October 1383, King Ferdinand I of Portugal died at the age of 37, he
left the country with a dynastic crisis. Ferdinand's widow Leonor Telles was
disliked by the nobility and the people for having had her first marriage annuled
in order to marry King Ferdinand I. Ferdinand's only heir was a daughter
Beatrice and she had married John I of Castile, who claimed the Portuguese
throne in the name of his wife.
However in April 1385, in the middle of a popular revolt and civil war, the
Cortes of Coimbra declared John of Aviz as King John I of Portugal. He
was the half-brother of Ferdinand and a natural son of Ferdinand's father
King Pedro I. John I became King of Portugal, when the country had a
victory in the Battle of Aljubarrota on 14 August 1385. There John of Castile
was defeated. In 1411 a formal peace treaty between Portugal and Castile
was signed.
King John I of Portugal was succeeded by several of his descendants as
King Edward I;
King Afonso V;
King John II;
King Manuel I;
King John III;
King Sebastian;
King Henry;
King António.
It was in this period of history that Portugal became a real European and a
World Power. The country explored Africa, Asia and Brazil and they founded
colonies there.
In 1557, John III was succeeded by his grandson Sebastian I of Portugal but
he died at the age of 24 without heirs, in the Battle of Alcácer Quibir.
Sebastian was succeeded by his great-uncle Henry, then 66 years old and a
Catholic Cardinal. But he had no children too.
In 1580, the House of Aviz was defeated by King Philip II of Spain. He had
ordered to the Duke of Alba to take Portugal by force. Philip II of Spain was
declared King of Portugal on 16 April 1581. Portugal and Spain woud share
a common monarch until 1640. Then the Duke of Braganza was declared
King of Portugal. He ruled as King John IV of Portugal.
Portugal royal tracks
In Portugal you can find many royal tracks around the country. Just in the
capital Lisbon, there are lots of places referring to their beautiful history, but
there are also tracks in Sintra, Porto and of course in Queluz.
If you want to know more about the history of Portugal this book is interesting
to read.
There also is a great overview about the Portuguese royal history on
this youtube link .
fascinated me, due to the strong family ties with the noble house of
Saxe-Coburg.
But if we went further back in time, Portugal only was ruled by members
of the noble house of Aviz.
Coat of Arms of Portugal
Source picture: Wikipedia
Some royal history
On 22 October 1383, King Ferdinand I of Portugal died at the age of 37, he
left the country with a dynastic crisis. Ferdinand's widow Leonor Telles was
disliked by the nobility and the people for having had her first marriage annuled
in order to marry King Ferdinand I. Ferdinand's only heir was a daughter
Beatrice and she had married John I of Castile, who claimed the Portuguese
throne in the name of his wife.
Ferdinand I of Portugal Source picture: Wikipedia
 |
| Coat of Arms Portugal own picture taken in 2017 |
However in April 1385, in the middle of a popular revolt and civil war, the
Cortes of Coimbra declared John of Aviz as King John I of Portugal. He
was the half-brother of Ferdinand and a natural son of Ferdinand's father
King Pedro I. John I became King of Portugal, when the country had a
victory in the Battle of Aljubarrota on 14 August 1385. There John of Castile
was defeated. In 1411 a formal peace treaty between Portugal and Castile
was signed.
King John I of Portugal - Source picture: Wikipedia
King John I of Portugal was succeeded by several of his descendants as
King Edward I;
King Afonso V;
King John II;
King Manuel I;
King John III;
King Sebastian;
King Henry;
King António.
It was in this period of history that Portugal became a real European and a
World Power. The country explored Africa, Asia and Brazil and they founded
colonies there.
In 1557, John III was succeeded by his grandson Sebastian I of Portugal but
he died at the age of 24 without heirs, in the Battle of Alcácer Quibir.
Sebastian was succeeded by his great-uncle Henry, then 66 years old and a
Catholic Cardinal. But he had no children too.
 |
| Coat of Arms on a Flag in Lisbon Portugal own picture |
In 1580, the House of Aviz was defeated by King Philip II of Spain. He had
ordered to the Duke of Alba to take Portugal by force. Philip II of Spain was
declared King of Portugal on 16 April 1581. Portugal and Spain woud share
a common monarch until 1640. Then the Duke of Braganza was declared
King of Portugal. He ruled as King John IV of Portugal.
Portugal royal tracks
In Portugal you can find many royal tracks around the country. Just in the
capital Lisbon, there are lots of places referring to their beautiful history, but
there are also tracks in Sintra, Porto and of course in Queluz.
If you want to know more about the history of Portugal this book is interesting
to read.
A short history of Portugal
Ebook cover via Kobo reader
There also is a great overview about the Portuguese royal history on
this youtube link .
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