All About Royal Families

Afonso was born as the son of Henry of Burgundy and Teresa, the illegitimate daughter of King Alfonso VI of León and Castile. He belonged thus to the royal Portuguese House of Burgundy. His place of birth and even his date of birth were disputed. Duty: a raise to power Henry, Count of Portugal and Teresa reigned jointly until his death on 22 May 1112. Afterwards Teresa ruled Portugal alone. She even would proclaim herself queen but she was captured and forced to reaffirm her vassalage to her half-sister Urraca of León. In an effort to pursue a larger share in the Leonese inheritance, his mother Teresa joined forces with Fernando Pérez de Trava, the most powerful count in Galicia. The Portuguese nobility disliked the alliance between Galicia and Portugal and rallied around Afonso. In 1122 Afonso turned fourteen, this was the adult age in the 12th century. In symmetry with his cousin, he made himself a knight on his own account in the Cathedral of Zamora in 1125

Spread the word! A brand new blog page is out! 'The Royal History of Portugal'. Lisbon - own picture taken in 2017 During my trips in Portugal, I discovered many traces from the country 's interesting royal history. I've put them on a brand new blog page. See this link . I hope you'll enjoy the Royal History Page of Portugal. Tower of Belem near Lisbon Portugal

The Igreja de São Roque or in English the Church of Saint Roch is an amazing beautiful church in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. It was the earliest Jesuit Church in Portugal, for more than 200 years, before the Jesuits were expelled. The church is famous for its 18th. century Chapel of St. John the Baptist, at that time it was the most expensive chapel in Europe. With such an expensive chapel, it must be clear that the Church of Saint Roch really has a fantastic royal history. Royal History When Lisbon was being ravaged by the plague, which had arrived by ship from Italy, in 1505, the King and his court were forced to flee the Portuguese capital for a while. The site of São Roque, which was then outside the city walls, became a cemetery for plague victims. At the same time the King of Portugal, Manuel I (reigned from 1495-1521), sent someone to Venice for a relic of St. Roch, the patron of the plague Victims. The relic was sent by the Venetian governmen

On a hot day in May 2019, I visited the Porto Cathedral, a Roman Catholic church located in the historical center of the city of Porto in Portugal. The Cathedral is one of the city's oldest monuments and one of the most important local Romanesque monuments. It also has a very nice royal history. Source picture: Wikipedia Some royal history The building works of the cathedral started around 1147 but it was finished in the 16th. century and even in the 20th century there were renovations. Around 1333, the Gothic chapel of João Gordo was added. João was a Knight Hospitalier who worked for King Denis I of Portugal. The elegant cloister was built between the 14th. and 15th. centuries, during the reign of King John I of Portugal, who married the English Princess Philippa of Lancaster in the Porto Cathedral in 1387. source picture: Wikipedia Philippa of Lancaster was the daughter of John of Gaunt and Blanche of Lancaster.  A visit

The Hotel Avenida Palace, in the heart of the center of Lisbon (near the Rossio Railway Station on this link ) not only has a great location but also a beautiful history. Some history The Avenida Palace Hotel was founded at the end of the 19th. century. It opened the doors in 1892. Then Carlos I was King of Portugal. The same year on 14 June 1892 the country was declared bankrupt. More about Carlos I of Portugal on this link .  During the Belle Époque the hotel was one of the best in Europe for its style, location and standard of service. When the Republic of Portugal was established, during the Spanish civil war and during the two World Wars, the Avenida Palace Hotel was an active stage for political intrigue and espionage. Traveling Nowadays (8 October 2019) The Avenida Palace Hotel in Lisbon, Portugal  still has great reviews on TripAdvisor. It is number 6th of the 281 Hotels in Lisbon. Most of the comments really are very good. My pictures of th

28 September 1863 marks the birth of Carlos of Portugal. This royal event took place at the Ajunda National Palace in Lisbon. Family Carlos was the son of King Luis I of Portugal and Queen Maria Pia. His paternal grandparents were King Ferdinand II of Portugal (born Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) and Queen Maria II of Portugal. His maternal grandparents were King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy and Adelaide of Austria. Carlos was thus a member of the noble house of Braganza-Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Youth In 1883, Carlos traveled to the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy on his Grand Tour. In 1883, 1886 and 1888 he ruled as regent over Portugal, when his father was abroad. Love and Marriage A son of a King, Carlos was a good match on the royal wedding market. His first bridal candidate was one of the daughters of German Emperor Frederick III and his wife Victoria, Princess Royal (a daughter of Queen Victoria). The pressure of British diplomacy prevent

Lisbon is a fantastic city with lots of beautiful, old buildings, a nice atmosphere, a great cultural heritage and of course very good food and drinks. However one of the most amazing and relaxing green places in the capital of Portugal is the Edward VII Park (in Portuguese Edwardo VII). It also offers a wonderful view over Lisbon. But it also has a great royal history. Edward VII Park in Lisbon Portugal Royal History The Edward VII Park was named after King Edward VII of the United Kingdom. King Edward VII was the son of Queen Victoria and he ruled from 1901 till 1910 over the United Kingdom. The King visited Lisbon and Portugal in 1902 to strengthen the relations between Portugal and the United Kingdom. Until his visit, the Park had the name 'Liberty Park'. Although Liberty Park was a beautiful name,  I prefer the new royal name :-) Edward VII Park in Lisbon Portugal Location The Edward VII Park is located between the Avenida de L

Portugal really is an amazing country, not only due to its people, nature, food, culture and history but also due to its railway stations. Traveling from Lisbon to Sintra, my husband and I had to use the Rossio Railway station. We were amazed by its beauty and I wanted to know more about its royal history. Rossio Station Lisbon Portugal Some royal history The Rossio Railway Station was ordered by the Portuguese Royal Railway Company and it was designed between 1886 and 1887 by the Portuguese architect José Louis Monteiro.  It was built in one of the most important squares of Lisbon, the Rossio. The Rossio was built during the reign of King Louis I of Portugal (reigned from 1861-1889 over Portugal).  King Louis I of Portugal was the son of Maria II and Ferdinand II. He became King after the death of his brother Pedro V.  King Louis I of Portugal Source picture: Wikipedia In 1918, Sidónio Pais, the fourth President of Portugal, was assassinated in th

Sometimes books really became famous, sometimes their authors became stars. However at Porto in Portugal there is one bookstore which is extremely famous. The bookstore is called Livraria Lello. Lello is one of the oldest bookshops of Portugal and it is high rated in travel guides such as Lonely Planet. Lello Bookstore in Porto Portugal History In 1869, the Livraria Internacional de Ernesto Chardron was founded by the Frenchman Ernesto Chardron. At the age of 45 Ernesto died. The firm was sold to Lugan & Genelioux Sucessores. However in 1881, José Lello along with his brother-in-law created the firm David Pereira & Lello. After the death of David Pereira the establishment again changed its name in José Pinto de Sousa Lello & Irmão when José partnered with his younger brother António Lello. In 1891, the Chardron Bookstore acquired the establishments of A.R da Cruz Coutinho and other bookstores in the city. Mathieux Lugan sold his share in the Chard

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. 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

On 2 October 1768, William Carr Beresford was born in Bedgebury at Kent in England. William Carr Beresford own picture taken in Lisbon, Portugal in 2017 Family Beresford was the illegitimate son of the 1st Marquess of Waterford. He was the brother of Admiral Sir John Beresford, 1st Baronet and the half-brother of the 2nd Marquess of Waterford, Archbishop Lord John Beresford and General Lord George Beresford. Military Career & Travels Beresford entered the British Army in 1785 in the 6th Regiment of Foot and the next year he was blinded in one eye due to an incident with a musket. In 1791 he was promoted to captain with the 69th Regiment of Foot. He distinguished himself at Toulon, in Egypt and South Africa. Between 10 and 12 August 1806 Beresford and the British forces were defeated in Buenos Aires but he managed to escape and he arrived back in England in 1807. In November of 1807 Imperial French troops under Junot invaded the Kingdom of Portugal duri

One of the most amazing monuments in Lisbon, Portugal is the National Pantheon or the Church of Santa Engrácia. National Pantheon - Lisbon - Portugal Some Royal History The original church was sponsored by Infanta Maria of Portugal, Duchess of Viseu. She was the daughter of King Manuel I of Portugal. Maria of Portugal, Duchess of Viseu Source: picture In 1681 the construction of the current church began after previous structures collapsed. Small National Panteon - Lisbon - Portugal The design was made by João Antunes, the royal architect and one of the most important baroque architects of Portugal. Dome of the National Pantheon in Lisbon - Portugal In 1916, during the First Portuguese Republic, the Church of Santa Engrácia was converted into a National Pantheon. It was compleded in 1966. There are a few important monuments for famous Portuguese people: buried: - Amália Rodrigues (fado singer); - Eusébio (football player) cenotaphs: - P

A real UNESCO World Heritage Site in Lisbon is certainly the Belém Tower in the civil parish of Santa Maria de Belém. Belèm Tower in Lisbon - Portugal - own picture from 2017 Besides that the Belèm Tower played a huge role in the Portuguese Martime discoveries of the era of the Age of Discoveries. Some (Royal) History At the end of the 15th.century King John II wanted a defense system for the mouth of the Tagus, then it depended on the fortresses of Cascas and Torre Velha in Caparica on the south side of the river. These didn't completely protect the river Tagus. Therefore King John II ordered a strong fortress, but he died before the plans were drawn. Belèm Tower - Lisbon - Portugal - own picture from 2017 King Manuel I of Portugal reviewed the plans 20 years later and he ordered the construction of a military fortification on the northern part of the Tagus at Belém. The Tower was designed by military architect Francisco de Arruda, and in 1516 t