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Maria Bárbara of Bragança, queen of Spain
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Portuguese Royalty
House of Braganza
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| John IV |
| Children include |
| Teodósio, Prince of Brazil |
| Joana, Princess of Beira |
| Infanta Catarina, Queen of England |
| Afonso, Prince of Brazil (future Afonso VI) |
| Infante Pedro, Duke of Beja (future Peter II) |
| Afonso VI |
| Peter II |
| Children include |
| Isabel Luísa, Princess of Beira |
| João, Prince of Brazil (future John V) |
| Infante Francisco, Duke of Beja |
| Infante António |
| Infante Manuel, Count of Ourém |
| Infanta Francisca Josefa |
| Luísa, Duchess of Cadaval (natural daughter) |
| José, Archbishop of Braga (natural son) |
| John V |
| Children include |
| Infanta Maria Bárbara, Queen of Spain |
| José, Prince of Brazil (future Joseph I) |
| Pedro, Prince of Brazil (future Peter III) |
| Joseph I |
| Children include |
| Maria Francisca, Princess of Beira (future Maria I) |
| Infanta Maria Ana Francisca Josefa |
| Infanta Maria Francisca Doroteia |
| Benedita, Dowager Princess of Brazil |
| Maria I and Peter III |
| Children include |
| José, Prince of Brazil |
| João, Prince of Brazil (future John VI) |
| Infanta Mariana |
| John VI |
| Children include |
| Maria Teresa, Princess of Beira |
| Infanta Maria Isabel, Queen of Spain |
| Infante Pedro, Prince of Brazil (future Pedro IV (I of Brazil) |
| Infanta Maria Francisca, Countess of Molina |
| Infanta Isabel Maria |
| Infante Miguel, Duke of Braganza (future Miguel I) |
| Infanta Maria da Assunção |
| Infanta Ana de Jesus Maria, Duchess of Loulé |
| Pedro IV (I of Brazil) |
| Children include |
| Infanta Maria da Glória, Duchess of Porto (future Maria II) |
| Januária, Princess Imperial of Brazil |
| Princess Francisca, Princess de Joinville |
| Prince Peter (Pedro II of Brazil) |
| Michael I |
| Children include |
| Infanta Maria das Neves, Duchess of San Jaime |
| Miguel II, Duke of Braganza |
| Infanta Teresa, Archduchess of Austria |
| Infanta Maria Josefa, Duchess in Bavaria |
| Infanta Adelgundes, Duchess of Guimarães, Countess di Bardi |
| Infanta Maria Ana, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg |
| Infanta Maria Antónia, Duchess of Parma |
| Grandchildren include |
| Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza |
| Great-Grandchildren include |
| Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza |
| Maria II and Ferdinand II |
| Children include |
| Pedro, Prince Royal of Portugal, Duke of Braganza (future Pedro V) |
| Infante Luís, Duke of Porto (future Luís I) |
| Infante João, Duke of Beja |
| Infanta Maria Ana |
| Infanta Antónia, Princess of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen |
| Infante Augusto, Duke of Coimbra |
| Grandchildren include |
| Carlos, Prince Royal of Portugal, Duke of Braganza (future Carlos I) |
| Great-grandchildren include |
| Luís Filipe, Prince Royal of Portugal, Duke of Braganza |
| Infante Manuel, Duke of Beja (future Manuel II) |
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Maria Barbara of Braganza (pron. IPA: ['baɾbɐɾɐ]), Princess of Portugal and Queen of Spain (December 4, 1711 - August 27, 1758), was the eldest daughter of King John V of Portugal and his wife, Mary Anne Josepha of Austria.
Her parents were married in 1708, but for nearly three years the queen did not give birth to any children. John made a promise to God that if an heir to the throne was born, he would made a great convent to thank Him. Finally, on December 4, 1711, Mary Anne gave birth to a girl. She was born as heiress-presumptive to the Portuguese throne, but her status as heir lapsed when the Queen gave birth to a son, Peter, two years later. Peter died at the age of two, but another son, Joseph, had been born before Peter's death. Though Barbara was never heiress-presumptive again, she was second in line to the throne throughout much of her life.
The Princess was baptized Maria Madalena Bárbara Xavier Leonor Teresa Antónia Josefa de Bragança, but she was usually known as Princess Barbara. She had a fine education and loved music. An accomplished keyboard player, she was a student of Domenico Scarlatti, the famous harpsichordist and composer, from age 9 or 10 until age 14.
In 1729 at age 18, she married the future Ferdinand VI of Spain, two years her junior. Her brother Joseph married Ferdinand's half-sister, the Spanish princess Marianne Victoria of Borbón. Scarlatti followed her to Madrid on her marriage and remained with her, composing hundreds of harpsichord sonatas for her.
Although Maria Barbara was not beautiful — her homely looks were thought by observers to cause the prince a visible shock when he was first presented to her — 'Ferdinand the Learned' (as he was called) became deeply attached to her, sharing her passion for music. Her death was said to have broken his heart. They had no children.
Barbara, who suffered from severe asthma for most of her life, died in Aranjuez, Spain, in 1758.
