Infanta Isabel of Portugal

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Isabella of Portugal (1428-1496) was Queen consort of Castile and Leon. She was the mother of Queen Isabella "the Catholic".

Isabel de Portugal was born as a scion of a collateral branch of the Aviz dynasty that ruled in Portugal since 1385. Her father was Infante dom Joao de Portugal, the youngest surviving son of John I of Portugal, and her mother was Isabella de Braganza, a high noblewoman of some royal blood, being daughter of the 1st Duke of Braganza. Isabella's father held some lordships, but was not among the forefront of the Portuguese royal house, there being a multitude of powerful dukes ahead of him.

She was married to the elderly king John II of Castile as his second wife.

After her husband died, she has been reported to have become estranged and insane.

Her children were:

Infanta Isabel, the future Queen regnant.

Alfonso, Prince of Asturias (1453-68) who was the rebel king against his half-brother, Henry IV of Castile He died of a sickness, probably the plague.

Her daughter Isabella was asked to take her brother's place as the rebel queen but she declined.