Infante João, Duke of Beja

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Infante João of Portugal (pron. IPA: [ʒu'ɐ̃ũ]; English: John; March 16, 1842 – December 27, 1861) was a Portuguese infante and member of the House of Braganza-Wettin.

Infante João was born in Lisbon the third son of Queen Maria II of Portugal and her King consort Ferdinand II. He was created Duke of Beja and held the additional title Duke of Saxony as a member of the House of Wettin.^[1]

João received a military education and was a colonel of a cavalry regiment. He was visiting England and France with his brother the Duke of Porto, heir presumptive to the throne, when they were summoned to return to Portugal by their brother King Pedro V who was dying of cholera. Their brother died on 11 November 1861 before they could return. With his death the Duke of Porto became King Luís I and João became heir presumptive to the throne.^[2]

He did not remain heir for long as he died a month later in Lisbon on 27 December 1861 aged 19 and unmarried.