Infanta Beatrice, Duchess of Viseu

Infanta Beatriz of Portugal (13 June 1430 – 1506) was a Portuguese infanta daughter of Infante João, Lord of Reguengos (fourth son of King John I of Portugal and his wife Philippa of Lancaster) and Isabella of Braganza a daughter of Afonso, 1st Duke of Braganza.

Biography

Due to the Aviz dynasty marriage policy, Beatrice was 1st cousin and sister-in-law of king Afonso V of Portugal, 2nd cousin and mother-in-law of king John II of Portugal, 1st cousin and mother-in-law of Ferdinand II, 3rd Duke of Braganza and mother of king Manuel I of Portugal, playing an active role in politics during the consecutive reigns of Afonso V, John II and Manuel I.

Through her sister Isabel, wife of John II of Castile, she was an aunt of Isabella I of Castile, helping to settle both the Treaty of Alcáçovas and the Treaty of Terçarias de Moura between the Kingdom of Portugal and the Kingdom of Castile, after meeting with her niece Isabella in person.

She was also predominant in the Order of Santiago, acting as tutor for her son Diogo.

Infanta Beatrice protected and encouraged Gil Vicente, a Portuguese playwright, considered as the father of the Portuguese theatre.

She founded the Religiosas da Conceição monastery, in Beja, where her husband was buried.

Marriage and Children

In 1447, Beatrice married her cousin Infante Ferdinand (Portuguese: Fernando), 2nd Duke of Viseu, son of King Edward of Portugal (her uncle). From this marriage, they had nine children:

• Infante John (1448–1472), 3rd Duke of Viseu, 2nd Duke of Beja, 7th Constable of Portugal.
• Infante Diogo (1450–1484), 4th Duke of Viseu, 3rd Duke of Beja;
• Infante Duarte of Viseu, died in childhood;
• Infante Dinis of Viseu, died in childhood;
• Infante Simão of Viseu, died in childhood;
• Infanta Leonor of Viseu (1458–1525), married to King John II of Portugal, becaming Queen of Portugal;
• Infanta Isabella of Viseu (1459–1521), married to Ferdinand II, Duke of Braganza;
• Infante Manuel, 5th Duke of Viseu, 4th Duke of Beja. Became King of Portugal, as Manuel I, following his cousin's (John II) death;
• Infanta Catarina of Viseu, died in childhood.

Ancestry

See also

• Duke of Beja
• Duke of Viseu
• List of Portuguese Dukedoms

External links

• Genealogy of Infanta Beatrice, Duchess os Viseu, in Portuguese

Bibliography

• ”Nobreza de Portugal e do Brasil” – Vol. I, page 298 and 312. Published by Zairol Lda., Lisbon 1989.