Catherine of Austria, Queen of Portugal

This article is about the daughter of Philip I of Castile and Joanna of Castile. For the Polish queen consort in the same dynasty, see Catherine of Austria, Queen of Poland, also not to be confused with Catherine of Aragon.
Catherine of Austria
Queen consort of Portugal
Catherine of Habsburg
Tenure 10 February 1525 – 11 June 1557
Spouse John III of Portugal
Issue
Maria Manuela, Princess of Portugal and Asturias
Philip, Prince of Portugal
Manuel, Prince of Portugal
John Manuel, Prince of Portugal
Afonso, Prince of Portugal
House House of Aviz
House of Habsburg
Father Philip I of Castile
Mother Joanna of Castile
Born 14 January 1507
Died 12 February 1578 (aged 71)
Religion Roman Catholicism

Catherine of Austria, also called Catherine of Castile or Catherine of Burgundy (14 January 1507 – 12 February 1578) was queen consort of Portugal as wife of King John III of Portugal. She was also the Regent of Portugal during the minority of her grandson King Sebastian of Portugal from 1557 until 1562. She was named in honor of her maternal aunt, Catherine of Aragon, first wife of King Henry VIII of England.

Contents

Biography

An Infanta of Castile, Archduchess of Austria and Princess of Burgundy, Catherine was the posthumous daughter of Philip of Habsburg by Joanna of Castile[1] She was born in Torquemada and remained with her disturbed mother until the arrival in Spain from Flanders of her eldest siblings, Eleanor of Austria and the future Emperor Charles V. All of her five older siblings except Ferdinand (the future Emperor Ferdinand I, were born in the Low Countries and had been put into the care of their aunt Margaret of Austria, but Joanna kept hold of her young daughter Catherine. Catherine actually stayed with her mother in her prison cell during her grandfather's time as regent. Catherine and two ladies-in-waiting stayed with Joanna. Catherine had nothing to do all day, except to look out of the window. Later she and her mother were freed from confinement.

On 10 February 1525, Catherine married her first cousin, King John III of Portugal. They had nine children, but only two survived early childhood.

After the death of her husband in 1557, she was challenged by her daughter-in-law and niece, Joan of Austria, over the role of regent for her grandchild, the infant King Sebastian. Mediation by Charles V resolved the issue in favour of his sister Catherine over his daughter Joan, who was needed in Spain in the absence of Phillip II. She then served as the regent of Portugal from 1557 until 1562. In 1562, she turned over the regency to Henry of Portugal.

Issue

Name Birth Death Notes
With John III, King of Portugal (married 10 February 1525)
Prince Afonso 24 February 1526 March 1526 Crown Prince of Portugal (1526).
Princess Maria 15 October 1527 12 August 1545 Crown Princess of Portugal (1527–1531; 1537). First wife of King Philip II of Spain. She had one child, Don Carlos, and she died a few days after his birth.
Infanta Isabella 28 April 1529 28 April 1529  
Infanta Beatrice 15 February 1530 15 February 1530  
Prince Manuel 1 November 1531 14 April 1537 Crown Prince of Portugal (1531–1537). Declared heir in 1535.
Prince Philip 25 March 1533 29 April 1539 Crown Prince of Portugal (1537–1539). Declared heir in 1537.
Infante Denis 6 April 1535 1 January 1537  
Prince John 3 June 1537 2 January 1554 Crown Prince of Portugal (1537–1554). Declared heir in 1539. Married Joan of Spain.
Their son Sebastian became king.
Infante Anthony 9 March 1539 20 January 1540  

Catherine has no descendants today, as both her grandchildren died childless. Her line of descent went extinct within six months of her death, as the only descendant of hers that survived her, King Sebastian of Portugal, died in August 1578.

Ancestry

Sources

  1. ^ Jordan, Annemarie (1994). The Development of Catherine of Austria's Collection in the Queen's Household: Its Character and Cost. Providence, R. I.: Brown University. pp. 700. 

External links

Preceded by
Eleanor of Austria		 Queen Consort of Portugal
10 February 1525 – 11 June 1557		 Succeeded by
Anna of Austria