| The Infante José | |
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| Prince of Brazil | |
| José in January 1773, Hermitage Museum | |
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| Reign | 24 February 1777— 11 September 1788 |
| Predecessor | Maria I |
| Successor | John IV |
| Spouse | Infanta Benedita of Portugal |
| House | House of Braganza |
| Father | Peter III of Portugal |
| Mother | Maria I of Portugal |
| Born | August 20, 1761 Real Barraca, Ajuda, Portugal |
| Died | September 11, 1788 (aged 27) Lisbon, Portugal |
| Burial | Royal Pantheon of the Braganza Dynasty |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
José of Portugal (José Francisco Xavier de Paula Domingos António Agostinho Anastácio; 20 August 1761 – 11 September 1788), was Prince of Beira, Duke of Braganza, Prince of Brazil and heir apparent to the throne of Portugal as the oldest son of Queen Maria I of Portugal and her husband and uncle King consort Pedro III.
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José was born at the Real Barraca where the Palace of Ajuda in Lisbon stands today. He was named after his grandfather who was the ruling King of Portugal at the time of his birth. His grandfather created him Prince of Beira, this being the first time when the title was given to a male.
He was the heir apparent of his mother Maria, the then Princess of Brazil and proclaimed heiress of the crown. His birth was greeted with much joy due to his gender.
At the time of his birth, his parents were the Prince and Princess of Brazil, his mother the Heir apparent of the king. His maternal grandmother was Mariana Victoria of Spain, eldest daughter of Philip V of Spain and his second wife Elisabeth Farnese and thus an Infanta of Spain. She had also been engaged to Louis XV of France from the age of 3 till she was 9. His paternal grandparents were John V of Portugal and his Austrian wife, Maria Anna of Austria. Maria Anna was an aunt of the famous Maria Theresa of Austria.
On February 21, 1777, when he was 15 years old, he married his 30-year-old aunt the Infanta Benedita of Portugal. Benedita was an attractive woman and the main candidate for the wife of José. The marriage was the express wish of the king José.
They had no children, however she miscarriaged twice: in 1781 and in 1786. Three days after their wedding, José's grandfather and Benedita's father the old king José died, and his mother succeeded as queen regnant. Infante José became the new crown prince, being accorded the titles Prince of Brazil and 14th Duke of Braganza.
José died at the age of 27 of smallpox. Upon José's death, his younger brother Infante John became heir to the throne and thus the new Prince of Brazil. José died on the Real Barraca (Royal Hut) in Lisbon. His mother and wife were very badly affected by his death. His wife would be known as the "Dowager Princess of Brazil" till her death in 1829.
José is buried in the national pantheon at the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora in Lisbon.
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