Theresa of Portugal, Queen of León

Theresa of Portugal (October 4, 1178 – June 18, 1250;^[1]) was Queen of Léon as the first wife of King Alfonso IX of León. She was born at Coimbra, the oldest daughter of Sancho I of Portugal and Dulce of Aragon.

Theresa was the mother to three of Alfonso's children—two daughters and a son, Ferdinand, who was the heir of the kingdom until his death in 1214—but when her marriage to Alfonso was declared invalid because they were first cousins, she returned to her home in Lorvão, Kingdom of Portugal. There, she founded a Benedictine monastery. Soon after, she converted the monastery into a large Cistercian convent, with over 300 nuns.

In 1230, Alfonso died after having several children with a second wife, Queen Berengaria of Castile. This second marriage was also annulled because Berengaria was Alfonso's first cousin once removed. With two invalidated marriages, there was dispute among the children as to who would inherit the throne. Theresa stepped in and allowed Ferdinand III of Castile, Berengaria's eldest son, to take the throne of León. After the succession dispute, Theresa returned to Lorvão and finally took her convent vows after years of living as a nun. She died in the convent on June 18, 1250, of natural causes.

On December 13, 1705 Theresa was beatified by Pope Clement XI's papal bull Sollicitudo Pastoralis Offici, along with her sister Sancha of Portugal. Her Catholic feast day is June 17.

References

Portuguese House of Burgundy   Henry, Count of Portugal Spouse(s) Theresa of León Children Urraca Henriques, Countess of Trastámara Sancha Henriques, Lady of Braganza de Langroiva and Noman Teresa Henriques Henrique Henriques Afonso Henriques Pedro Henriques Grandchildren Infante Henrique Infanta Mafalda Urraca, Queen of Léon Infanta Sancha Sancho I Infante João Theresa, Countess of Flanders and Duchess of Burgundy   Afonso I of Portugal Spouse(s) Mafalda of Savoy, Queen of Portugal Children Infante Henrique Infanta Mafalda Urraca, Queen of Léon Infanta Sancha Sancho I Infante João Theresa, Countess of Flanders and Duchess of Burgundy Grandchildren Theresa, Queen of León Infanta Sancha, Lady of Alenquer Infante Raimundo Infante Constance Afonso II of Portugal Peter I, Count of Urgell Ferdinand, Count of Flanders Infante Henrique Infanta Branca, Lady of Guadalajara Berengaria, Queen of Denmark Mafalda, Queen of Portugal   Sancho I of Portugal Spouse(s) Dulce of Aragon Children Theresa, Queen of León Infanta Sancha, Lady of Alenquer Infante Raimundo Infante Constance Afonso II of Portugal Peter I, Count of Urgell Ferdinand, Count of Flanders Infante Henrique Infanta Branca, Lady of Guadalajara Berengaria, Queen of Denmark Mafalda, Queen of Portugal Grandchildren Sancho II Afonso III Eleanor, junior Queen of Denmark Fernando, Lord of Serpa Infante Vicente Infanta Maria   Afonso II of Portugal Spouse(s) Urraca of Castile Children Sancho II Afonso III Eleanor, junior Queen of Denmark Fernando, Lord of Serpa Infante Vicente Grandchildren Infante Roberto Infanta Branca, Viscountess of Huelgas Infante Fernando Denis I of Portugal Afonso of Portugal, Lord of Portalegre Infanta Sancha Infanta Maria Infanta Constança Infante Vicente   Sancho II of Portugal Spouse(s) Mécia Lopes de Haro Notes Sancho had no children; he was deposed in 1247 and died the following year.   Afonso III of Portugal Spouse(s) Matilda II of Boulogne Beatrice of Castile Children Infante Roberto Infanta Branca, Lady of Las Huelgas Infante Fernando Denis I of Portugal Afonso of Portugal, Lord of Portalegre Infanta Sancha Infanta Maria Infanta Constança Infante Vicente Grandchildren Constance, Queen of Castile Afonso IV Infante Afonso, Lord of Leiria Infanta Maria, Lady of Menezes and Orduña Infanta Isabel, Lady of Penela Infanta Constança Infanta Beatriz, Lady of Lemos   Denis of Portugal Spouse(s) Saint Elizabeth of Portugal Children Constance, Queen of Castile Afonso IV Grandchildren Maria, Queen of Castile Infante Afonso Infante Denis Peter I Infanta Isabel Infante João Eleanor, Queen of Aragon   Afonso IV of Portugal Spouse(s) Beatrice of Castile Children Maria, Queen of Castile Infante Afonso Infante Denis Peter I Infanta Isabel Infante João Eleanor, Queen of Aragon Grandchildren Infante Luís Infanta Maria, Marchioness of Tortosa Ferdinand I Infante Afonso Infanta Beatrice, Countess of Alburquerque Infante John, Duke of Valencia de Campos Infante Denis, Lord of Cifuentes   Peter I of Portugal Spouse(s) Blanche of Castile Constance of Peñafiel Inês de Castro Children Infante Luís Infanta Maria, Marchioness of Tortosa Ferdinand I Infante Afonso1 Infanta Beatrice, Countess of Alburquerque1 Infante John, Duke of Valencia de Campos1 Infante Denis, Lord of Cifuentes1 Illegitimate children included John, Grand Master of the Order of Aviz (future John I) Grandchildren Beatrice, titular Queen of Portugal Infante Pedro Infante Afonso Infante Fernando, Lord of Eça1 Infanta Maria Brites, Countess of Valencia de Campos1 Infanta Isabel Brites, Countess of Cigales and Buelna1 Infanta Joana, Lady of Buendía1 Infante Fernando, Lord of Cifuentes1 Infante Pedro, Lord of Colmenarejo1 Infanta Beatrice1   Ferdinand I of Portugal Spouse(s) Leonor Telles de Menezes Children Beatrice, titular Queen of Portugal Infante Pedro Infante Afonso Notes 1 the descendants of King Peter I and Ines de Castro's children were recognized as legitimate and were Infantes and Infantas 2 also an Infante of Castile