Denis, Lord of Cifuentes

Denis of Portugal (Portuguese: Dinis or Diniz, IPA: [diˈniʃ]) (1354 – 1397) was an infante of Portugal. He was the son of Portuguese King Peter I and a Galician noblewoman named Inês de Castro who had arrived in Portugal as a maid of princess Constance of Castile, recently married to Pedro I (Heir Prince at the time).

History

Considering Denis an Infante of Portugal is a debatable subject. Some historians consider him a natural son of Peter I, so the title Infante of Portugal could never be attributed to him. Other opinions refer that after the death of Inês de Castro, ordered by Pedro's father King Afonso IV of Portugal, the Prince after inheriting the throne admitted that he had married Inês secretly, and because of that she was a lawful Queen of Portugal.

After the death of his mother Denis left Portugal to Castile with his brother but during the 1383–85 Crisis he was one of the claimants to the throne along with Beatrice of Portugal (his niece), John, Master of Aviz (his half-brother) and John (his brother). Although he managed to be acclaimed King in the city of Santarém his connections with Castile eventually lost him the throne and at the time of the Battle of Aljubarrota he was already out of the country like his brother John.

Family

He married in 1372 Joan of Castile, 2nd? Lady of Cifuentes, born c. 1360, illegitimate daughter of Henry II of Castile by Juana, 1st? Lady of Cifuentes, born c. 1340, from whom he had two sons and a daughter:

• Fernando de Portugal, 3rd? Lord of Cifuentes and Comendador of Oreja (born c. 1380), married firstly to María de Torres, 5th Lady of Villardompardo (1400 – Jaén), and had issue now extinct in male line, and married secondly to Aldara Osorio (born c. 1390), and had issue now extinct in male line
• Pedro de Portugal, 1st Lord of Colmenarejo (born c. 1385), married to Isabel Enríquez (born c. 1390), and had issue now extinct in male line
• Beatriz de Portugal (died aft. 1467), unmarried and without issue

He died in 1397.

Ancestry

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 Constanza Manuel 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

Pretenders to the Portuguese throne Burgundian line Beatrice of Portugal (1383–1420) John I of Castile (1383–1390) Infante John, Duke of Valencia de Campos (1383-1397) Infante Dinis, Lord of Cifuentes (1383-1397) Aviz line Manuel, Hereditary Prince of Portugal (1595–1638) Manuel António of Portugal (1638–1666) Miguelist line Miguel, Duke of Braganza (1866–1920) Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza (1920–1976) Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza (1976–present) Deposed monarchs King António I (1580–1595) King Miguel I (1834–1866) King Manuel II (1910–1932)