Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu

Infante Ferdinand
Duke of Viseu and Beja
Fernando in a 1534 miniature in the Genealogy of D. Manuel Pereira, 3rd Count of Feira
Born	17 November 1433 Almeirim
Died	18 September 1470 Setúbal
Spouse	Beatrice of Portugal
Issue	John, Duke of Viseu Diogo, Duke of Viseu Eleanor, Queen of Portugal Isabella, Duchess of Braganza Manuel I of Portugal
House	House of Aviz
Father	Edward of Portugal
Mother	Eleanor of Aragon

Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu and Beja (or Fernando, Portuguese pronunciation: [fɨɾˈnɐ̃du], 1433 – 1470) was the third son of Edward of Portugal and his wife Eleanor of Aragon.

Biography

Ferdinand was born in Almeirim on 17 November 1433, and died in Setúbal on 18 September 1470.

He was twice sworn Prince of Portugal (title granted to the presumptive heir to the throne): first between 1438 and 1451, once his older brother became king Afonso V of Portugal and had no children; and for the second time, in 1451, when Prince João was born, but died months later.

When Afonso V's first daughter, Princess Joan, was born (1452), Infante Ferdinand finally lost this title.

In 1452, Ferdinand fled the country looking for adventure. Some say he wanted to go to the north African cities controlled by the Portuguese; others say that he wanted to join his uncle, the King Alfonso I of Naples, in his campaigns in southern Italy. It seems Ferdinand had the hope to inherit his uncle’s kingdom, as he had no legitimate children.

The Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu and Beja.

However, his brother, King Afonso V of Portugal, as soon as he knew about Ferdinand’s escape, ordered to the Count of Odemira, which was patrolling the strait of Gibraltar with a fleet, to intercept the infante ship and bring him back to mainland Portugal.

Duke of Beja and Viseu

In 1453, his brother, King Afonso V of Portugal granted him the title of 1st Duke of Beja.

When his uncle, Prince Henry the Navigator died, in 1460, he also became 2nd Duke of Viseu as well. He also succeeded his uncle as Master of the Order of Christ and responsible for the Discoveries (1460–1470).

He was finally allowed to fight in north Africa: first in 1458 he escorted the king to the conquest of the Moroccan city of Alcácer Ceguer; and for a second time, in 1468, he led a Portuguese fleet that conquered and destroyed the port of Anfa (Anafé in Portuguese), today included in Casablanca, which was a barbary corsairs base.

He was buried in the Religiosas da Conceição monastery, in Beja, founded by his wife.

Marriage and children

He married his cousin Beatrice of Portugal (Portuguese: Beatriz) in 1447, daughter of Infante João, Lord of Reguengos (his uncle). From this marriage, Ferdinand had ten children:

• Infante João (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;
• Infanta Eleanor of Viseu (1458–1525), married to King John II of Portugal, becoming Queen of Portugal;
• Infanta Isabella of Viseu (1459–1521), married to Ferdinand II, Duke of Braganza;
• Infante Duarte of Viseu (1462-died in childhood);
• Infante Dinis of Viseu (1464- died in childhood);
• Infanta Catarina of Viseu (1465-died in childhood);
• Infante Simão of Viseu (1467-died in childhood);
• Infante Afonso of Viseu (1468-died in childhood);
• Infante Manuel (1469-1521), 5th Duke of Viseu, 4th Duke of Beja. Became King of Portugal, as Manuel I, following his cousin's (John II) death.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu

16. Afonso IV of Portugal               8. Peter I of Portugal                       17. Beatrice of Castile               4. John I of Portugal                             18. Lourenço Martins               9. Teresa Lourenço                       19. Sancha Martins               2. Edward I of Portugal                                   20. Edward III of England               10. John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster                       21. Philippa of Hainault               5. Philippa of Lancaster                             22. Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster               11. Blanche of Lancaster                       23. Isabel de Beaumont               1. Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu                                         24. Henry II of Castile               12. John I of Castile                       25. Juana Manuel of Castile               6. Ferdinand I of Aragon                             26. Peter IV of Aragon               13. Eleanor of Aragon                       27. Eleanor of Sicily               3. Eleanor of Aragon                                   28. Alfonso XI of Castile               14. Sancho Alfonso, 1st Count of Alburquerque                       29. Eleanor of Guzman               7. Eleanor of Alburquerque                             30. Peter I of Portugal               15. Infanta Beatrix of Portugal                       31. Inês de Castro

See also

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

Bibliography

”Nobreza de Portugal e do Brasil” – Vol. I, pages 311 and 312. Published by Zairol Lda., Lisbon 1989.

External links

• Genealogy of Infante Fernando, 1st Duke of Beja and 2nd. Duke of Viseu, in Portuguese