João I, Duke of Braganza

João I

Duke of Braganza
Tenure 22 September 1563 – 22 February 1583
Predecessor Teodósio I
Successor Teodósio II
Born 1543
Vila Viçosa, Alentejo, Kingdom of Portugal
Died 22 February 1583
Vila Viçosa, Vila Viçosa Municipality, Kingdom of Portugal
Spouse Infanta Catherine of Guimarães
Issue
among others...		 Teodósio II
House House of Braganza
Father Teodósio I
Mother Isabel of Lencastre
Religion Roman Catholicism

Dom João I of Braganza (1543 – 22 February 1583) was the 6th Duke of Braganza and 1st Duke of Barcelos, among other titles. He is known pushing the claims of his wife, Infanta Catherine of Guimarães, to the throne of Portugal.

Life

In 1563 he married his 1st cousin Infanta Catherine, daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Guimarães and Isabel of Braganza (João's aunt).

After the disaster of the Battle of Ksar El Kebir, where heirless King Sebastian of Portugal died, the aged Cardinal Henry of Portugal had become King. Because Henry was old and was not allowed to have legitimate children, a dynastical crisis occurred even before the death of the Cardinal. The Duke of Braganza supported his wife's claim to the throne (she was a granddaughter of King Manuel I). Philip II of Spain (another grandson of Manuel I and also claimant to the throne), tried to bribe him to abandon his wife's pretensions, offering him the Vice-Kingdom of Brazil, the post of Grand-Master of the Order of Christ, a license to send a personal ship to India every year, and the marriage of his eldest son Teodósio of Braganza to one of his daughters (either Isabella Clara Eugenia or Catherine Michelle). The Duke of Braganza, influenced by his wife, refused the proposal.

Portuguese Succession Crisis

When the Cardinal-King died, the Duke accompanied the governors of the Kingdom to Lisbon and Setúbal, trying to assure recognition for his wife's claim, but ultimately gave up and accepted the rule of Philip II (future Philip I of Portugal). After the civil war that followed, Anthony, Prior of Crato was defeated at the Battle of Alcântara, and Philip II entered Portugal and was confirmed by the Cortes of Tomar, where João occupied the post of Constable.

When King Philip left to Spain, he endowed the post of Constable of Kingdom to João's heir Teodósio, 7th Duke of Braganza, a marquessate (Flexilla-Xarandilla) to his second son, Dom Duarte, and a commendment and many concessions to the third, Dom Alexandre, who was destined to become an ecclesiastic. He confirmed João's title of His Excellency and his rights of chancellery.

He died at Vila Viçosa in 1583.

Marriage and Issue

Of Catherine, Duchess of Braganza:

Ancestry

Bibliography

Media related to John, 6th Duke of Braganza at Wikimedia Commons

João I, Duke of Braganza
Cadet branch of the House of Aviz
Born: 1543 Died: 1583
Portuguese nobility
Preceded by
Teodósio I		 Duke of Braganza; Marquis of Vila Viçosa;
Ourém, Neiva, and Arraiolos
1563–1583 		Succeeded by
Teodósio II
New title Duke of Barcelos
1562–1563
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