Infanta Benedita of Portugal
Encyclopedia
Benedita of Portugal was a Portuguese
infanta and the youngest daughter of King Joseph I of Portugal
and his wife Mariana Victoria of Spain
.
she was named after Pope Benedict XIV
. She was well educated. She was educated in music by Davide Perez and in painting by Domingos Sequeira
: a panel made by her and her sister can still be seen in the Estrela Basilica
. On February 21, 1777 she married her nephew, Joseph, Prince of Beira, heir apparent
of the heiress presumptive (and proclaimed heir, i.e. her sister Maria) to the throne of Portugal, as the eldest son of the future Queen Mary I. Maria Francisca Benedita and Joseph had no children, however she miscarriaged twice: firstly in 1781 and secondly in 1786.
Three days after their wedding, Benedita's father king Joseph died and Maria succeeded him as queen regnant. Infante José became the new crown prince, being given the titles Prince of Brazil and 16th Duke of Braganza
. Benedita became crown princess with the title Princess of Brazil.
In 1788 her husband Joseph died and Benedita became Dowager Princess of Brazil, as she was known during the rest of her long life. In contrast to other dowagers, who founded convents and churches, she chose to found the military hospital Asilo de Inválidos Militares de Runa. She followed the royal family on their exile to Brazil in 1808.
Benedita died in Lisbon and is buried in the national pantheon at the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora
.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
infanta and the youngest daughter of King Joseph I of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and his wife Mariana Victoria of Spain
Mariana Victoria of Spain
Mariana Victoria of Spain was an Infanta of Spain and Queen consort of Portugal as wife of King Joseph I. The mother of Queen Maria I of Portugal, she also acted as Regent of Portugal during the last months of her husband's life and advisor to her daughter during her reign.-Background:Mariana...
.
Biography
Benedita was born in LisbonLisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
she was named after Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV , born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was Pope from 17 August 1740 to 3 May 1758.-Life:...
. She was well educated. She was educated in music by Davide Perez and in painting by Domingos Sequeira
Domingos Sequeira
Domingos António de Sequeira , was a Portuguese painter.-Biography:He was born in Belém, Lisbon, into a modest family. He later changed his family name from Espírito Santo to the more aristocratic Sequeira...
: a panel made by her and her sister can still be seen in the Estrela Basilica
Estrela Basilica
The Estrela Basilica is a basilica in Lisbon, Portugal, built by order of Queen Mary I of Portugal, as a fulfilled promise for giving birth to a son...
. On February 21, 1777 she married her nephew, Joseph, Prince of Beira, heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
of the heiress presumptive (and proclaimed heir, i.e. her sister Maria) to the throne of Portugal, as the eldest son of the future Queen Mary I. Maria Francisca Benedita and Joseph had no children, however she miscarriaged twice: firstly in 1781 and secondly in 1786.
Three days after their wedding, Benedita's father king Joseph died and Maria succeeded him as queen regnant. Infante José became the new crown prince, being given the titles Prince of Brazil and 16th Duke of Braganza
Duke of Braganza
The title Duke of Braganza in the House of Braganza is one of the most important titles in the peerage of Portugal. Since the House of Braganza acceded to the throne of Portugal in 1640, the male heir of the Portuguese Crown was known as the Duke of Braganza and Prince of Brazil until 1822, or...
. Benedita became crown princess with the title Princess of Brazil.
In 1788 her husband Joseph died and Benedita became Dowager Princess of Brazil, as she was known during the rest of her long life. In contrast to other dowagers, who founded convents and churches, she chose to found the military hospital Asilo de Inválidos Militares de Runa. She followed the royal family on their exile to Brazil in 1808.
Benedita died in Lisbon and is buried in the national pantheon at the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora
Monastery of São Vicente de Fora
The Church or Monastery of São Vicente de Fora; meaning "Monastery of St. Vincent Outside the Walls" is a 17th century church and monastery in the city of Lisbon, in Portugal...
.