Isabel Luísa, Princess of Beira
Encyclopedia
Infanta Isabel Luísa of Portugal (izɐˈbɛɫ luˈizɐ ʒuˈzɛfɐ; ) (Lisbon
, January 6, 1669 – Palhavã, October 21, 1690) was a Portuguese
infanta (princess) and the sole daughter of King Peter II of Portugal and his first wife and former sister-in-law Maria Francisca of Savoy
. As such she was styled Princess of Beira
. She was the presumptive heir to the throne of Portugal between 1668 and 1689, the year her half-brother John was born.
. She was born at the Ribeira Palace in 1669.
Other proposed candidates included Gian Gastone de' Medici
(future Grand Duke of Tuscany), le Grand Dauphin son of Louis XIV, Charles II of Spain
, the Duke of Parma as well as a Count Palatine of Neuburg. Nothing came of these plans. For this she was nicknamed Sempre-noiva, "Always-engaged".
in 1690 when she was just 21 years old. Isabel Luísa is buried at the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora
in Lisbon
after being moved from the Convent of the Francesinhas.
Lisbon
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...
, January 6, 1669 – Palhavã, October 21, 1690) was a Portuguese
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 (princess) and the sole daughter of King Peter II of Portugal and his first wife and former sister-in-law Maria Francisca of Savoy
Maria Francisca of Savoy
Maria Francisca of Savoy was a Princess of Savoy and a Queen consort of Portugal. She was the younger daughter of Charles Amadeus, Duke of Nemours, and Élisabeth de Bourbon. Maria Francisca was actually the consort of two Portuguese kings...
. As such she was styled Princess of Beira
Prince of Beira
Prince of Beira is a title in Portugal, normally given to the second heirs to the throne and/or to the eldest daughter of the monarch. It was thus attributed to persons of the royal family especially esteemed by the sovereign...
. She was the presumptive heir to the throne of Portugal between 1668 and 1689, the year her half-brother John was born.
Biography
Dona Isabel Luísa was the only child of Peter II of Portugal and his first wife the French born Princes Marie Françoise of SavoyMaria Francisca of Savoy
Maria Francisca of Savoy was a Princess of Savoy and a Queen consort of Portugal. She was the younger daughter of Charles Amadeus, Duke of Nemours, and Élisabeth de Bourbon. Maria Francisca was actually the consort of two Portuguese kings...
. She was born at the Ribeira Palace in 1669.
Marriage prospects
She was planned to marry Victor Amadeus II of Savoy who was her first cousin by her aunt Marie Jeanne of Savoy, Duchess of Savoy and regent for her son. The marriage was opposed by most of the Savoyard court as it meant that Victor Amadeus would have to live in Portugal and his mother would remain in power (mother and son did not have a close relationship). As such the match was dropped.Other proposed candidates included Gian Gastone de' Medici
Gian Gastone de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Gian Gastone de' Medici was the seventh and last Medicean Grand Duke of Tuscany. He was the second son of Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Marguerite Louise d'Orléans, Princess of France...
(future Grand Duke of Tuscany), le Grand Dauphin son of Louis XIV, Charles II of Spain
Charles II of Spain
Charles II was the last Habsburg King of Spain and the ruler of large parts of Italy, the Spanish territories in the Southern Low Countries, and Spain's overseas Empire, stretching from the Americas to the Spanish East Indies...
, the Duke of Parma as well as a Count Palatine of Neuburg. Nothing came of these plans. For this she was nicknamed Sempre-noiva, "Always-engaged".
Death and burial
She died of smallpoxSmallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
in 1690 when she was just 21 years old. Isabel Luísa is buried 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...
in Lisbon
Lisbon
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...
after being moved from the Convent of the Francesinhas.