Leonor of Viseu
Encyclopedia
Eleanor of Viseu was a Portuguese
infanta (princess) and later queen consort of Portugal
.
To distinguish her from other infantas of the same name, she is commonly known as Eleanor of Viseu (after her father's title
) or Eleanor of Lancaster (Lancaster
, a name used by some Portuguese royals after her great-grandmother Queen Philippa of Lancaster
). In Portugal, she is known universally as Rainha Dona Leonor. She is considered one of the more notable of the Portuguese queen consorts. She was the second, and one of only two queen consorts in Portugal, who was not a foreigner.
, and his wife and cousin Beatrice of Portugal. Her maternal grandparents were Infante João of Portugal
and his wife and niece Isabella of Braganza
.
Eleanor's sister Isabella of Viseu
married Fernando II, 3rd Duke of Braganza
, who was later accused and executed of treason by Eleanor's husband King John II
.
Eleanor's older brother Diogo, Duke of Viseu
, was also involved in activities that John II considered treasonous and was executed by the king himself. Her younger brother succeeded John II as King Manuel I of Portugal
.
, on 22 January 1470. She thereby became the Princess of Portugal. The bride was twelve years old, and the groom was fifteen years old. Her spouse was the only living son of Afonso V of Portugal
and Isabel of Coimbra
and heir apparent
to the Portuguese throne. Eleanor and John spent a lot of their childhood together and were good friends.
, thus she became the new queen consort. The queen consorts of Portugal were awarded fiefs and villages to grant them independent incomes, and Eleanor was granted Silves e Faro and Terras de Aldeia Galega e Aldeia Gavinha for this purpose.
She founded what became the city of Caldas da Rainha
, which was named in her honor ("rainha" means "queen" in Portuguese
).
Eleanor and John II survived both their sons. Eleanor opposed the wish of her spouse to have his illegitimate son recognized as heir to the throne and appealed to the Pope, who sided with her and had her brother Manuel recognized as the heir of her husband.
John II died on 25 October 1495; the hypothesis of poisoning was never ruled out.
After her brother Manuel I
succeeded to the throne in 1495, Eleanor moved to the palace of Xabregas, where she hosted the royal court and continued to be socially active. For a short period between 1500 and 1502, Eleanor's brother Manuel found himself childless, and Eleanor herself became the heir to the throne. As she had no children, she declined to make the oath as an heir in favour of her sister Isabella.
Eleanor was extremely wealthy and used much of her money for charity. In 1498, she spearheaded the creation of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia
as confraternities with humanitarian purposes, especially the care of the poor, the sick, and abandoned children. The original foundations survive today, and more have since been founded in other towns and cities of Portugal and in the Portuguese colonies.
Eleanor founded the hospitals Hospital de Todos os Santos and Rossio de Lisboa, considered the best in contemporary Europe. She also founded the convent Madre de Deus (1509), considered a great architectural work, where she spent many of her later years, dressed almost as a nun.
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 later queen consort 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...
.
To distinguish her from other infantas of the same name, she is commonly known as Eleanor of Viseu (after her father's title
Duke of Viseu
Duke of Viseu was a Portuguese Royal Dukedom created in 1415 by King John I of Portugal for his third male child, Prince Henry the Navigator, following the conquest of Ceuta....
) or Eleanor of Lancaster (Lancaster
House of Lancaster
The House of Lancaster was a branch of the royal House of Plantagenet. It was one of the opposing factions involved in the Wars of the Roses, an intermittent civil war which affected England and Wales during the 15th century...
, a name used by some Portuguese royals after her great-grandmother Queen Philippa of Lancaster
Philippa of Lancaster
Philippa of Lancaster, LG was a Queen consort of Portugal. Born into the royal family of England, her marriage with King John I secured the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance and produced several famous children who became known as the "Illustrious Generation" in Portugal...
). In Portugal, she is known universally as Rainha Dona Leonor. She is considered one of the more notable of the Portuguese queen consorts. She was the second, and one of only two queen consorts in Portugal, who was not a foreigner.
Family
Eleanor was a daughter of Infante Fernando, Duke of ViseuInfante Fernando, Duke of Viseu
The Infante Ferdinand, Prince of Portugal, Duke of Beja and Duke of Viseu was the third son of the Portuguese King Edward of Portugal and his wife Eleanor of Aragon.- Biography :...
, and his wife and cousin Beatrice of Portugal. Her maternal grandparents were Infante João of Portugal
Infante João of Portugal
The Infante João, 1st Lord of Reguengos de Monsaraz, Colares and Belas was a Portuguese infante of the House of Aviz, Constable of Portugal and master of the Portuguese Order of St. James .- Life :Infante John was the son of King John I of Portugal and his wife Philippa of Lancaster...
and his wife and niece Isabella of Braganza
Isabella of Braganza
Isabella of Braganza , also known as Isabella of Barcelos...
.
Eleanor's sister Isabella of Viseu
Isabella of Viseu
Isabella of Viseu was a daughter of Infante Fernando, Duke of Viseu and his wife and cousin Infanta Beatrice, Duchess of Viseu. She was a member of the House of Aviz and later, House of Braganza.-Family:...
married Fernando II, 3rd Duke of Braganza
Fernando II, Duke of Braganza
Ferdinand II was the older son of Fernando I, 2nd Duke of Braganza and of his wife, Doña Joana de Castro....
, who was later accused and executed of treason by Eleanor's husband King John II
John II of Portugal
John II , the Perfect Prince , was the thirteenth king of Portugal and the Algarves...
.
Eleanor's older brother Diogo, Duke of Viseu
Diogo, Duke of Viseu
Infante Diogo of Viseu was the second son of Infante Fernando, Duke of Viseu, and his wife Beatriz of Portugal.In 1472, when his older brother John, Duke of Viseu, died without issue, Diogo inherited his titles and estates as 4th Duke of Viseu and 3rd Duke of Beja.Diogo was a popular personality...
, was also involved in activities that John II considered treasonous and was executed by the king himself. Her younger brother succeeded John II as King Manuel I of Portugal
Manuel I of Portugal
Manuel I , the Fortunate , 14th king of Portugal and the Algarves was the son of Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu, , by his wife, Infanta Beatrice of Portugal...
.
Marriage
Eleanor married John, Prince of PortugalJohn II of Portugal
John II , the Perfect Prince , was the thirteenth king of Portugal and the Algarves...
, on 22 January 1470. She thereby became the Princess of Portugal. The bride was twelve years old, and the groom was fifteen years old. Her spouse was the only living son of Afonso V of Portugal
Afonso V of Portugal
Afonso V KG , called the African , was the twelfth King of Portugal and the Algarves. His sobriquet refers to his conquests in Northern Africa.-Early life:...
and Isabel of Coimbra
Isabel of Coimbra
Infanta Isabella of Coimbra was a Portuguese infanta and a queen consort of Portugal as the first spouse of King Afonso V of Portugal.- Biography :...
and 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....
to the Portuguese throne. Eleanor and John spent a lot of their childhood together and were good friends.
Issue
| Name | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Afonso | 18 May 1475 | 13 July 1491 | Prince of Portugal. Died in a horse riding accident. Because of the prince's premature death, the throne was inherited by Manuel of Viseu Manuel I of Portugal Manuel I , the Fortunate , 14th king of Portugal and the Algarves was the son of Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu, , by his wife, Infanta Beatrice of Portugal... , son of Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu, who reigned as Manuel I, 14th King of Portugal. |
| Infante João | 1483 | 1483 | |
Queen consort
On 28 August 1481, Eleanor's father-in-law died, and her husband became John II of PortugalJohn II of Portugal
John II , the Perfect Prince , was the thirteenth king of Portugal and the Algarves...
, thus she became the new queen consort. The queen consorts of Portugal were awarded fiefs and villages to grant them independent incomes, and Eleanor was granted Silves e Faro and Terras de Aldeia Galega e Aldeia Gavinha for this purpose.
She founded what became the city of Caldas da Rainha
Caldas da Rainha
Caldas da Rainha is a city in western central Portugal. The city serves as the seat of the larger municipality of the same name and is the seat of the Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste...
, which was named in her honor ("rainha" means "queen" in Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
).
Eleanor and John II survived both their sons. Eleanor opposed the wish of her spouse to have his illegitimate son recognized as heir to the throne and appealed to the Pope, who sided with her and had her brother Manuel recognized as the heir of her husband.
John II died on 25 October 1495; the hypothesis of poisoning was never ruled out.
Queen Dowager
Manuel I of Portugal
Manuel I , the Fortunate , 14th king of Portugal and the Algarves was the son of Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu, , by his wife, Infanta Beatrice of Portugal...
succeeded to the throne in 1495, Eleanor moved to the palace of Xabregas, where she hosted the royal court and continued to be socially active. For a short period between 1500 and 1502, Eleanor's brother Manuel found himself childless, and Eleanor herself became the heir to the throne. As she had no children, she declined to make the oath as an heir in favour of her sister Isabella.
Eleanor was extremely wealthy and used much of her money for charity. In 1498, she spearheaded the creation of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia
Santa Casa da Misericórdia
The Santa Casa da Misericórdia is a Portuguese charity founded in Lisbon in 1498 by the Queen Leonor of Portugal....
as confraternities with humanitarian purposes, especially the care of the poor, the sick, and abandoned children. The original foundations survive today, and more have since been founded in other towns and cities of Portugal and in the Portuguese colonies.
Eleanor founded the hospitals Hospital de Todos os Santos and Rossio de Lisboa, considered the best in contemporary Europe. She also founded the convent Madre de Deus (1509), considered a great architectural work, where she spent many of her later years, dressed almost as a nun.