Luisa of Medina-Sidonia
Encyclopedia
Luisa Maria Francisca of Guzman (31 October 1613 – 27 February 1666) was a Queen consort of Portugal. She was the spouse of King John IV
, the first Braganza
ruler, as well as the mother of two Kings of Portugal (Afonso VI and Pedro II) and a Queen of England (Catherine of Braganza
). She served as regent of Portugal from 1656.
by birth, the daughter of Juan Manuel Pérez de Guzmán, 8th Duke of Medina Sidonia
, and Juana Lorenza Gomez de Sandoval y la Cerda. Her paternal grandfather was the renowned Alonso de Guzmán, "El Bueno". She married John in 1633.
Despite her Spanish roots, the ambitious Luisa guided her husband's policies during the Portuguese revolution against Spain of 1640
. She is considered the main influence behind his acceptance of the Portuguese throne when the Revolution seemed to tend to the Portuguese side.
It is said that being warned of the dangers of becoming Queen of a country that was to face Spain's might she pronounced the famous words:
When she was made aware of a failed attempt to murder the King in 1641, she is said to have been one of the members of the Corte
, which supported the execution of nobles like the Duke of Caminha
.
In 1656, she was named Regent of the Kingdom after her husband's death and during the minority of her son Afonso VI. She continued to occupy the post even after Afonso became an adult because her son was mentally unstable. She was the target of a failed conspiracy headed by Luís de Vasconcelos e Sousa, Count of Castelo Melhor
.
She defended the principles of freedom and independence of Portugal and controlled the government with a strong hand, fearing her son was incapable.
She is also mainly responsible for the diplomatic success of the new alliance with England
. Her daughter Catherine
married Charles II of England
. She is also credited with the organization of the armies that in the next years would completely secure Portuguese independence through the victories in the Portuguese Restoration War
.
John IV of Portugal
|-|John IV was the King of Portugal and the Algarves from 1640 to his death. He was the grandson of Catherine, Duchess of Braganza, who had in 1580 claimed the Portuguese crown and sparked the struggle for the throne of Portugal. John was nicknamed John the Restorer...
, the first Braganza
House of Braganza
The Most Serene House of Braganza , an important Portuguese noble family, ruled the Kingdom of Portugal and its colonial Empire, from 1640 to 1910...
ruler, as well as the mother of two Kings of Portugal (Afonso VI and Pedro II) and a Queen of England (Catherine of Braganza
Catherine of Braganza
Catherine of Braganza was a Portuguese infanta and queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles II.She married the king in 1662...
). She served as regent of Portugal from 1656.
Biography
Luisa was SpanishSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
by birth, the daughter of Juan Manuel Pérez de Guzmán, 8th Duke of Medina Sidonia
Juan Manuel Pérez de Guzmán, 8th Duke of Medina Sidonia
Juan Manuel Pérez de Guzmán y Silva , was a Spanish noble and 8th Duke of Medina Sidonia.He was the son of Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia, commander-in-chief of the Spanish Armada and Ana de Silva y Mendoza, daughter of Ana de Mendoza, Princess of Éboli.He married in 1598, aged...
, and Juana Lorenza Gomez de Sandoval y la Cerda. Her paternal grandfather was the renowned Alonso de Guzmán, "El Bueno". She married John in 1633.
Despite her Spanish roots, the ambitious Luisa guided her husband's policies during the Portuguese revolution against Spain of 1640
Portuguese Restoration War
Portuguese Restoration War was the name given by nineteenth-century 'romantic' historians to the war between Portugal and Spain that began with the Portuguese revolution of 1640 and ended with the Treaty of Lisbon . The revolution of 1640 ended the sixty-year period of dual monarchy in Portugal...
. She is considered the main influence behind his acceptance of the Portuguese throne when the Revolution seemed to tend to the Portuguese side.
It is said that being warned of the dangers of becoming Queen of a country that was to face Spain's might she pronounced the famous words:
- Antes rainha um dia (in some versions uma hora) que duquesa toda a vida.
- Rather Queen for a day (in some versions an hour) than a duchess all my life.
When she was made aware of a failed attempt to murder the King in 1641, she is said to have been one of the members of the Corte
Corte
Corte is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica. It is the fourth-largest commune in Corsica .-Administration:Corte is a subprefecture of the Haute-Corse department.-History:...
, which supported the execution of nobles like the Duke of Caminha
Duke of Caminha
The title duke of Caminha was created by royal decree, dated from 14 December 1620, by King Philip III of Portugal , to Dom Miguel Luís de Menezes, 6th Marquis of Vila Real and 8th Count of Vila Real.The title was later passed on to his nephew Miguel Luís II, 2nd Duke of Caminha, who was executed...
.
In 1656, she was named Regent of the Kingdom after her husband's death and during the minority of her son Afonso VI. She continued to occupy the post even after Afonso became an adult because her son was mentally unstable. She was the target of a failed conspiracy headed by Luís de Vasconcelos e Sousa, Count of Castelo Melhor
Count of Castelo Melhor
thumb|Luis de Vasconcelos e Sousa, count of Castelo MelhorDom Luís de Vasconcelos e Sousa, 3rd Count of Castelo Melhor was a Portuguese politician and prime minister....
.
She defended the principles of freedom and independence of Portugal and controlled the government with a strong hand, fearing her son was incapable.
She is also mainly responsible for the diplomatic success of the new alliance with England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Her daughter Catherine
Catherine of Braganza
Catherine of Braganza was a Portuguese infanta and queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles II.She married the king in 1662...
married Charles II of England
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
. She is also credited with the organization of the armies that in the next years would completely secure Portuguese independence through the victories in the Portuguese Restoration War
Portuguese Restoration War
Portuguese Restoration War was the name given by nineteenth-century 'romantic' historians to the war between Portugal and Spain that began with the Portuguese revolution of 1640 and ended with the Treaty of Lisbon . The revolution of 1640 ended the sixty-year period of dual monarchy in Portugal...
.
Issue
- Infante Teodósio, Prince of BrazilTeodósio, Prince of BrazilThe Infante Teodósio, Prince of Brazil was a Portuguese infante son of John IV of Portugal and his wife Luisa de Guzmán . In 1645 he was given the title of Prince of Brazil, a new crown-princely position thus created...
(8 February 1634 - 13 May 1653) died unmarried. - Ana de Bragança (21 January 1635) died at birth.
- Infanta Joana, Princess of BeiraJoana, Princess of BeiraThe Infanta Joana, Princess of Beira was a Portuguese infanta , the eldest surviving daughter of John IV, King of Portugal and his wife Luisa de Guzmán , and as such was styled Princess of Beira.-Biography:Joana was born in Vila Viçosa on September 18, 1635 and died in Lisbon on November...
(18 September 1635 - 17 November 1653) died unmarried. - Catarina of PortugalCatherine of BraganzaCatherine of Braganza was a Portuguese infanta and queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles II.She married the king in 1662...
(25 November 1638 - 31 December 1705) married Charles II of EnglandCharles II of EnglandCharles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
and had no surviving issue. - Manuel of Portugal (6 September 1640) died at birth.
- Afonso VI of Portugal (21 August 1643 - 12 September 1683) married Maria Francisca of SavoyMaria Francisca of SavoyMaria 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...
. - Pedro II of Portugal (26 April 1648 - 9 December 1706) married Maria Francisca of Savoy, had issue; married Maria Sophia of Neuburg and had issue.
Titles, styles, honours and arms
Titles and styles
- 31 October 1613 – 12 January 1633 Dona Luisa de Guzmán
- 12 January 1633 – 1 December 1640 Her Ducal Serene Highness The Duchess of Braganza
- 1 December 1640 – 6 November 1656 Her Majesty The Queen of Portugal and the Algarves
- 6 November 1656 – 27 February 1666 Her Majesty The Dowager Queen of Portugal and the Algarves