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Luisa de Guzmán

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Luisa de Guzmán
Portrait attributed to Alonzo Cano, 1632
Queen consort of Portugal
Tenure1 December 1640 – 6 November 1656
Born(1613-10-31)31 October 1613
Sanlúcar, Spain
Died27 February 1666(1666-02-27) (aged 52)
Lisbon, Portugal
Burial
Pantheon of the Braganzas
SpouseJoão IV of Portugal
IssueTeodósio, Prince of Brazil
Joana, Princess of Beira
Catarina, Queen of England
Afonso VI
Pedro II
HouseMedina Sidonia (by birth)
Braganza (by marriage)
FatherJuan Manuel Pérez de Guzmán, 8th Duke of Medina Sidonia
MotherJuana Lorenza Gómez de Sandoval
ReligionRoman Catholicism

Luisa Maria Francisca de Guzmán y Sandoval (Portuguese: Luísa Maria Francisca de Gusmão;[1] 13 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 Peter II) and a queen of England (Catherine of Braganza). She served as regent of Portugal from 1656 until 1662 (informally until her death in 1666).

Biography

Early life

Portrait of D. Luísa de Gusmão; Peninsular School, 17th century.

Luisa was Spanish 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 a high ranking Portuguese noble John, 8th Duke of Braganza in 1633, during the period of the Iberian Union .

Restoration War

Despite her Spanish roots, the ambitious, willful and ruthless Luisa guided her husband's policies during the Portuguese revolution against Habsburg 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:

Antes Rainha um dia que Duquesa toda a vida.

Rather Queen for a day than Duchess all my life.

In some sources this is quoted as for an hour instead of for a day.

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.

Regency

Luisa de Guzmán, Queen Consort of Portugal; José de Avelar Rebelo

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 in 1662, 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 eldest son was incapable and hoping that eventually her youngest son would take the crown.

Luisa was politically astute and 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 following years would completely ensure Portuguese independence through the victories in the Portuguese Restoration War.

Issue

Arms of Luísa de Guzmán, Queen of Portugal
  1. Infante Teodósio, Prince of Brazil (8 February 1634 – 13 May 1653) died unmarried.
  2. Ana of Braganza (21 January 1635) died at birth.
  3. Infanta Joana, Princess of Beira (18 September 1635 – 17 November 1653) died unmarried.
  4. Catherine of Braganza (25 November 1638 – 31 December 1705) married Charles II of England and had no surviving issue.
  5. Manuel of Portugal (6 September 1640) died at birth.
  6. Afonso VI of Portugal (21 August 1643 – 12 September 1683) married Maria Francisca of Savoy.
  7. 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.

Ancestry

Family of Luisa de Guzmán
16. Juan Alfonso Pérez de Guzmán, 6th Duke of Medina Sidonia
8. Juan Carlos Pérez de Guzmán, 9th Count of Niebla
17. Ana de Aragón
4. Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia
18. Francisco de Sotomayor, 5th Count of Belalcázar
9. Leonor de Sotomayor
19. Teresa de Zúñiga, 3rd Duchess of Béjar
2. Juan Manuel Pérez de Guzmán, 8th Duke of Medina Sidonia
20. Francisco da Silva, 4th Lord of Chamusca and Ulme
10. Rui Gomes da Silva, 1st Prince of Éboli
21. Maria Telles de Menezes
5. Ana de Silva
22. Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, 1st Prince of Melito
11. Ana de Mendoza, 2nd Princess of Mélito
23. Catalina de Silva
1. Luisa de Guzmán
24. Luis Gómez de Sandoval, 3rd Marquis de Denia
12. Francisco Gómez de Sandoval, 4th Marquis of Denia
25. Catalina de Zúñiga
6. Francisco Gómez de Sandoval, 1st Duke of Lerma
26. Saint Francis Borgia, 4th Duke of Gandía
13. Isabel de Borja
27. Leonor de Castro
3. Juana Gómez de Sandoval
28. Juan de la Cerda, 2nd Duke of Medinaceli
14. Juan de la Cerda, 4th Duke of Medinaceli
29. Maria de Silva
7. Catalina de la Cerda
30. Sancho de Noronha, 3rd Count of Odemira
15. Joana de Noronha
31. Angela Fabra y Centelles

References

  1. ^ "Luísa Gusmão", Dicionário (in Portuguese), Arq net {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help).
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Royal titles
Preceded by Queen consort of Portugal
1640–1656 		Vacant
Title next held by
Maria Francisca of Savoy
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