Catherine of Braganza: Difference between revisions
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Catherine of Braganza was the daughter of John of Braganza, later King John IV of Portugal, and Luiza Maria, daughter of Juan Manuel Domingo Perez de Guzman (eighth duke of Medina Sidonia). In 1644, King John tried to arrange a marriage between his daughter and Charles Stuart, Prince of Wales, but his idea was rejected. | Catherine of Braganza was the daughter of John of Braganza, later King John IV of Portugal, and Luiza Maria, daughter of Juan Manuel Domingo Perez de Guzman (eighth duke of Medina Sidonia). In 1644, King John tried to arrange a marriage between his daughter and Charles Stuart, Prince of Wales, but his idea was rejected. | ||
Some scholars say that Catherine was raised in a | <ref>Some scholars say that Catherine was raised in a convent</ref>; <ref>others argue that she was brought up in the royal palace</ref>. In 1660, her mother renewed the marriage proposal between Catherine and Charles and this time the Royal family agreed. The English were interested in her marriage portion –£300,000, the strategic trading posts Tangier and Bombay as well as free trade with the East Indies and Brazil. In return, the Portuguese sought English protection against Spain. The marriage treaty was signed on 23 June 1661. | ||
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'''References''' | |||
1. Panzer, Marita A. Englands Königinnen, p. 128. | 1. Panzer, Marita A. Englands Königinnen, p. 128. | ||
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2. Wynne, S. M. ‘Catherine (1638–1705)’, ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography''. | 2. Wynne, S. M. ‘Catherine (1638–1705)’, ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography''. | ||
''' | '''Bibliography''' | ||
"Catherine Of Braganza." ''Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Academic Edition''. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 21 Apr. 2013. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/99703/Catherine-of-Braganza>. | "Catherine Of Braganza." ''Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Academic Edition''. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 21 Apr. 2013. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/99703/Catherine-of-Braganza>. | ||
Revision as of 12:19, 16 May 2013
Catherine of Braganza
Catherine of Braganza * 25.11.1638, Vila Viçosa in Alentejo, Portugal; † 31.12.1705, Lisbon, Portugal. Wife of King Charles II. of England.
Early life
Catherine of Braganza was the daughter of John of Braganza, later King John IV of Portugal, and Luiza Maria, daughter of Juan Manuel Domingo Perez de Guzman (eighth duke of Medina Sidonia). In 1644, King John tried to arrange a marriage between his daughter and Charles Stuart, Prince of Wales, but his idea was rejected.
[1]; [2]. In 1660, her mother renewed the marriage proposal between Catherine and Charles and this time the Royal family agreed. The English were interested in her marriage portion –£300,000, the strategic trading posts Tangier and Bombay as well as free trade with the East Indies and Brazil. In return, the Portuguese sought English protection against Spain. The marriage treaty was signed on 23 June 1661.
Queen of England
When Catherine landed in Portsmouth on 13 May 1662, she spoke almost no English. Charles II. and Catherine married on 21 May 1662 in Portsmouth. Catherine insisted on a catholic ceremony. Therefore, the couple married first in a secret catholic ceremony, second in a public protestant ceremony.
Charles II. was known for being strongly interested in his mistresses. He did not stop this behaviour after his marriage. Catherine adjusted with her husband’s affairs. After several miscarriages, discontent arose among the English people because Catherine could not bear an heir to the throne. Charles’ had several illegitimate children, though. Another problem was Catherine’s faith. In a mainly protestant country, a catholic queen was not appreciated by the people. In 1678, for instance, Titus Oates even tried to overthrow the queen by telling the parliament that she had plotted to kill the king, but he failed. In 1685, Charles II. fell ill and died on 6 February.
Life after Charles’ Death and Return to Portugal
After her husband’s death, Catherine lived in Somerset House as well as in her summer residence Hammersmith. She experienced less difficulties regarding her catholic religion as the new king, King James II., was catholic himself. In 1692 she left England and returned to Portugal.
She moved to a palace in Bemposta near Lisbon. In 1704 her brother, King Pedro II., fell ill and she had to assume the reins of government. Catherine managed to defend Portugal against Spain and she ruled the country as a regent until her death on 31 December 1705.
References
1. Panzer, Marita A. Englands Königinnen, p. 128.
2. Wynne, S. M. ‘Catherine (1638–1705)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
Bibliography
"Catherine Of Braganza." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 21 Apr. 2013. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/99703/Catherine-of-Braganza>.
HUTTON,RONALD. The Restoration. A Political and Religious History of England and Wales 1658-1667. Oxford: Clarendon Press 1985.
PANZER, MARITA A. Englands Königinnen. München: Piper Verlag GmbH 2003.
WYNNE, S. M. ‘Catherine (1638–1705)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 accessed 21 April 2013.