Maria Manuela, Princess of Portugal

For other people with the same name, see Maria of Portugal.

Dona Maria Manuela (15 October 1527 – 12 July 1545^[1]) was the eldest daughter and second child of King John III of Portugal and his wife Catherine of Austria.^[2] She was Princess of Asturias and Duchess of Milan as the first wife of the future Philip II of Spain, and Princess of Portugal as heir presumptive to the Portuguese throne between 1527 and 1535.

Maria Manuela
Princess of Portugal, Princess of Asturias
Portrait by Antonis Mor
Duchess consort of Milan
Tenure	12 November 1543 – 12 July 1545
Born	15 October 1527 Coimbra
Died	12 July 1545(1545-07-12) (aged 17) Valladolid
Burial	El Escorial
Spouse	Philip, Prince of Asturias (later Philip II of Spain) ​ ​ (m. 1543)​
Issue	Carlos, Prince of Asturias
House	Aviz
Father	John III of Portugal
Mother	Catherine of Austria

Early life

Maria was born in Coimbra on 15 October 1527 and was one of the two children of John III to survive childhood.^[2] In her youth, Maria received a humanistic education that was considered typical for a princess of her time.^[3]

Marriage and later life

She married her double first cousin Philip II of Spain on 12 November 1543 at Salamanca.^[4] As she was to be married to the Prince of Asturias, heir apparent to the Spanish crown, and being an Infanta of Portugal, their wedding became one of the most remarkable in the history of Spain due to its opulence. Contemporary writers have left detailed descriptions of the journey from Madrid to Badajoz to Salamanca to receive the princess and of the luxuries she was given by the Duke of Medina Sidonia in Badajoz.

She gave birth to their son Carlos on 8 July 1545 in Valladolid, but died four days later due to a haemorrhage.^[1] She was initially buried in the Royal Chapel of Granada on 30 March 1549 but was later transferred to Royal Crypt of the Monastery of El Escorial.

Ancestry

Coat of arms of Maria Manuela of Portugal as Princess of Asturias

Ancestors of Maria Manuela of Portugal

8. Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu[5] 4. Manuel I of Portugal[5] 9. Beatrice of Portugal[5] 2. John III of Portugal 10. Ferdinand II of Aragon[6] 5. Maria of Aragon[5] 11. Isabella I of Castile[6] 1. Maria Manuela of Portugal 12. Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor[7] 6. Philip I of Castile[8] 13. Mary, Duchess of Burgundy[7] 3. Catherine of Austria 14. Ferdinand II of Aragon[9] (= 10) 7. Joanna I of Castile[8] 15. Isabella I of Castile[9] (= 11)