Maria I of Portugal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maria I
D. Maria I by Miguel António do Amaral, 1777
Queen of Portugal and the Algarves later Queen of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves
Reign	24 February 1777 – 20 March 1816
Predecessor	Joseph I
Successor	John VI
Regent	João, Prince Regent (1792–1816)
Born	(1734-12-17)17 December 1734 Ribeira Palace, Lisbon Kingdom of Portugal
Died	20 March 1816(1816-03-20) (aged 81) Rio de Janeiro, Kingdom of Brazil
Burial	Estrela Basilica, Lisbon, Portugal
Spouse	Peter III of Portugal
Issue details...	José, Prince of Brazil John VI of Portugal Infanta Mariana Victoria
Full name Maria Francisca Isabel Josefa Antónia Gertrudes Rita Joana de Bragança
House	House of Braganza
Father	Joseph I of Portugal
Mother	Mariana Victoria of Spain
Religion	Roman Catholic

Maria I (English: Mary I) (17 December 1734 – 20 March 1816) was the Queen of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves. Known as Maria the Pious (in Portugal), or Maria the Mad (in Brazil), she was the first undisputed Queen (in her own right) of Portugal. Her court, then under the direction of her eldest son and heir Dom João, the Prince Regent, moved to the then Portuguese colony of Brazil. Later on, Brazil would be elevated from the rank of a colony to that of a Kingdom. This led to the formation of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves.

Early life

Maria was born at the Ribeira Royal Palace in Lisbon. On the day of her birth, her grandfather, King João V, created her the Princess of Beira. She was the eldest of all her four siblings.

When her father succeeded to the throne in 1750 as José I, Maria became his heiress presumptive and was given the traditional titles of Princess of Brazil and Duchess of Braganza. She was also an Infanta of Portugal from birth and thus entitled to the style of Royal Highness. She grew up during the dominating Marquis of Pombal

Marriage

In 1760 Maria married her uncle Pedro, younger brother of her father Jose I. They had six children, of whom the eldest surviving son succeeded Maria as João VI on her death in 1816.

Titles and Styles

• 17 December 1734 – 31 July 1750 Her Royal Highness The Princess of Beira, Duchess of Barcelos
• 31 July 1750 – 24 February 1777 Her Royal Highness The Princess of Brazil, Duchess of Braganza
• 24 February 1777 – 16 December 1815 Her Most Faithful Majesty The Queen of Portugal and the Algarves
• 16 December 1815 – 20 March 1816 Her Most Faithful Majesty The Queen of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves

Images for kids

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  D. Maria Francisca, Princess of Beira, Duchess of Barcelos; Pavona; 1739.

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  Maria Francisca Isabel, Princess of Brazil. Portrait by Vieira Lusitano, 1753

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  Portrait by Miguel António do Amaral of Queen Dona Maria I and King Dom Pedro III, c. 1877–80

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  4 escudos coin with effigy of Maria I and Pedro III, 1785

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  Engraving of Maria I from 1786

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  Maria's second son, Prince Regent Dom João, with a bust of his mother

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  Tomb of Maria I at Estrela Basilica in Lisbon, Portugal

See also

• In Spanish: María I de Portugal