Maria of Aragon, Queen of Portugal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maria of Aragon |
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Stained glass depiction, c. 1510–1513
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| Queen consort of Portugal | |
| Tenure | 30 October 1500 – 7 March 1517 |
| Born | 29 June 1482 Córdoba, Kingdom of Castile |
| Died | 7 March 1517 (aged 34) Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal |
| Burial | Jerónimos Monastery, Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal |
| Spouse | |
| Issue see details... |
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| House | Trastámara |
| Father | Ferdinand II of Aragon |
| Mother | Isabella I of Castile |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Maria of Aragon (born June 29, 1482 – died March 7, 1517) was the Queen of Portugal. She became queen by marrying King Manuel I. Manuel had been married to Maria's older sister, Isabella, who had passed away.
Contents
Life of Queen Maria
Her Early Life
Maria was born in Córdoba, Spain, on June 29, 1482. Her parents were Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. They were famous rulers known as the "Catholic Monarchs."
Maria was their fourth child to survive. She received a very good education, just like her sisters. She learned about household skills, math, Latin, and other languages. She also studied history, philosophy, and classic books.
Her Marriage
As a princess of Spain (called an infanta), Maria's marriage was very important for European politics. Before marrying Manuel I of Portugal, her parents thought about marrying her to King James IV of Scotland. This was around the time her younger sister, Catherine, was planning to marry Arthur, Prince of Wales.
Ferdinand and Isabella hoped that if Maria became Queen of Scotland, the two sisters could help keep peace between their husbands' countries. However, these plans did not happen.
Maria's oldest sister, Isabella, was the first wife of King Manuel I. When Isabella died in 1498, King Manuel needed to marry again. Maria became his next wife. This marriage helped to keep strong family ties between the royal families of Spain and Portugal.
Manuel and Maria were married in Alcácer do Sal on October 30, 1500. Maria received lands like Viseu and Torres Vedras as part of her marriage agreement. She had 10 children with Manuel. Eight of them grew up to be adults. These included King John III of Portugal, Empress Isabella, and Duchess Beatrice.
As Queen of Portugal
Queen Maria was described as having a serious personality. She was also said to be pale and thin. Even though she was queen during a very rich time in Portuguese history, she did not play a big role in politics.
Maria was very serious and religious. She spent her time sewing, praying, and making sure her children were well-educated. She followed the ideas of her own parents in raising her children. She stayed in close contact with her parents through letters. She also got along well with her husband's sister, Isabel, and the former queen, Beatrice. Her royal court was large, with many ladies-in-waiting from both Spain and Portugal.
King Manuel respected Maria's religious nature. He treated her well and gave her expensive clothes and jewelry, especially when she was expecting a child.
Maria was not known for being very active in politics. However, old stories say she sometimes convinced her husband to show kindness to others. She was involved in religious matters. She supported King Manuel's religious plans, which included ideas to conquer certain lands and protect Christian holy places. She also helped to establish the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon.
During her time in Portugal, Maria was often pregnant. She usually had only a few months between giving birth and becoming pregnant again. This affected her health. After giving birth in 1516, she was very tired. She passed away in Lisbon on March 7, 1517. She was buried at the Jerónimos Monastery in Belém.
Her Legacy
In 1580, the family connections from Maria's marriage led to a problem over who would rule Portugal. This problem, called a succession crisis, resulted in her grandson, Philip II of Spain, becoming King of Portugal (as Philip I of Portugal).
Her Children
Maria and King Manuel had the following children:
| Name | Birth | Death | Notes |
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| King John III | 6 June 1502 | 11 June 1557 | He became King of Portugal after his father, Manuel. He had children. |
| Infanta Isabella | 24 October 1503 | 1 May 1539 | She married Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. She had children. |
| Infanta Beatrice | 31 December 1504 | 8 January 1538 | She married Charles III, Duke of Savoy. She had children. |
| Infante Luis, Duke of Beja | 3 March 1506 | 27 November 1555 | He did not marry but had children outside of marriage. One of them was Antonio, Prior of Crato, who tried to claim the Portuguese throne in 1580. |
| Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Guarda | 5 June 1507 | 7 November 1534 | He married Guiomar Coutinho. They did not have children who survived. |
| Infante Afonso | 23 April 1509 | 21 April 1540 | He became a Cardinal, a high-ranking church official. |
| King Henry | 31 January 1512 | 31 January 1580 | He was also a Cardinal. He became the 17th King of Portugal after his grandnephew, King Sebastian, passed away. His death caused the struggle for the throne of Portugal. |
| Infanta Maria | 3 February 1513 | She died at birth. | |
| Infante Duarte, Duke of Guimarães | 7 October 1515 | 20 September 1540 | He was the Duke of Guimarães. He was the great-grandfather of John IV of Portugal. He married Isabella of Braganza. |
| Infante Antonio | 9 September 1516 | He died at birth. | |
After Maria passed away, her husband, King Manuel, married a third time in 1518. His new wife was Maria's niece, Eleanor of Austria.
Images for kids
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Stained glass depiction, c. 1510–1513
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Maria of Aragon, Queen of Portugal
Born: 29 June 1482 Died: 7 March 1517 |
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| Portuguese royalty | ||
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| Vacant
Title last held by
Isabella of Aragon |
Queen consort of Portugal 30 October 1500 – 7 March 1517 |
Vacant
Title next held by
Eleanor of Austria |
See also
In Spanish: María de Aragón (1482-1517) para niños
