Marriage Treaty facts for kids

The wedding of King Charles II and Catherine of Braganza.

The Marriage Treaty was an important agreement between England and Portugal. It was signed on June 23, 1661. This treaty led to the marriage of England's King Charles II and Catherine of Braganza. Catherine was the daughter of John IV of Portugal.

This marriage was a "marriage of state." This means it was arranged for political reasons, not just for love. Such marriages were very common for royal families back then. The treaty also made the old alliance between England and Portugal strong again. This alliance had existed since the Middle Ages.

Why the Treaty Happened

King Charles II had recently become king again in England, Scotland, and Ireland. This time was called the Restoration. Both Portugal and Spain wanted to be friends with Charles. They each suggested different princesses for him to marry.

Charles had been allied with Spain before. But his relationship with Spain was becoming difficult. Spain wanted England to give back lands taken by the English Republic, like Jamaica. Charles decided to marry Catherine of Braganza from Portugal instead. This decision was strongly supported by important English leaders like Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon and James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde.

What the Treaty Included

The Marriage Treaty had several key parts:

• Money and Land: Catherine's family gave a large cash payment to England. She also brought control of Bombay (in India) as part of her dowry. A dowry is money or property a bride brings to her marriage. England also gained control of Tangier in North Africa. Tangier was a useful port for the English navy and for trade.
• Military Help: England agreed to send 2,000 foot soldiers and 500 horses to help Portugal. Portugal was fighting a war against Spain at the time. This war was called the Portuguese Restoration War.
• Religious Freedom: The treaty also said that Catherine and her family could freely practice their Roman Catholic religion in England.

Over time, some of the lands England gained became difficult to manage. King Charles sold England's rights over Bombay to the East India Company. Tangier was kept for a while but was eventually given up by 1684. This was because of constant attacks from local forces.

As agreed in the treaty, British and Irish troops were sent to Portugal. These troops helped Portugal win its war against Spain. Portugal finally secured its independence in 1668.

King Charles II and Queen Catherine were not able to have any children. So, when Charles died in 1685, the throne went to his brother, James II of England.