Peter III of Portugal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Peter III |
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Portrait by Vieira Lusitano, c. 1760–70.
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| King of Portugal (jure uxoris) | |
| Reign | 24 February 1777 – 25 May 1786 |
| Predecessor | Joseph I |
| Successor | Maria I |
| Co-monarch | Maria I |
| Born | 5 July 1717 Lisbon, Portugal |
| Died | 25 May 1786 (aged 68) Queluz, Portugal |
| Burial | Pantheon of the Braganzas |
| Spouse | Maria I of Portugal (m. 1760) |
| Issue Detail |
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| House | Braganza |
| Father | John V of Portugal |
| Mother | Maria Anna of Austria |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Dom Peter III (born 5 July 1717 – died 25 May 1786), also known as the Builder, was the King of Portugal. He ruled from 1777 until his death in 1786. Peter became king because he was married to his wife and niece, Queen Maria I. They ruled Portugal together.
Early Life of Peter III
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Peter was born on 5 July 1717 in Lisbon, Portugal. His parents were King John V of Portugal and Queen Maria Anna of Austria. Peter was the younger brother of Joseph I of Portugal, who would later become king.
Peter's Time as King
Peter married his niece, Maria, in 1760. At that time, Maria was the next in line to the throne. When Maria became queen, Peter became king alongside her. This was because they had already had their first child. They had six children together. Their oldest son who lived, John VI of Portugal, later became king after Maria.
Peter did not get involved much in running the government. He preferred to spend his time hunting or doing religious activities. He also supported the important noble families of Portugal. He helped those who were accused in the Távora affair, a big scandal at the time. He wanted their good names cleared and their properties returned.
Peter III was somewhat friendly towards the Jesuits. The Jesuits were a religious group who had been forced to leave Portugal in 1759. Peter had been taught by Jesuits when he was younger, which explains his feelings. However, his support did not change much. The Pope ordered the Jesuits to be removed from all of Europe in 1773.
Marriage and Children
Peter and Maria were married on 6 June 1760. Maria was 25 years old and Peter was 42. Even with the age difference, they had a happy marriage. Peter became co-monarch (King Peter III) when Maria became queen, as they already had a child. The couple had six children together.
| Royal styles of King Pedro III of Portugal |
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| Reference style | His Most Faithful Majesty |
| Spoken style | Your Most Faithful Majesty |
| Alternative style | Sire |
| Name | Born | Died | Notes |
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| José, Prince of Brazil | 20 August 1761 | 11 September 1788 | He married Infanta Benedita of Portugal but they had no children. His death meant his younger brother became the next in line to the throne. |
| João Francisco de Bragança | 16 September 1763 | 10 October 1763 | He was born at the Ajuda National Palace. He died when he was a baby. |
| João VI | 13 May 1767 | 10 March 1826 | He married Carlota Joaquina of Spain and they had children. He later became King of Portugal and Emperor of Brazil. |
| Mariana Victoria de Bragança | 15 December 1768 | 2 November 1788 | She married Infante Gabriel of Spain and they had children. |
| Maria Clementina de Bragança | 9 June 1774 | 27 June 1776 | She was born at the Queluz National Palace. She died when she was a toddler. |
| Maria Isabel de Bragança | 12 December 1776 | 14 January 1777 | She was born at the Queluz National Palace. She died when she was a baby. |
