Afonso I | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Braganza | |
 posthumous engraving; Carlos António Leoni | |
| Tenure | 30 December 1442 –15 December 1461 |
| Born | 10 August 1377 Veiros,Estremoz,Alentejo, Portugal |
| Died | 15 December 1461 (aged 84) Chaves,Trás-os-Montes, Portugal |
| Family | House of Braganza |
| Spouses | Beatriz Pereira de Alvim (m.1400,d. 1415) Constance de Noronha |
| Issue Detail | |
| Father | John I of Portugal |
| Mother | Inês Peres |
DomAfonso I of Braganza (Portuguese pronunciation:[ɐˈfõsu]; 10 August 1377 – 15 December 1461) was the firstduke of Braganza and the eighthcount of Barcelos. He founded theHouse of Braganza, the most powerful and wealthy dynasty in Portugal. His descendants became high-ranking nobles, imperial officials, and finallykings of Portugal andemperors of Brazil.
Historians believe he was born in Veiros,Estremoz,Alentejo, as a natural son ofPortugueseKingJohn I and Inês Peres.[1] He married the heiressBeatriz Pereira de Alvim, daughter ofNuno Álvares Pereira, a general and the wealthiest man in the kingdom.
A traveled and cultivated man, Afonso was present in 1415 when the Portuguese conqueredCeuta.
When his half-brother, KingDuarte I of Portugal, died in 1438, his sonAfonso V (Afonso's nephew) was an infant and the choice of regent was his sister-in-law, the Queen MotherEleonor of Aragon. This choice was not popular because Eleonor was Aragonese. Among the aristocracy, however — especially Afonso's inner circle —, Eleonor of Aragon was preferred. There were also doubts about Peter's political ability. At a meeting of thePortuguese Cortes summoned by Afonso's half-brotherJohn, Lord of Reguengos de Monsaraz, the regency was awarded to theInfante Peter, Duke of Coimbra, another half-brother of Afonso and an uncle of the young king. This choice pleased both the people and the fast-growingbourgeoisie.
In 1443, in a gesture of reconciliation, Peter made Afonso the firstDuke of Braganza.[2] But, in 1445, Afonso took offence becauseIsabella of Coimbra, Peter's daughter, became the choice for Afonso V's wife, and not one of his granddaughters. Indifferent to the intrigues, Peter continued his regency and the country prospered under his rule. It was during this period that the first subsidies for the exploration of theAtlantic Ocean were appropriated under the supervision ofHenry the Navigator (another of Afonso's half-brothers).
On 9 June 1448, King Afonso V came of age, and Peter turned over control of the country to the king. An ambitious man, Afonso persuaded his nephew, the young king, to turn against Peter. Influenced by Afonso, the king nullified all of Peter's edicts.
The following year, under accusations that years later would prove false, Afonso V declared his uncle Peter a rebel. The situation became unsustainable and a civil war began. On 20 May 1449, during theBattle of Alfarrobeira, nearAlverca, Peter was killed.[2]
After the Battle of Alfarrobeira, Afonso V gave new powers to his uncle Afonso and nine years later when he departed forAfrica, the regency was delegated to him.
Afonso married twice. His first marriage was toBeatriz Pereira de Alvim, on 8 November 1400, with whom he had three children:
| Name | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afonso | 1401 | 9 October 1460 | 4thCount of Ourém, 1stMarquis of Valença |
| Isabella | October 1402 | 26 October 1466 | MarriedJohn, Lord of Reguengos de Monsaraz |
| Fernando I | 1403 | 1 April 1478 | 9thCount of Barcelos, 5thCount of Ourém, 3rdCount of Arraiolos, 2ndDuke of Braganza, 1stMarquis of Vila Viçosa, 1stCount of Neiva |
Afonso married a second time, to his first cousin once removed, Constance of Noronha, daughter ofAlfonso Enríquez, Count of Gijón and Noreña (a natural son ofHenry II of Castile), and ofIsabel of Portugal (a natural daughter ofFernando I of Portugal). They had no issue.
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Media related toAfonso I of Braganza at Wikimedia CommonsAfonso I, Duke of Braganza Cadet branch of theHouse of Aviz Born: 10 August 1377 Died: 15 December 1461 | ||
| Portuguese nobility | ||
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| Preceded by | Count of Barcelos 1401–1461 | Succeeded by |
| New title | Duke of Braganza 1442–1461 | |
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