| Isabel of Coimbra | |
|---|---|
 Detail of theSaint Vincent Panels masterpiece byNuno Gonçalves | |
| Queen consort of Portugal | |
| Tenure | 6 May 1447 – 2 December 1455 |
| Born | 1 March 1432 Coimbra |
| Died | 2 December 1455(1455-12-02) (aged 23) Évora |
| Burial | |
| Spouse | Afonso V of Portugal |
| Issue | |
| House | Aviz |
| Father | Peter, Duke of Coimbra |
| Mother | Isabella of Urgell |
Infanta Isabel of Coimbra (Isabella of Portugal) (1 March 1432 – 2 December 1455)[1] was a Portugueseinfanta andQueen of Portugal as the first wife of KingAfonso V of Portugal.
Born in Coimbra in 1432, Isabella was the eldest daughter of theInfante Peter, Duke of Coimbra andIsabella of Aragon, Countess of Urgel.[2][3] Her paternal grandfather was KingJohn I of Portugal and her maternal grandfather wasJames II, Count of Urgel. Beginning in 1439, Isabella's father Peter served asregent for her cousinAfonso V during his minority.[4][5]
Isabella received a comprehensive Renaissance education influenced by the works ofChristine de Pizan.[6]
In accordance with the wishes of the lateEdward of Portugal, Peter arranged Isabella's betrothal to Afonso V in 1441.[3][7] The engagement caused conflict withAfonso, Count of Barcelos, Peter's half-brother and political enemy, who had wished for the monarch to marry his granddaughter.[8][9] Relations further deteriorated when Peter had Isabella'sbrother elected theConstable of Portugal in 1443, a title that the Count of Barcelos believed rightfully belonged to his eldest son,Afonso, Marquis of Valença.[10][11]
Isabella and Afonso V were married on 6 May 1447.[3][12] Both bride and groom were fifteen.[13]Isabella was given the income ofSantarém,Alvaiázere,Sintra andTorres Vedras at her wedding.[citation needed]
The Count of Barcelos began to wield more influence over Afonso and persuaded him to dismiss Peter in July 1448. Tensions escalated in the following months; Afonso annulled all edicts passed during the regency, stripped Isabella's brother of the title of Constable, and isolated Peter to his estates in Coimbra. In early 1449, Afonso interpreted Peter's refusal to yield all arms as an act of rebellion and began preparing for civil war.[14][15]
Deeply devoted to both her husband and her father, Isabella did her best to mediate.[16] She reportedly dropped to her knees and implored Afonso to have mercy on Peter.[17][18] Afonso responded that he would be lenient if his father-in-law requested pardon.[19] Peter reluctantly agreed, writing to Isabella, "This I do, lady, rather to please you, and because you have so bidden me, than because I deem it in reason for me to do."[18] Afonso considered the penitence insincere and therefore unacceptable.[19]
Isabella's father rebelled and was killed in theBattle of Alfarrobeira in 1449.[20] Her siblings were then exiled:John,James, andBeatrice went to the court of their auntIsabella in Burgundy, while her brother Peter fled to Castile.[21] Isabella herself did not fall out of favour with the king, however, and she took control of the duchy of Coimbra until her brother John returned to Portugal in 1454.
In 1455, Isabella had her father honoured with a ceremony of exoneration at court and had him re-buried in a grand way.[22] Shortly after this, she died at age twenty-three, possibly frompoisoning.[23][24] In her will, she left her inheritance to her sister,Philippa of Coimbra.[25]
Isabella had three children:
| Ancestors of Isabel of Coimbra |
|---|
Isabel of Coimbra Cadet branch of theHouse of Burgundy Born: 1 March 1432 Died: 2 December 1455 | ||
| Portuguese royalty | ||
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| Vacant Title last held by Eleanor of Aragon | Queen consort of Portugal and the Algarves 6 May 1447 – 2 December 1455 | Vacant Title next held by Joanna la Beltraneja |
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