Portuguese succession crisis of 1580

Succession crisis

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The Portuguese succession crisis of 1580 (Portuguese: Crise de sucessão de 1580) emerged as a result of the disappearance of young King Sebastian I of Portugal in the Battle of Alcácer Quibir in 1578 and his successor and great-uncle Henry I in 1580. As Sebastian and Henry lacked immediate heirs, a dynastic crisis unfolded, marked by internal conflicts and external contenders vying for the Portuguese throne. Ultimately, Philip II of Spain succeeded Henry I as King of Portugal, uniting the Portuguese and Spanish Crowns in the Iberian Union. This personal union endured for 60 years, during which the Portuguese Empire faced decline and global challenges, notably the Dutch–Portuguese War.

## The Cardinal-King

[edit]

After the disastrous Battle of Alcácer Quibir in 1578, the Cardinal Henry, Sebastian's grand-uncle, succeeded him as king.[1][a] Henry renounced his clerical offices and sought to take a bride for the continuation of the Aviz dynasty, but Pope Gregory XIII, affiliated with Philip II, did not release him from his vows.[3] In January 1580, when the Cortes were assembled in Almeirim to decide upon an heir, the Cardinal-King died and the Regency of the Kingdom was assumed by a Council of five members.[4]

## Claimants to the throne

[edit]

An 18th-century engraving depicting the different claimants' familial relationship through Manuel I of Portugal.

By this time the Portuguese throne was disputed by several claimants. Among them were:[5]

* Ranuccio Farnese
Hereditary Duke of Parma

* Catherine of Portugal
Duchess of Braganza

* Philip II
King of Spain

* António of Portugal
Prior of Crato

* Emmanuel Philibert
Duke of Savoy

The descendants of the Duchess of Braganza obtained the throne in 1640 (in the person of her grandson John IV of Portugal),[6] but in 1580, she was only one of several possible heirs. The heir by primogeniture was her nephew Ranuccio Farnese, being the son of Catherine's late older sister Maria,[7] followed by his siblings; then the Duchess herself and her children; and only after them, King Philip. Philip II was a foreigner (although his mother was Portuguese) and descended from Manuel I by a female line;[8] as for Anthony, although he was Manuel I's grandson in the male line, he was of illegitimate birth.[9]

The heir by primogeniture, 11-year-old Ranuccio Farnese, Hereditary Duke of Parma and Piacenza, was the grandson of Infante Duarte of Portugal,[10] the only son of Manuel I whose legitimate descendants survived at that time. However, his father Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma was an ally of the Spanish king, another contender, so Ranuccio's rights were not claimed at that time.[11] Ranuccio became reigning Duke of Parma in 1592.

Instead, Ranuccio's maternal aunt Catherine, Duchess of Braganza, asserted her claim as the daughter of Infante Duarte. Catherine was married to João I, Duke of Braganza (descendant in male line from Afonso I, Duke of Braganza, an illegitimate son of King John I of Portugal), who himself was grandson of the late Duke Jaime of Braganza, also a legitimate heir of Portugal, being the son of Infanta Isabella, sister of Manuel I and daughter of Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu, second son of King Duarte I. The duchess also had a son, Dom Teodósio de Braganza, who would be her royal heir and successor to the throne. Catherine's relatively strong claim was bolstered by her residency in Portugal. Although she was Henry's preferred successor,[12] her bid for queenship ultimately failed due to her sex, the powerful influence of Philip II, and the unpopularity of her husband.[7]

According to primogeniture, the line of succession of the Portuguese throne would have been:

1. Ranuccio Farnese, Hereditary Duke of Parma and his siblings Odoardo and Margherita
2. Infanta Catherine, Duchess of Braganza and her children
3. Philip II of Spain and his children
4. Maria of Austria, Holy Roman Empress, Philip's sister, and her children
5. Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy and his children (son of Beatrice of Portugal, Duchess of Savoy, daughter of Manuel I)

### Genealogical summary

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Claimants following King Henry I's death (1580)

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| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | MANUEL I
14th K.Portugal| | | | | | | | | | Isabella
of Viseu| | | | | | Ferdinand II
3rd D.Braganza
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | James
4th D.Braganza
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
JOHN III
15th K.Portugal| | | | | | Isabella
m.Charles V
Emp.& K.Spain| | Beatrice
m.Charles III
D.Savoy| | Louis
5th D.Beja| | HENRY I
Cardinal, dwi
17th K.Portugal| | Edward I
4th D.Guimarães| | Isabella of
Braganza| | Teodósio I
5th D.Braganza
3rd D.Guimarães

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
John
Prince| | Joan| | Philip II/I
K.Spain
Candidate
19th K.Portugal| | Emmanuel Filiberto
D.Savoy
Candidate| | António I
Prior of Crato
Candidate
18th K.Portugal| | Maria
m.Alexander
D.Parma| | Edward II
5th D.Guimarães
dwi| | Catherine
Candidate| | John I
6th D.Braganza
Candidate
| | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | SEBASTIAN I
16th K.Portugal
dwi| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ranuccio Farnese
D.Parma
Candidate| | | | | | Teodósio II
7th D.Braganza
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Emp.=Emperor,
K.=King, D.=Duke,
m.=married,
dwi=died without issue| | | | | | | | | | | | | | John II/IV
8th D.Braganza
6th D.Guimarães
22nd K. Portugal
Catherine de' Medici claimed the Portuguese Throne, but her claim was widely rejected.

### Other Claimants

[edit]

Catherine de' Medici, Queen mother of France, used a claimed descendance from King Afonso III of Portugal from his first marriage with Matilda, Countess of Boulogne to advance with a claim to the Portuguese Throne.[13] Her claim was likely only presented to entice Philip to offer compensation for its withdrawal.[14] She later aided António, providing him with a French fleet.[15]

The Pope, at the time Gregory XIII, also had a claim to the Portuguese Throne, since King Henry was a Cardinal and the inheritance of all cardinals reverts to the Church.[16] The pope claimed it was his right to have the Kingdom of Portugal, as well as a property that had belonged to the King.

Neither claim was seriously considered.[16]

## António of Portugal and Philip of Spain

[edit]

See also: War of the Portuguese Succession

António, Prior of Crato (1531–1595) was a claimant of the Portuguese throne during the 1580 crisis and, according to some historians,[17] King of Portugal (during a short time in 1580 in mainland Portugal, and since then until 1583, in the Azores). António was the illegitimate son of Infante Luis (1506–1555), and therefore grandson of King Manuel I.[8] It was precisely because of his illegitimacy that his claim to the throne was weak and considered invalid.[18]

Philip II of Spain managed to bring the aristocracy of the kingdom as support to his side.[19] For the aristocracy, a personal union with Spain would prove highly profitable for Portugal at a time when the state finances were suffering.[20] António tried to seduce the people for his cause, comparing the present situation to that of the Crisis of 1385.[21] Then—just as in 1580—the king of Castile had invoked blood descent to inherit the Portuguese throne; and the Master of Aviz (John I), illegitimate son of King Peter I, asserted his right to the throne at the Battle of Aljubarrota, which ended in a victory for John's troops, and in the Cortes of Coimbra in 1385.

In June 1580,[b] António proclaimed himself King of Portugal in Santarém,[22] followed by acclamation in several locations throughout the country.[20] His domestic government lasted until 25 August 1580, when he was defeated in the Battle of Alcântara by Habsburg armies led by the Duke of Alba.[23] After the fall of Lisbon, he purported to rule the country from Terceira Island, in the Azores, where he established a government in exile until 1583.[24] Some authors consider António the last monarch of the House of Aviz (instead of Cardinal-King Henry) and the 18th King of Portugal. His government in Terceira island was only recognized in the Azores, whereas on the continent and in the Madeira Islands power was exercised by Philip II, who was acclaimed king in 1580 as Philip I of Portugal and recognized as official king by the Cortes of Tomar in 1581.[25] The new king's election was carried on condition that the kingdom and its overseas territories should remain separate from Spain and keep their own laws and Cortes.[26]

After his defeat in the Azores, António went into exile in France—traditional enemy of the Habsburgs—and courted the support of England.[27] An invasion was attempted in 1589 under Sir Francis Drake—leading the so-called English Armada—but ended in failure.[28] António continued to fight until the end of his life for his rights to the throne.[29]

## Consequences

[edit]

See also: Dutch–Portuguese War

Marco Tulio Catizone from Calabria, one of the impostors who claimed to be King Sebastian

The matter of whether Portugal was actually invaded by Spain is contested. Philip II had a legitimate claim to the throne, but as with many other dynastic struggles of the age, it was shrouded in controversy. In any case, the Habsburg kings maintained Portugal's status and gave excellent positions to Portuguese nobles in the Spanish Court, and Portugal maintained an independent law, currency and government.[30] However, Portugal saw its wealth and cultural individuality gradually decreasing.[31] Portuguese colonies came under sustained attack from their enemies, especially the Dutch and English.[32]

Sixty years after these events, John II, Duke of Braganza (1603–1656) accepted the throne offered by the Portuguese nobility, who had become frustrated under Habsburg rule, becoming John IV of Portugal.[33] He was the grandson of Catherine, Duchess of Braganza, who had in 1580 claimed the Portuguese crown, and son of Teodósio II, Duke of Braganza (who died insane in 1630). John was raised to the throne of Portugal (of which he was then held to be the legitimate heir) during the Portuguese Restoration War against King Philip IV of Spain.[34]

There were many impostors who claimed to be King Sebastian,[35] variously in 1584, 1585, 1595, and 1598. "Sebastianism", the legend that the young king would return to Portugal on a foggy day persisted for years, and was even strong into the 1800s.[36]

## Notes

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1. ^ Henry had previously served as regent for the king from 1562 to 1568.[2]
2. ^ The exact date of António's proclamation as king varies across sources, ranging between June 17th and June 24th.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Livermore 1969, p. 158; Stephens 1891, p. 257
2. ^ Livermore 1969, pp. 152–153
3. ^ McMurdo 1889, pp. 229–230; Disney 2009, p. 176
4. ^ Livermore 1969, p. 160-161; Disney 2009, pp. 193–195
5. ^ Lardner 1833, pp. 208–209; McMurdo 1889, p. 227
6. ^ Disney 2009, pp. 218–221
7. ^ a b Disney 2009, p. 193
8. ^ a b Livermore 1969, p. 158
9. ^ Disney 2009, p. 192
10. ^ Marques 1976, p. 312
11. ^ Disney 2009, p. 192; Marques 1976, p. 312
12. ^ McMurdo 1889, p. 226; Marques 1976, p. 313
13. ^ McMurdo 1889, p. 208; Stephens 1891, p. 278
14. ^ Dyer 1877, p. 411.
15. ^ Stephens 1891, pp. 284–285; Livermore 1947, p. 269
16. ^ a b Stephens 1891, p. 278
17. ^ Disney 2009, p. 196
18. ^ Marques 1976, p. 313
19. ^ McMurdo 1889, pp. 226–227; Livermore 1969, p. 159
20. ^ a b Marques 1976, p. 314
21. ^ Stephens 1891, p. 281.
22. ^ Disney 2009, p. 195; Dyer 1877, p. 408; Lardner 1833, p. 213; McMurdo 1889, p. 207
23. ^ Disney 2009, pp. 195–196; Lardner 1833, pp. 214–215; McMurdo 1889, p. 281
24. ^ Marques 1976, pp. 314–315
25. ^ Livermore 1969, p. 163
26. ^ Stephens 1891, pp. 283–284
27. ^ Marques 1976, p. 315
28. ^ Lardner 1833, pp. 219–220; Livermore 1969, p. 165
29. ^ Livermore 1947, p. 270
30. ^ Marques 1976, pp. 315–317
31. ^ Marques 1976, pp. 323–324
32. ^ Marques 1976, p. 320
33. ^ Marques 1976, p. 325
34. ^ McMurdo 1889, pp. 378–388; Livermore 1947, p. 324
35. ^ Marques 1976, pp. 318–319; Livermore 1969, pp. 166–167
36. ^ Suárez, José I. (Summer 1991). "Portugal's "Saudosismo" Movement: An Esthetics of Sebastianism". Luso-Brazilian Review. 28 (1). University of Wisconsin Press: 129–140. JSTOR 3513287.

## Sources

[edit]

* Disney, A. R. (2009). A History of Portugal and the Portuguese Empire. From Beginnings to 1807. Vol. I: Portugal. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-60397-3.
* Dyer, Thomas Henry (1877). Modern Europe. Vol. II. From 1521-1598 (Second ed.). London: George Bell & Sons.
* Lardner, Dionysius, ed. (1833). The History of Spain and Portugal. The Cabinet Cyclopædia. Vol. V. London: Longman, Rees, et al. pp. 207–215.
* Livermore, H.V. (1947). A History of Portugal. Cambridge University Press.
* Livermore, H.V. (1969). A New History of Portugal. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521095716.
* Marques, Antonio Henrique R. de Oliveira (1976). History of Portugal. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-08353-9.
* McMurdo, Edward (1889). The history of Portugal, from the Commencement of the Monarchy to the Reign of Alfonso III. London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
* Stephens, H. Morse (1891). The Story of Portugal. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. Retrieved 25 October 2023.

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