Francisco de Portugal, 3rd Count of Vimioso
Encyclopedia
Francisco de Portugal, also known as Francis II of Portugal, 3rd Count of Vimioso
(c. 1550 - 1582), was the eldest son and heir of the 2nd Count of Vimioso, Afonso de Portugal (Alphonse of Portugal).
He was one of the few high-ranking Portuguese noble to support the claims of António, Prior of Crato
, during the War of the Portuguese Succession
(1580-1583).
(1574) in order to negotiate the marriage of King Sebastian of Portugal
to Princess Maximiliana of Bavaria (daughter of Duke Albert V of Bavaria
), but the project failed.
Later, in 1578, along with his father, he participated in the royal crusade to Morocco
, and he fell prisoner to Ahmad al-Mansur's armies during the Battle of Ksar El Kebir. He managed to pay his ransom and even helped others to pay theirs. He returned to Europe through San Lucar, in southern Spain
, where he was received with all honours by the Duke of Medina Sidonia, Alonso de Guzman
. As he testified of the King's
death during the battle, there and for the first time he supported Dom António, Prior of Crato
as the natural heir of the Portuguese throne, refuting the Spanish Duke’s position for Philip II of Spain
's claims.
as King of Portugal. He was appointed by the new King as his Constable
, and they participated together in the Battle of Alcântara (1580)
, defending Lisbon
from the Spanish armies, led by the Duke of Alba.
With Philip's victory, both King Anthony I and the Count of Vimioso fled to exile, first in France
and later in England
.
In 1582 he sailed, in the fleet led by the Italian adventurer Filippo Strozzi, to the Azores
, the sole Portuguese territory that still recognised Anthony I as King of Portugal. He died on July 29, 1582, just after the naval Battle of Vila Franca off São Miguel Island
.
Dom Francisco de Portugal was never married and had no issue. He was succeeded in his house by his younger brother, Louis of Portugal, 4th Count of Vimioso.
Count of Vimioso
Count of Vimioso is a Portuguese title of nobility which have their origins in Alphonse, Bishop of Évora, the natural son of Alphonse, 4th Count of Ourém and 1st Marquis of Valença...
(c. 1550 - 1582), was the eldest son and heir of the 2nd Count of Vimioso, Afonso de Portugal (Alphonse of Portugal).
He was one of the few high-ranking Portuguese noble to support the claims of António, Prior of Crato
António, Prior of Crato
António, Prior of Crato , was a grandson of King Manuel I of Portugal, claimant of the Portuguese throne during the 1580 dynastic crisis, who was King of Portugal as António I of Portugal during 33 days in the continent in 1580, and, after the crowning of Philip II of Spain as King of Portugal,...
, during the War of the Portuguese Succession
War of the Portuguese Succession
The War of the Portuguese Succession was fought from 1580 to 1583 between the two main claimants to the Portuguese throne: António, Prior of Crato, proclaimed in several towns as King of Portugal, and Philip II of Spain, who eventually succeeded in claiming the crown reigning as Philip I of...
(1580-1583).
Early life
As his first official position, he was appointed as special ambassador to MadridMadrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
(1574) in order to negotiate the marriage of King Sebastian of Portugal
Sebastian of Portugal
Sebastian "the Desired" was the 16th king of Portugal and the Algarves. He was the son of Prince John of Portugal and his wife, Joan of Spain...
to Princess Maximiliana of Bavaria (daughter of Duke Albert V of Bavaria
Albert V, Duke of Bavaria
Albert V was Duke of Bavaria from 1550 until his death. He was born in Munich to William IV and Marie Jacobaea of Baden.-Early life:Albert was educated at Ingolstadt under good Catholic teachers...
), but the project failed.
Later, in 1578, along with his father, he participated in the royal crusade to Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, and he fell prisoner to Ahmad al-Mansur's armies during the Battle of Ksar El Kebir. He managed to pay his ransom and even helped others to pay theirs. He returned to Europe through San Lucar, in southern Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, where he was received with all honours by the Duke of Medina Sidonia, Alonso de Guzman
Alonso de Guzmán El Bueno, 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia
Alonso Pérez de Guzmán y de Zúñiga-Sotomayor, 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia, , Grandee of Spain, a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece since 1581, was the commander-in-chief of the Spanish Armada....
. As he testified of the King's
Sebastian of Portugal
Sebastian "the Desired" was the 16th king of Portugal and the Algarves. He was the son of Prince John of Portugal and his wife, Joan of Spain...
death during the battle, there and for the first time he supported Dom António, Prior of Crato
António, Prior of Crato
António, Prior of Crato , was a grandson of King Manuel I of Portugal, claimant of the Portuguese throne during the 1580 dynastic crisis, who was King of Portugal as António I of Portugal during 33 days in the continent in 1580, and, after the crowning of Philip II of Spain as King of Portugal,...
as the natural heir of the Portuguese throne, refuting the Spanish Duke’s position for Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
's claims.
Fight for freedom
After King Henry’s death (January 31, 1580), Francis of Portugal was one of the few high-aristocracy members to support actively Dom AntónioAntónio, Prior of Crato
António, Prior of Crato , was a grandson of King Manuel I of Portugal, claimant of the Portuguese throne during the 1580 dynastic crisis, who was King of Portugal as António I of Portugal during 33 days in the continent in 1580, and, after the crowning of Philip II of Spain as King of Portugal,...
as King of Portugal. He was appointed by the new King as his Constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
, and they participated together in the Battle of Alcântara (1580)
Battle of Alcântara (1580)
The Battle of Alcântara took place on August 25, 1580, near the brook of Alcântara, in the vicinity of Lisbon, Portugal, and was a decisive victory of the Spanish Habsburg King Philip II over the Portuguese pretender to the Portuguese throne, Dom António, Prior of Crato.-Background:In Portugal, the...
, defending Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
from the Spanish armies, led by the Duke of Alba.
With Philip's victory, both King Anthony I and the Count of Vimioso fled to exile, first in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and later in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
In 1582 he sailed, in the fleet led by the Italian adventurer Filippo Strozzi, to the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
, the sole Portuguese territory that still recognised Anthony I as King of Portugal. He died on July 29, 1582, just after the naval Battle of Vila Franca off São Miguel Island
São Miguel Island
São Miguel Island , nicknamed "The Green Island", is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. The island covers and has around 140,000 inhabitants, 45,000 of these people located in the largest city in the archipelago: Ponta Delgada.-History:In 1427, São Miguel...
.
Dom Francisco de Portugal was never married and had no issue. He was succeeded in his house by his younger brother, Louis of Portugal, 4th Count of Vimioso.