Infante Fernando, Duke of Viseu
Encyclopedia
The Infante Ferdinand, Prince of Portugal, Duke of Beja and Duke of Viseu (or Fernando, fɨɾˈnɐ̃du, 1433 – 1470) was the third son of the Portuguese
King Edward of Portugal and his wife Eleanor of Aragon.
on November 17, 1433, and died in Setúbal
on September 18, 1470.
and had no children; and for the second time, in 1451, when Prince João
was born, but died months later.
When Afonso V's first daughter, Princess Joan, was born (1452), Infante Ferdinand finally lost this title.
In 1452, Ferdinand fled the country looking for adventure. Some say he wanted to go to the north African cities controlled by the Portuguese; others say that he wanted to join his uncle, the King Alfonso I of Naples
, in his campaigns in southern Italy
. It seems Ferdinand had the hope to inherit his uncle’s kingdom, as he had no legitimate children.
However, his brother, King Afonso V of Portugal
, as soon as he knew about Ferdinand’s escape, ordered to the Count of Odemira
, which was patrolling the strait of Gibraltar
with a fleet, to intercept the infante ship and bring him back to mainland Portugal
.
granted him the title of 1st Duke of Beja
.
When his uncle, Prince Henry the Navigator died, in 1460, he also become 2nd Duke of Viseu
as well. He also succeeded his uncle as Master of the Order of Aviz
and responsible for the Discoveries (1460–1470).
He was finally allowed to fight in north Africa
: first in 1458 he escorted the king to the conquest of the Moroccan
city of Alcácer Ceguer; and for a second time, in 1468, he led a Portuguese fleet that conquered and destroyed the port of Anfa
(Anafé in Portuguese), today included in Casablanca
, which was a barbary corsairs
base.
He was buried in the Religiosas da Conceição monastery
, in Beja
, founded by his wife.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
King Edward of Portugal and his wife Eleanor of Aragon.
Biography
Ferdinand was born in AlmeirimAlmeirim
Almeirim is a city and a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 222.0 km² and a total population of 22,434 inhabitants. The city proper has a population of 10,520.The municipality is composed of 4 parishes, and is located in Santarém District....
on November 17, 1433, and died in Setúbal
Setúbal
Setúbal is the main city in Setúbal Municipality in Portugal with a total area of 172.0 km² and a total population of 118,696 inhabitants in the municipality. The city proper has 89,303 inhabitants....
on September 18, 1470.
Heir presumptive
He was twice sworn Prince of Portugal (title granted to the presumptive heir to the throne): first between 1438 and 1451, once his older brother became king Afonso V of PortugalAfonso V of Portugal
Afonso V KG , called the African , was the twelfth King of Portugal and the Algarves. His sobriquet refers to his conquests in Northern Africa.-Early life:...
and had no children; and for the second time, in 1451, when Prince João
João, Prince of Portugal (1451)
The Infante João, Prince of Portugal was a Portuguese infante, son of Afonso V. He was born heir to the throne in 1451, but he died young during the same year. The title of Prince of Portugal then passed again to Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu, his uncle....
was born, but died months later.
When Afonso V's first daughter, Princess Joan, was born (1452), Infante Ferdinand finally lost this title.
In 1452, Ferdinand fled the country looking for adventure. Some say he wanted to go to the north African cities controlled by the Portuguese; others say that he wanted to join his uncle, the King Alfonso I of Naples
Alfonso V of Aragon
Alfonso the Magnanimous KG was the King of Aragon , Valencia , Majorca, Sardinia and Corsica , and Sicily and Count of Barcelona from 1416 and King of Naples from 1442 until his death...
, in his campaigns in southern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It seems Ferdinand had the hope to inherit his uncle’s kingdom, as he had no legitimate children.
Afonso V of Portugal
Afonso V KG , called the African , was the twelfth King of Portugal and the Algarves. His sobriquet refers to his conquests in Northern Africa.-Early life:...
, as soon as he knew about Ferdinand’s escape, ordered to the Count of Odemira
Count of Odemira
Count of Odemira was a Portuguese title of nobility granted to D. Sancho de Noronha by royal decree issued on October 9, 1446, by King Afonso V of Portugal....
, which was patrolling the strait of Gibraltar
Strait of Gibraltar
The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Spain in Europe from Morocco in Africa. The name comes from Gibraltar, which in turn originates from the Arabic Jebel Tariq , albeit the Arab name for the Strait is Bab el-Zakat or...
with a fleet, to intercept the infante ship and bring him back to mainland Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
Duke of Beja and Viseu
In 1453, his brother, King Afonso V of PortugalAfonso V of Portugal
Afonso V KG , called the African , was the twelfth King of Portugal and the Algarves. His sobriquet refers to his conquests in Northern Africa.-Early life:...
granted him the title of 1st Duke of Beja
Duke of Beja
Duke of Beja was an aristocratic Portuguese title with the level of Royal Dukedom, associated with the Portuguese Royal House, created in 1453, by King Afonso V of Portugal for his younger brother Infante Ferdinand of Portugal.Infante Ferdinand younger son, became King of Portugal as Manuel I and,...
.
When his uncle, Prince Henry the Navigator died, in 1460, he also become 2nd Duke of Viseu
Duke of Viseu
Duke of Viseu was a Portuguese Royal Dukedom created in 1415 by King John I of Portugal for his third male child, Prince Henry the Navigator, following the conquest of Ceuta....
as well. He also succeeded his uncle as Master of the Order of Aviz
Order of Aviz
The Military Order of Aviz , previously to 1910 Royal Military Order of Aviz , previously to 1789 Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz , previously Knights of St. Benedict of Aviz or Friars of Santa Maria of Évora, is a Portuguese Order of Chivalry...
and responsible for the Discoveries (1460–1470).
He was finally allowed to fight in north Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
: first in 1458 he escorted the king to the conquest of the Moroccan
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...
city of Alcácer Ceguer; and for a second time, in 1468, he led a Portuguese fleet that conquered and destroyed the port of Anfa
Anfa
Anfa is the area which is today Casablanca, Morocco. It was originally settled by Berbers in the 7th century. The area, which they named Anfa, became a small, independent kingdom, which rejected the muslim rule that surrounded it until it was conquered by the Almoravids in 1068.From the 14th...
(Anafé in Portuguese), today included in Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
, which was a barbary corsairs
Barbary corsairs
The Barbary Corsairs, sometimes called Ottoman Corsairs or Barbary Pirates, were pirates and privateers who operated from North Africa, based primarily in the ports of Tunis, Tripoli and Algiers. This area was known in Europe as the Barbary Coast, a term derived from the name of its Berber...
base.
He was buried in the Religiosas da Conceição monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, in Beja
Beja (Portugal)
Beja is a city in the Beja Municipality in the Alentejo region, Portugal. The municipality has a total area of 1,147.1 km² and a total population of 34,970 inhabitants. The city proper has a population of 21,658....
, founded by his wife.
Marriage and Children
He married his cousin Beatrice of Portugal (Portuguese: Beatriz) in 1447, daughter of Infante João, Lord of Reguengos (his uncle). From this marriage, Ferdinand had nine children:- Infante JohnJohn, Duke of ViseuInfante John of Viseu was the older son of Infante Fernando, Duke of Viseu and of his wife Infanta Beatrice of Portugal....
(1448–1472), 3rd Duke of ViseuDuke of ViseuDuke of Viseu was a Portuguese Royal Dukedom created in 1415 by King John I of Portugal for his third male child, Prince Henry the Navigator, following the conquest of Ceuta....
, 2nd Duke of BejaDuke of BejaDuke of Beja was an aristocratic Portuguese title with the level of Royal Dukedom, associated with the Portuguese Royal House, created in 1453, by King Afonso V of Portugal for his younger brother Infante Ferdinand of Portugal.Infante Ferdinand younger son, became King of Portugal as Manuel I and,...
, 7th Constable of PortugalConstable of PortugalConstable of Portugal or Constable of the Kingdom was a title created by the King of Portugal Ferdinand I in 1382, to substitute the title Alferes Mór do Reino. The constable was the second most powerful person in the kingdom, after the King of Portugal...
. - Infante DiogoDiogo, Duke of ViseuInfante Diogo of Viseu was the second son of Infante Fernando, Duke of Viseu, and his wife Beatriz of Portugal.In 1472, when his older brother John, Duke of Viseu, died without issue, Diogo inherited his titles and estates as 4th Duke of Viseu and 3rd Duke of Beja.Diogo was a popular personality...
(1450–1484), 4th Duke of ViseuDuke of ViseuDuke of Viseu was a Portuguese Royal Dukedom created in 1415 by King John I of Portugal for his third male child, Prince Henry the Navigator, following the conquest of Ceuta....
, 3rd Duke of BejaDuke of BejaDuke of Beja was an aristocratic Portuguese title with the level of Royal Dukedom, associated with the Portuguese Royal House, created in 1453, by King Afonso V of Portugal for his younger brother Infante Ferdinand of Portugal.Infante Ferdinand younger son, became King of Portugal as Manuel I and,...
; - Infante (Prince) Duarte of Viseu, died in childhood;
- Infante (Prince) Dinis of Viseu, died in childhood;
- Infante (Prince) Simão of Viseu, died in childhood;
- Infanta (Princess) Eleanor of Viseu (1458–1525), married to King John II of PortugalJohn II of PortugalJohn II , the Perfect Prince , was the thirteenth king of Portugal and the Algarves...
, becoming Queen of Portugal; - Infanta (Princess) Isabella of ViseuIsabella of ViseuIsabella of Viseu was a daughter of Infante Fernando, Duke of Viseu and his wife and cousin Infanta Beatrice, Duchess of Viseu. She was a member of the House of Aviz and later, House of Braganza.-Family:...
(1459–1521), married to Ferdinand II, Duke of Braganza; - Infante ManuelManuel I of PortugalManuel I , the Fortunate , 14th king of Portugal and the Algarves was the son of Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu, , by his wife, Infanta Beatrice of Portugal...
, 5th Duke of ViseuDuke of ViseuDuke of Viseu was a Portuguese Royal Dukedom created in 1415 by King John I of Portugal for his third male child, Prince Henry the Navigator, following the conquest of Ceuta....
, 4th Duke of BejaDuke of BejaDuke of Beja was an aristocratic Portuguese title with the level of Royal Dukedom, associated with the Portuguese Royal House, created in 1453, by King Afonso V of Portugal for his younger brother Infante Ferdinand of Portugal.Infante Ferdinand younger son, became King of Portugal as Manuel I and,...
. Became King of Portugal, as Manuel I, following his cousin's (John IIJohn II of PortugalJohn II , the Perfect Prince , was the thirteenth king of Portugal and the Algarves...
) death; - Infanta (Princess) Catarina of Viseu, died in childhood.