The children of Palhavã were three male natural sons of King John V of Portugal (1706–1750), which were recognised by the monarch in a document issued in 1742, which was published only after the death of the king, in 1752.

The expression comes from the fact these three children had lived in the palace of the Marquis of Louriçal, in the Palhavã area, in those times outside 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...

. Today, this building is within the city limits and it is occupied by the Spanish Embassy.

The children had a remarkable education in the Santa Cruz Monastery

Santa Cruz Monastery

The Santa Cruz Monastery, The Santa Cruz Monastery, The Santa Cruz Monastery, (English: Monastery of the Holy Cross, Portuguese: Mosteiro de Santa Cruz, best known as Igreja (Church) de Santa Cruz is a National Monument in Coimbra, Portugal. Because the first two kings of Portugal are buried in the...

, in Coimbra

Coimbra

Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...

. Their master was Friar Gaspar da Encarnação, who educated them as religious men according to the late King's wishes.

The three children of Palhavã were:

• Anthony (D. António) (1704–1800) - his mother was an unknown French lady. He became Doctor in Theology
  Theology
  Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
  
   and later knight
  Knight
  A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
  
   of the Order of Christ
  Order of Christ
  Order of Christ may refer to:* Order of Christ – former Knights Templar Order awarded initially by the kings of Portugal, now by the Portuguese state...
  
  ;
• Casper (D. Gaspar) (1716–1789) - his mother was a nun (Madelein Máxima de Miranda). He became archbishop
  Archbishop
  An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
  
   of Braga
  Braga
  Braga , a city in the Braga Municipality in northwestern Portugal, is the capital of the Braga District, the oldest archdiocese and the third major city of the country. Braga is the oldest Portuguese city and one of the oldest Christian cities in the World...
  
  .
• Joseph (D. José) (1720–1801) - son of Mother Paula, abbess
  Abbess
  An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
  
   of the Monastery of Saint Denis of Odivelas
  Monastery of Saint Denis of Odivelas
  The Monastery of Saint Denis is located in the city of Odivelas, near Lisbon, in Portugal. The feminine Cistercian convent was founded by King Dinis I and was built during the 14th century in Gothic style. It is the burial place of the king.-History:...
  
  . He became General Inquisitor
  Inquisitor
  An inquisitor was an official in an Inquisition, an organisation or program intended to eliminate heresy and other things frowned on by the Roman Catholic Church...
  
   of 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...
  
  .

In spite that they were King Joseph I's half brothers, Anthony and Joseph were exiled to Buçaco in 1760 due to a conflict with the Marquis of Pombal, the all-mighty prime minister. They were allowed to return to the Court only after the king's death, in 1777.

See also

• John V of Portugal
• Joseph I of Portugal
• Marquis of Pombal
• Archdiocese of Braga