Ferdinand I of Portugal
Encyclopedia
Ferdinand I sometimes referred to as the Handsome (Portuguese: o Formoso, or o Belo ) or rarely as the Inconstant (Portuguese: o Inconstante), was the ninth King of Portugal and the Algarve, the second (but eldest surviving) son of Peter I
and his wife, Constance of Castile. He succeeded his father in 1367.
On the death of Peter of Castile in 1369, Ferdinand, as great-grandson of Sancho IV
by the female line, laid claim to the vacant throne, for which the kings of Aragon
and Navarre
, and afterwards John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster (married in 1370 to Constance, the eldest daughter of Peter), also became competitors.
Meanwhile Henry II of Castile, Peter's illegitimate brother, who had defeated Peter, assumed his crown and took the field. After one or two indecisive campaigns, all parties were ready to accept the mediation of Pope Gregory XI
. The conditions of the treaty, ratified in 1371, included a marriage between Ferdinand and Leonora of Castile
. But before the union could take place Ferdinand had become passionately attached to Leonor Telles de Menezes
, the wife of one of his own courtiers. Having procured a dissolution of her previous marriage, he lost no time in making Leonor his queen.
This strange conduct, although it raised a serious insurrection in Portugal, did not at once result in a war with Henry. However, the outward concord was soon disturbed by the intrigues of the duke of Lancaster, who prevailed on Ferdinand to enter into a secret treaty for the expulsion of Henry from his throne. The war which followed was unsuccessful; and peace was again made in 1373. On the death of Henry in 1379, the duke of Lancaster once more put forward his claims, and again found an ally in Portugal. According to the Continental annalists, the English proved as offensive to their allies as to their enemies in the field. So Ferdinand made a peace for himself at Badajoz
in 1382. It stipulated that Beatrice
, Ferdinand's daughter and heiress, would marry King John I of Castile
, and thus secure the ultimate union of the two crowns.
Ferdinand left no male heir when he died on 22 October 1383, and the direct Burgundian
line, which had been in possession of the throne since the days of Count Henry
(about 1112), became extinct. The stipulations of the treaty of Badajoz were set aside, and John, Grand Master of the
order of Aviz
, Ferdinand's illegitimate brother, claimed the throne. This led to a period of war and political indefinition known as the 1383-1385 Crisis. John became the first king of the House of Aviz
in 1385.
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Peter I of Portugal
Peter I , called the Just , was the eighth King of Portugal and the Algarve from 1357 until his death. He was the third but only surviving son of Afonso IV of Portugal and his wife, princess Beatrice of Castile....
and his wife, Constance of Castile. He succeeded his father in 1367.
On the death of Peter of Castile in 1369, Ferdinand, as great-grandson of Sancho IV
Sancho IV of Castile
Sancho IV the Brave was the King of Castile, León and Galicia from 1284 to his death. He was the second son of Alfonso X and Yolanda, daughter of James I of Aragon.-Biography:...
by the female line, laid claim to the vacant throne, for which the kings of Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
and Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
, and afterwards John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster (married in 1370 to Constance, the eldest daughter of Peter), also became competitors.
Meanwhile Henry II of Castile, Peter's illegitimate brother, who had defeated Peter, assumed his crown and took the field. After one or two indecisive campaigns, all parties were ready to accept the mediation of Pope Gregory XI
Pope Gregory XI
Gregory XI was pope from 1370 until his death.-Biography:He was born Pierre Roger de Beaufort, in Maumont, in the modern commune of Rosiers-d'Égletons, Limousin around 1336. He succeeded Pope Urban V in 1370, and was pope until 1378...
. The conditions of the treaty, ratified in 1371, included a marriage between Ferdinand and Leonora of Castile
Leonora of Castile
Leonora of Castile or Eleanor of Castile may refer to:* Eleanor of England, Queen of Castile , wife of Alfonso VIII, who brought the name into the Castilian Royal Dynasty...
. But before the union could take place Ferdinand had become passionately attached to Leonor Telles de Menezes
Leonor Telles de Menezes
Leonor Telles de Menezes was a queen consort of Portugal and regent during the years 1383–1385. She was the wife of a Portuguese nobleman from whom she was forcibly divorced by King Ferdinand I, who afterward married her...
, the wife of one of his own courtiers. Having procured a dissolution of her previous marriage, he lost no time in making Leonor his queen.
This strange conduct, although it raised a serious insurrection in Portugal, did not at once result in a war with Henry. However, the outward concord was soon disturbed by the intrigues of the duke of Lancaster, who prevailed on Ferdinand to enter into a secret treaty for the expulsion of Henry from his throne. The war which followed was unsuccessful; and peace was again made in 1373. On the death of Henry in 1379, the duke of Lancaster once more put forward his claims, and again found an ally in Portugal. According to the Continental annalists, the English proved as offensive to their allies as to their enemies in the field. So Ferdinand made a peace for himself at Badajoz
Badajoz
Badajoz is the capital of the Province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain, situated close to the Portuguese border, on the left bank of the river Guadiana, and the Madrid–Lisbon railway. The population in 2007 was 145,257....
in 1382. It stipulated that Beatrice
Beatrice of Portugal
Beatrice was the only surviving child of King Ferdinand I of Portugal and his wife, Leonor Telles de Menezes. She married King John I of Castile. In the absence of a male heir, she claimed the throne of Portugal, supported by her husband. This led to the 1383–1385 Crisis, in which the Portuguese...
, Ferdinand's daughter and heiress, would marry King John I of Castile
John I of Castile
John I was the king of Crown of Castile, was the son of Henry II and of his wife Juana Manuel of Castile, daughter of Juan Manuel, Prince of Villena, head of a younger branch of the royal house of Castile...
, and thus secure the ultimate union of the two crowns.
Ferdinand left no male heir when he died on 22 October 1383, and the direct Burgundian
House of Burgundy
The House of Burgundy was a cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty, descending from Robert I, Duke of Burgundy, a younger son of Robert II of France....
line, which had been in possession of the throne since the days of Count Henry
Henry, Count of Portugal
Henry of Burgundy, Count of Portugal was Count of Portugal from 1093 to his death. He was brother of Hugh I, Duke of Burgundy, and Odo I, Duke of Burgundy, all sons of Henry, the heir of Robert I, Duke of Burgundy. His name is Henri in modern French, Henricus in Latin, Enrique in modern Spanish...
(about 1112), became extinct. The stipulations of the treaty of Badajoz were set aside, and John, Grand Master of the
John I of Portugal
John I KG , called the Good or of Happy Memory, more rarely and outside Portugal the Bastard, was the tenth King of Portugal and the Algarve and the first to use the title Lord of Ceuta...
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...
, Ferdinand's illegitimate brother, claimed the throne. This led to a period of war and political indefinition known as the 1383-1385 Crisis. John became the first king of the House of Aviz
House of Aviz
The House of Aviz is a dynasty of kings of Portugal. In 1385, the Interregnum of the 1383-1385 crisis ended with the acclamation of the Master of the Order of Aviz, John, natural son of king Peter I and Dona Teresa Lourenço as king...
in 1385.
Marriages and descendants
Fernando married Leonor Telles (or Teles) de Menezes, formerly the wife of the late nobleman João Lourenço da Cunha, Lord of Pombeiro, and daughter of Martin Alfonso Telles de Menezes (Martim Afonso Teles de Menezes). She gave him two sons who both died young, and one daughter.| Name | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| By Leonor Telles de Menezes Leonor Telles de Menezes Leonor Telles de Menezes was a queen consort of Portugal and regent during the years 1383–1385. She was the wife of a Portuguese nobleman from whom she was forcibly divorced by King Ferdinand I, who afterward married her... (c. 1340- 27 April 1386; married in 1371) |
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| Infanta Beatriz Beatrice of Portugal Beatrice was the only surviving child of King Ferdinand I of Portugal and his wife, Leonor Telles de Menezes. She married King John I of Castile. In the absence of a male heir, she claimed the throne of Portugal, supported by her husband. This led to the 1383–1385 Crisis, in which the Portuguese... |
1372 | 1408 | Heiress of her father. Married King John (Juan) I of Castile John I of Castile John I was the king of Crown of Castile, was the son of Henry II and of his wife Juana Manuel of Castile, daughter of Juan Manuel, Prince of Villena, head of a younger branch of the royal house of Castile... . |
| Infante Pedro (Peter) | 1370 or 1380 | 1370 or 1380 | |
| Infante Afonso | 1371 or 1382 | 1371 or 1382 | |
| Illegitimate offspring | |||
| Isabel of Portugal Isabel of Portugal, Countess of Gijón and Noroña Isabel of Portugal was the natural daughter of King Ferdinand I of Portugal, from unknown mother.- Biography :Before 1386 she was betrothed to João Afonso Telo de Menezes, 1st Count of Viana , son of the powerful Dom João Afonso Telo de Menezes, 4th Count of Barcelos... |
1364 | 1395 | Countess of Gijón Gijón Gijón , officially Gijón / Xixón, is a coastal industrial city and a municipality in the autonomous community of Asturias in Spain. Early mediaeval texts mention it as "Gigia". It was an important regional Roman city, although the area has been settled since earliest history... and Noreña Noreña Noreña is a municipality in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias, Spain. It is completely surrounded by the municipality of Siero... through marriage to Alfonso, Count of Gijón and Noroña, illegitimate son of Henry II of Castile. |
Ancestry
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