Leonor of Viseu
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| Infanta Leonor of Viseu | |
 Statue in Beja, Portugal
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| Born | May 2, 1458 Beja |
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| Died | November 17, 1525 (aged 67) |
| Nationality | Portuguese  |
| Spouse | Prince João (John) of Portugal |
| Children | Prince Afonso, Infante João |
| Parents | Infante Fernando, Duke of Viseu, Beatrice of Portugal |
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Infanta Leonor of Viseu (2 May 1458, Beja–17 November 1525), Lisbon pron. IPA: [liu'noɾ dɨ vi'zeu], was a Portuguese infanta and later Queen of Portugal.
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[edit] Family
She was a daughter of Infante Fernando, Duke of Viseu and his wife and cousin Beatrice of Portugal. Her maternal grandparents were Infante João of Portugal and his wife and niece Isabella of Braganza.
Isabella was a daughter of Afonso, 1st Duke of Braganza and his first wife Beatriz Pereira Alvim. Beatriz was a daughter of Nuno Álvares Pereira and his wife Leonor de Alvim.
[edit] Marriage and children
She married Prince João (John) of Portugal in January, 1471. He was the only living son of Afonso V of Portugal and Isabel of Coimbra. He was the Heir apparent to the throne. The bride was almost thirteen years old and the groom was about sixteen years old. They had two children:
| Name | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Afonso | May 18, 1475 | July 13, 1491 | Crown Prince of Portugal. Died in a horse riding accident. Because of the premature death of the prince the throne was inherited by Manuel of Viseu, Duke of Beja, son of Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu, who reigned as Manuel I, 14th King of Portugal. |
| Infante João | 1483 | 1483 |
[edit] Queen consort
Her father-in-law died on 28 August 1481 and her husband became John II of Portugal. She became the new Queen consort. She founded what became the city of Caldas da Rainha, which is named in her honor, rainha meaning "queen" in Portuguese.
Leonor and John II survived both their sons. John II died on 25 October 1495 and the hypothesis of poisoning was never ruled out. Her younger brother became Manuel I of Portugal.
[edit] Widow
After her brother, Manuel I succeeded to the throne in 1495, Queen Leonor continued to be active. In 1498 she spearheaded the creation of various Santa Casas da Misericórdia in Portugal, as confraternities with humanitarian purposes, especially the care of the poor, the sick, and of abandoned children. The original foundtions survive today, and more have since been founded in other towns and cities of Portugal and in the Portuguese colonies.
| Preceded by Joan, Princess of Castile |
Queen Consort of Portugal 28 August 1481 - 25 October 1495 |
Succeeded by Isabella of Aragon, Princess of Asturias |
