Maria of Portugal, Queen of Castile

Maria of Portugal (* 1313, † January 18, 1357 in Évora ) was a queen of Castile ( 1328-1350 ).

Life

Mary was the daughter of King Alfonso IV of Portugal and the Beatrice of Castile, daughter of Sancho IV In March 1328 Maria went to Alfayates (Portugal) to papal dispensation a marriage with her nephew, King Alfonso XI. of Castile, a. The couple had two sons, who died as an infant Ferdinand (* 1332, † 1333) and Peter I the Cruel (* 1334, † 1369 ), who received in 1350 the royal crown of Castile.

As Mary's husband entered an affair with Leonor de Guzman, this liaison destroyed not only their marriage, but also resulted in Mary's cold position in all political matters. After the death of Alfonso XI. Maria took revenge on her rival by 1351 moved her son Peter I to the arrest and execution Leonor. At first, she dominated with their minions, the young son of her government. So they helped the Portuguese nobleman Juan Alfonso de Albuquerque with his policy of rapprochement of Castile to France. In June 1353, operated by Maria Marriage of Peter I with the French Princess Blanche of Bourbon took place, but this was soon violated by her husband again, so he could return to his former mistress Maria de Padilla. So there was a hostility between mother and son. Finally, in 1354 Maria took part in a Toro led by the sons of Leonor de Guzman's rebellion against Peter I., but failed. She was deposed and had to Portugal to retire into exile. After her death occurred at the age of 44 years, she was buried in the monastery of San Clemente de Sevilla.