Ferdinand the Holy Prince

Ferdinand, called the Holy, was a prince (Infant ) from Portugal, ( born September 29, 1402 Santarém, † June 5, 1443 in Fez) from the house of Avis. He is a blessed of the Catholic Church.

Life

Ferdinand was born the sixth son of King John I of Portugal and Philippa of Lancaster.

He showed as a boy a rare willpower and religiosity. As Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of Avis 1437 he went with his brother Henry to Africa to snatch the Moroccans Tangier; the attack was repulsed, the Portuguese succumbed to the hostile power, and had to promise to surrender Ceuta.

Ferdinand was left with twelve companions hostage while Henry returned to Portugal.

Since, however, the Cortes rejected the agreement, Ferdinand was handed over to the Sultan of Fez, who treated him as a slave. Ferdinand endured his lot with the greatest patience, until he succumbed to the ill-treatment on June 5, 1443.

He was beatified in 1470 and brought his body to Portugal in 1471 and buried in the chapel of the founder in the Batalha monastery.

Ferdinand's steadfastness in six years of unspeakable suffering described by the chronicler Joam Alvares, who had also been among the hostages. Also by Pedro Calderon 's steadfastness in his drama The Constant Prince ( " El Principe Constante ") was glorified.

Monument

His statue is seen in Padrão dos Descobrimentos in Lisbon.