Joanna of Austria, Princess of Portugal
Joan of Spain (Spanish: Juana de Austria ) (* June 24, 1535 in Madrid, † September 7, 1573 in San Lorenzo de El Escorial ) was an Infanta of Spain and by marriage Princess of Portugal. She was the granddaughter and the mother of a Portuguese and the daughter and sister of the Spanish king and therefore joined the ruling houses in two states: Habsburg and Avis. From 1554 to 1559 Johanna was regent of Spain.
Life
Johanna was the youngest daughter of the Emperor Charles V from his marriage to Isabella of Portugal. At the time of her birth, she was Archduchess of Austria, Infanta of Castile and Aragon and Princess of Flanders and Burgundy. Together with her siblings Philip and the Infanta Maria was educated in Spain.
Johanna married to their father's will on 7 December 1552 Toro heir to the throne of Portugal, John Manuel ( 1537-1554 ), who was also her cousin. This connection was important for the later Iberian Union, ie the joint reign of the Hapsburgs by Philip II to Philip IV over Spain and Portugal.
Joan's husband died before the birth of the only child of this marriage in juvenile diabetes. Johanna was recalled to Madrid to govern as a proxy for her brother Philip II of Spain, during this in England, as the husband of Queen Mary I, was staying. She came back in 1554 to Spain and Portugal and saw her son ever again; contact with Sebastian was limited from now on correspondence. The Kingdom of Spain managed Johanna until August 29, 1559. Deciding Money and troop support for the reconquest of the city of Bugia to make available in 1555, moved the regent until the return of her brother. In 1556, however, she was responsible for the relief of Oran. The supervision of the education of her nephew Don Carlos asked Johanna remains a major challenge, which she was ultimately unable to cope. Johanna was considered a great promoter of the Holy Inquisition, and participated in numerous Autodafés. After her brother's return, Johanna was actively involved in court life. In 1565 was inconclusive about a marriage of Joan with the French king Charles IX. thinking, in which Johanna whole of Flanders should bring as a dowry in the marriage.
In her last years she devoted herself to religion, withdrew increasingly into the Klarissenstift Descalzas Reales in Madrid back, which she founded in 1559 and where she was also buried, and gained importance as a supporter of the Jesuit Order. With Francisco de Borja and Ignatius of Loyola, they maintained close personal relationships. Supposedly it is to have the Order belongs also the only woman secretly. She died on September 7, 1573 in Escorialpalast.
Progeny
From their marriage, Johanna had a son:
- Sebastian (1554-1578), King of Portugal