Maria Teresa, Princess of Beira

Infanta Maria Theresa of Portugal (Portuguese: Maria Teresa Francisca de Assis Antónia Carlota Joana Josefa Xavier de Paula Miguela Isabel Rafaela Gonzaga ) ( born April 29, 1793 in Queluz, † January 17, 1874 in Trieste ) was the first-born daughter of the Portuguese king John VI. and his wife Charlotte Johanna of Spain, daughter of the Spanish king Charles IV

Biography

Maria Theresa was born in the Royal Palace Palácio Nacional de Queluz near Lisbon. She received the title of Princess of Brazil.

After the Portuguese royal family in 1808 fled the Napoleonic invaders to Rio de Janeiro in the Portuguese colony of Brazil, Maria Theresa was married there on 10 May 1810 her cousin Peter Charles of Bourbon and Braganza. The marriage was unhappy, but she gave birth to a boy in 1811, Sebastian of Portugal and Spain. She was widowed early on 26 May 1812.

In Miguelistenkrieg (Portuguese civil war from 1826 to 1834 ) she stood on the side of her anti- liberal, absolutist younger brother Michael of Portugal and her brother and uncle, the Infante Don Carlos, Count of Molina, in their struggle for the Portuguese and Spanish throne. In the last years of the reign of her uncle Ferdinand of Spain ( † 1833) Theresa lived in Madrid, trying to strengthen Don Carlos ' position. She stood during the first Karlistenkriegs (1833-1839) and then on the side of the Carlists, the Church and the reactionary forces. Her sister Francisca, Titularkönigin of Spain and wife of Don Carlos died in 1834.

1838 married Maria Theresia her uncle Don Carlos. This second marriage was childless, but she took her stepson, who was her cousin and nephew at the same time in care. The family left Spain and went to live in Trieste.

Her husband died there in 1855, Theresia 19 years later. She was buried in the Cathedral of Trieste, where Don Carlos and Francisca were buried.