Peter II of Portugal

Peter II, port. Dom Pedro II, ( born April 26, 1648 Lisbon, † December 9, 1706 in Alcântara lock), called "the Peaceable " (O Pacífico ) was 23 King of Portugal. He was the third monarch of the House of Braganza and reigned from 1683 to 1704.

Life

Peter II was born as the fourth son of John IV of Portugal and his wife Luisa Guzmán. As a younger son he was not actually called to the throne, and so ascended after his father's death in 1656, first his older brother Alfonso VI. the Portuguese throne. This, however, was physically disabled and mentally and therefore difficult to perform in the situation, the government of the country. 1666 married Alfonso VI. Maria Francisca Elisabeth of Savoy, Countess of Nemours. Peter fell in love with his brother's wife. He allied himself with her and together they forced Alfonso VI. to sign a document according to which he renounced the exercise of his dominion. The deposed Alfonso VI. then lived until the end of his life in captivity. Peter was determined by the Cortes in 1667 and ascended to the regent after the death of his brother in 1683 as Peter II to the Portuguese throne. In 1704 he became seriously ill, so his sister Catherine of Braganza on December 31, 1705 Portugal reigned until her own death.

During the reign of Peter II the country's economy was reorganized according to mercantilist standards ( reforms of the third Count of Ericeira ) and a far-reaching trade agreement with England closed ( 1668). This got English products in Portugal for a preferential tariff in exchange for English tariff preferences for Portuguese wine. In Methuenvertrag 1703 England was eventually allowed duty-free imports of textiles and manufactured goods, Portugal paid for it with the gold and diamonds in Brazil. That contract, which remained in force until 1842, contributed to the fact that Portugal was economically dependent on England and, as the country was flooded by cheap British products that own industrialization neglected.

1669 the Cortes were together for the last time. The following absolutist kings no longer called an old noble court. Only after the liberal revolution of 1820 the Cortes should meet again.

Portugal joined 1703 British- Austrian side in the War of Spanish Succession in.

Family

Peter II was married twice. In his first marriage he married in 1668 Maria Francisca Elisabeth of Savoy (* June 22, 1646, † December 27, 1683 ), the divorced wife of his elder brother. With her he had a daughter

On August 30, 1687, he married his second wife in Lisbon with Marie Sophie of the Palatinate (* August 6, 1666; † August 4, 1699 ), a daughter of the Elector Philipp Wilhelm von Pfalz- Neuburg and the Countess Magdalena von Hessen- Darmstadt.

With her he had the following children:

  • Johann Franz ( * August 30, 1688, † September 17, 1688 )
  • John V ( born October 22, 1689 † July 31, 1750 )
  • Franz Xaver Joseph Anthony Benedict Urban ( * May 25, 1691; † July 21, 1742 ), seventh Duke of Beja
  • Franziska Xaver (* January 30, 1694; † 169? )
  • Anthony Francis Xavier Benedict Theodosius Leopold Heinrich ( * March 15, 1695, † October 19, 1757 )
  • Maria Theresa (* February 24, 1696, † February 16, 1704 )
  • Emmanuel Joseph Franz Stephan Gaetan Anthony Bartholomew (* August 3, 1697; † August 3, 1766 )
  • Franziska Josepha Maria Xavier (* January 3, 1699, † June 15, 1756 )

He was also father of the following illegitimate children:

  • Luisa (* January 9, 1679 )
  • Michael (* October 15, 1699; † January 13, 1724 )
  • Joseph Karl ( born May 6, 1703 † June 3, 1756 ), archbishop of Braga

See also: History of Portugal, Chronology Portugal

Afonso VI of Portugal Maria Francisca of Savoy Regency Methuen Treaty War of the Spanish Succession Maria Sophia of Neuburg Philip William, Elector Palatine Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt John V of Portugal Timeline of Portuguese history Integrated Authority File
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