The descendants of Manuel I of Portugal, of the House of Aviz, left a lasting mark on Portuguese history and royalty, and European history and royalty as a whole. Manuel married three times, each time providing children. He first married Isabella of Aragon, Princess of Asturias, followed by her sister, Maria of Aragon, and lastly their niece, Eleanor of Austria.
His descendants can be found in both reigning and non-reigning royal families all over Europe.
This article deals with the children of Manuel I and in turn their senior heirs.
Background on Manuel I
Manuel, born on 31 May 1469 at the Royal Palace at Alcochete, was the second son of Duke Ferdinand I of Viseu and Beja and Infanta Beatriz of Reguengos.
Throne of Portugal During Manuel's youth, his cousin John II of Portugal was King. John II went through a large process trying to eliminate the powers and wealth of the Portuguese nobility, of which Manuel was a prominent part. John II had both Duke Diogo I of Viseu and Beja and Duke Fernando II of Braganza put on trial and executed. After Diogo's death, the Dukedoms of Viseu and Beja passed to Manuel, causing Manuel to fear for his own life.
In 1491, Afonso, Prince of Portugal was killed in a horse riding accident. John II only had one other child, Jorge, Duke of Coimbra, but he was illegitimate. After countless failed efforts to legitimize Jorge, John II finally sent a royal order to Manuel in 1493.
When Manuel heard a royal order was on its way to him, he worried that it might be a summons for a trial, likely resulting in execution. Upon receiving the order, however, he was relieved in hearing that he was made the heir to John II's throne.
John II died on 25 October 1495 and Manuel became monarch of Portugal. During his reign, Manuel expanded the Portuguese Empire, making it the most formidable power in all of Europe at the time.
Resulting from the establishment of a direct sea route to India during his reign, Manuel became enormously wealthy. As a result, he facilitated the construction of many notable, Manueline style architectural works throughout Portugal. This wealth made his children candidates for royal marriages across Europe.
Almost all of Manuel's descendants would become crucial in the Portuguese succession crisis of 1580, the Iberian Union, and later the Portuguese Restoration War, as all claims to the Portuguese throne during these events originated from descendancy from Manuel I.
Descendants by Isabel of Aragon and Castile On 13 September 1497, Manuel I married Isabel of Aragon and Castile, Princess of Asturias. The couple had 1 child:
Miguel, Prince of Asturias and Portugal Descendant Image Birth Marriages Death Miguel da Paz, Prince of Asturias and Portugal1498–1500 23 August 1498Zaragozason of Manuel I and Isabella of Aragon and Castilenever married19 July 1500Granadaaged 1
Descendants by Maria of Aragon and Castile On 30 October 1501, Manuel I married Maria of Aragon and Castile. The couple had 8 children:
John III of Portugal Descendant Image Birth Marriages Death John III of Portugal1502–1557 7 June 1502São Jorge Castleson of Manuel I and Maria of Aragon and CastileCatherine of Austria10 February 15257 children14 February 1557Ribeira Palaceaged 55 Afonso, Prince of Portugal1526 24 February 1526Lisbonson of John III and Catherine of Austrianever married12 April 1526Lisbonaged 2 months João Manuel, Prince of Portugal1537–15543 June 1537Lisbonson of John III and Catherine of AustriaJoanna of Austria11 January 1552,1 child2 January 1554Lisbonaged 16 Sebastian I of Portugal1554–157820 January 1554Ribeira Palaceson of João Manuel, Prince of Portugal and Joanna of Austrianever married4 August 1578Alcácer-Quibiraged 24
Infanta Isabel of Portugal Descendant Image Birth Marriages Death Infanta Isabel1503–1539 24 October 1503Lisbondaughter of Manuel I and Maria of Aragon and CastileCharles V, Holy Roman Emperor10 March 15265 children1 May 1539Toledoaged 35 Philip I of Portugal, II of Spain1527–1598 21 May 1527Valladolidson of Isabella of Portugal and Charles V, Holy Roman EmperorMaria Manuel of Portugal14 November 15431 childMary I of England25 July 1554no childrenElisabeth of Valois22 June 15592 childrenAnna of Austria24 January 15704 children13 September 1598El Escorialaged 71 Carlos, Prince of Asturias1545–1568 8 July 1545Valladolidson of Philip I of Portugal, II of Spain and Maria Manuel of Portugalnever married24 July 1568Madridaged 23 Philip II of Portugal, III of Spain1578–162114 April 1578Madridson of Philip I of Portugal, II of Spain and Anna of AustriaMargaret of Austria18 April 15998 children31 March 1621Madridaged 42 Philip III of Portugal, IV of Spain1605–16658 April 1605Valladolidson of Philip II of Portugal, III of Spain and Margaret of AustriaElisabeth of France25 November 16157 childrenMariana of Austria7 Octobre 16495 children17 September 1665Madridaged 60 Baltasar Carlos, Prince of Asturias and Portugal1629–164617 October 1629Madridson of Philip III of Portugal, IV of Spain and Elisabeth of Francenever married9 October 1646Zaragozaaged 16 Philip Prospero, Prince of Asturias1657–1661November 28, 1657Madridson of Philip III of Portugal, IV of Spain and Mariana of Austrianever marriedNovember 1, 1661Madridaged 3 Charles II of Spain1661–17006 November 1661Madridson of Philip III of Portugal, IV of Spain and Mariana of AustriaMarie Louise of Orléans30 August 1679no childrenMaria Anna of Neuburg28 August 1689no children1 November 1700Madridaged 38 John of Austria1629–16797 April 1629 Madridson of Philip III of Portugal, IV of Spain and María Calderónnever married17 September 1679Madridaged 50 Maria Theresa of Spain1638–168310 September 1638Madriddaughter of Philip III of Portugal, IV of Spain and Elisabeth of FranceLouis XIV of France9 June 16606 children30 July 1683Versaillesaged 44 Louis, Dauphin of France1661–17111 November 1661Fontainebleauson of Maria Theresa of Spain and Louis XIV of FranceMaria Anna of Bavaria28 January 16803 childrenMarie Émilie of Choin1695no children14 April 1711Meudonaged 49 Louis, Duke of Burgundy1682–171216 August 1682Versaillesson of Louis, Dauphin of France and Maria Anna of BavariaMarie Adélaïde of Savoy6 December 16973 children18 February 1712Marly-le-Roiaged 29 Louis, Duke of Brittany1707–17128 January 1707Versaillesson of Louis, Duke of Burgundy and Marie Adélaïde of Savoynever married8 March 1712Versaillesaged 5 Louis XV of France1710–177415 February 1710Versaillesson of Louis, Duke of Burgundy and Marie Adélaïde of SavoyMarie Leszczyńska5 September 172510 children10 May 1774Versaillesaged 64 Louis, Dauphin of France1729–17654 September 1729Versaillesson of Louis XV and Marie LeszczyńskaMaria Teresa of Spain18 December 1744 1 childMaria Josepha of Saxony9 February 17478 children20 December 1765Fontainebleauaged 36 Louis XVI of France1754–179323 August 1754Versaillesson of Louis, Dauphin of France and Maria Josepha of SaxonyMarie Antoinette of Austria16 May 17704 children21 January 1793Parisaged 38 Louis, Dauphin of France1781–178922 October 1781Versaillesson of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette of Austrianever married4 June 1789Meudonaged 7 Louis XVII of France1785–179527 March 1785Versaillesson of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette of Austrianever married8 June 1795Parisaged 10 Marie Thérèse of France1778–185119 December 1778Versaillesdaughter of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette of AustriaLouis, Duke of Angoulême10 June 1799 no children19 October 1851Nova Goricaaged 72
Infanta Beatriz of Portugal Descendant Image Birth Marriages Death Infanta Beatriz of Portugal1504–1538 31 December 1504Lisbondaughter of Manuel I and Maria of Aragon and CastileCharles III, Duke of Savoy29 September 15211 childJanuary 8, 1538Niceaged 33 Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy1528–1580 8 July 1528Chambéryson of Beatrice of Portugal and Charles III, Duke of SavoyMargaret of France, Duchess of Berry10 July 15591 child30 August 1580Turinaged 52 Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy1562–1630 12 January 1562Castle of Rivolison of Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy and Margaret of France, Duchess of BerryCatalina Micaela of Spain18 March 158510 children30 August 1580Saviglianoaged 68 Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy1587–1637 8 May 1587Turinson of Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy and Infanta Catherine Michelle of SpainChristine Marie of France10 February 16197 children7 October 1637Turinaged 50 Francis Hyacinth, Duke of Savoy1632–1638 14 September 1632Castello del Valentinoson of Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy and Christine Marie of Francenever married4 October 1638Castello del Valentinoaged 6 Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy1634–1675 20 June 1634Turinson of Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy and Christine Marie of FranceFrançoise Madeleine d'Orléans4 March 1663no childrenMarie Jeanne of Savoy10 May 16651 child12 June 1675Turinaged 40 Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia1666–1732 14 May 1666Turinson of Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy and Marie Jeanne of SavoyAnne Marie d'Orléans10 April 16846 childrenAnna Canalis di Cumiana12 August 1730 1 child31 October 1732Turinaged 66 Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia1701–1773 27 April 1701Turinson of Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia and Anne Marie d'OrléansCountess Palatine Anne Christine of Sulzbach15 March 17221 childElisabeth Therese of Lorraine5 March 17371 childPolyxena of Hesse-Rotenburg23 July 17246 children20 February 1773Turinaged 71 Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia1726–179626 June 1726Turinson of Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia and Polyxena of Hesse-RotenburgMaria Antonia Ferdinanda of Spain12 April 17509 children16 October 1796Turinaged 70 Charles Emmanuel IV of Sardinia1751–181924 May 1751Turinson of Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia and Maria Antonia Ferdinanda of SpainMarie Clotilde of France27 August 17751 child6 October 1819Romeaged 68 Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia1759–182424 July 1759Turinson of Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia and Maria Antonia Ferdinanda of SpainMaria Theresa of Austria-Este25 April 17894 children10 January 1824Turinaged 64 Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy1792–1840 6 December 1792daughter of Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia and Archduchess Maria Teresa of Austria-EsteFrancis IV, Duke of Modena20 June 18124 children15 September 1840aged 48 Francis V, Duke of Modena1819–1875 1 June 1819Modenason of Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy and Francis IV, Duke of ModenaPrincess Adelgunde of Bavaria30 March 18421 child20 November 1875Viennaaged 56 Archduke Ferdinand Karl Viktor of Austria-Este1821–1849 20 July 1821Modenason of Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy and Francis IV, Duke of ModenaArchduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austria4 December 18461 child15 December 1849Brnoaged 28 Maria Theresia of Austria-Este1849–1919 2 July 1849Brnodaughter of Ferdinand of Austria-Este and Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska of AustriaLudwig III of Bavaria13 children7 November 1919Chiemgauaged 69 Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria1869–1955 18 May 1869Munichson of Archduchess Maria Theresia of Austria-Este and Ludwig III of BavariaMaria Gabrielle in Bavaria10 July 19004 childrenPrincess Antonia of Luxembourg7 April 19216 children2 August 1955Schloß Leutstettenaged 86 Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria1905–1996 3 May 1905Munichson of Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria and Maria Gabrielle in BavariaCountess Maria Draskovich von Trakostjan19304 childrenCountess Marie-Jenke Keglevich von Buzin1971No children8 July 1996Castle Bergaged 91 Franz, Duke of Bavaria1933–present 14 July 1933Munichson of Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria and Countess Maria Draskovich von Traskotjannot married
Infante Luís, Duke of Beja