 |
Constanza ManuelQueen of Castile and Crown Princess of Portugal
Date of Birth: 01.01.1316
Country:  Spain |
Content:
- Early Life and Marriage to King Alfonso XI of Castile
- Annulment and Imprisonment
- Marriage to Prince Pedro of Portugal
- Rivalries and Children
- Later Life and Death
- Children
Early Life and Marriage to King Alfonso XI of Castile
Constance was born to Juan Manuel, a feudal lord and writer, and his wife Constance, daughter of Jaime the Just. At the age of nine, she was betrothed to the young King Alfonso XI of Castile by decision of the Cortes in Valladolid on November 28, 1325.
Annulment and Imprisonment
In 1327, the Castilian court became interested in a possible marriage between the king and the Portuguese princess Maria. As a result, Constance's marriage to Alfonso XI was annulled, and she was imprisoned in Toro. Juan Manuel demanded the return of his daughter, but his request was only granted after he declared war.
Marriage to Prince Pedro of Portugal
Juan Manuel eventually found a second husband for his daughter in Portugal. In 1336, Constance married Infante Pedro. Her dowry consisted of 300,000 doubloons. Alfonso XI opposed this marriage as it strengthened Portugal's claim to the Castilian throne. Only after three years and an armed conflict, Alfonso agreed to release Constance from the country. The re-marriage ceremony took place in Lisbon.
Rivalries and Children
As crown princess, Constance was granted the towns of Montemor-o-Novo, Alentejo, and Viseu. Almost immediately after the wedding, a rivalry developed between Constance and her companion, Inês de Castro. King Afonso IV supported his lawful daughter-in-law as he feared the political influence of Inês's brothers over Dom Pedro. Constance invited Inês to be the godmother of her son, Luís, in 1340, hoping that her husband would abandon his affair with his godmother. However, the infant lived for only a week. Pedro and Inês continued their relationship even after Afonso banished her from the court.
Later Life and Death
Constance died in childbirth in 1349. After her death, Pedro married his mistress, Inês. Constance has been depicted in several artistic works about the story of Pedro and Inês, such as Alejandro Casona's play "Corona de amor y muerte" (Crown of Love and Death).
Children
Luís (1340) - Died as a newbornMaria (1343-1367) - Wife of Fernando, Marquis of Tortosa
Fernando (1345-1383) - King of Portugal (1367-1383)
