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Huana AvstriyskayaSpanish infanta, daughter of Emperor Charles V.
Country:
 Spain |
Content:
Biography of Juana of Austria
Born in the royal palace in Madrid, Juana of Austria was an Infanta of Spain and the daughter of Emperor Charles V. Her importance was derived from her lineage, as she was the granddaughter, daughter, mother, and sister of kings.
Early Life and Family
Juana was born to Charles V and Isabella of Portugal. Through her father's lineage, she was the granddaughter of Philip I and Juana I of Castile, and through her mother's lineage, she was related to King Manuel of Portugal and Maria of Aragon. She was also the sister of King Philip II of Spain. Juana was named after her grandmother, Juana the Mad.
At the age of four, Juana was entrusted to the care of Leonor de Mascarenas for her education. By the age of eight, she was proficient in Latin and music.
Marriage and Political Significance
On January 11, 1552, at the age of seventeen, Juana married her cousin, the heir to the Portuguese throne, João Manuel, who was fifteen at the time. This marriage had significant implications for both countries on the Iberian Peninsula. Based on this union, King Philip of Spain gained the legal right to claim the Portuguese throne, which he later exercised when he became King Philip I of Portugal in 1580.
Juana arrived at the Portuguese court in late November 1552. However, her marriage was short-lived as her husband died of tuberculosis on January 2, 1554. Despite his untimely death, Juana was already pregnant and gave birth to a son, who would become King Sebastian I, on January 20 of the same year. At the insistence of her father, who planned to abdicate the throne, Juana left Lisbon on May 17, 1554, entrusting the upbringing of her newborn son to her mother-in-law, Catherine of Austria (who was also her aunt).
