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Joseph IKing of Portugal from the Braganza dynasty from July 31, 1750
Date of Birth: 06.06.1714
Country:  Portugal |
Content:
- Early Life and Succession
- Reign of José I
- Marquis of Pombal's Reforms
- Lisbon Earthquake and Legacy
- Family and Death
Early Life and Succession
Born on July 31, 1711, José I was the third child of King João V of Portugal and Maria Anna of Austria. After the untimely death of his elder brother, Pedro, at the age of two, José became the Prince of Brazil, heir apparent to the throne, and Duke of Braganza.
José was a passionate patron of hunting and opera. He amassed one of the largest collections of opera scores in Europe. In 1729, he married Mariana Victoria, daughter of King Philip V of Spain, while his elder sister, Barbara, married the future Ferdinand VI of Spain. Mariana Victoria shared her husband's love of music and hunting, and she also actively participated in state affairs, often assuming his authority.
Reign of José I
José I ascended to the throne in 1750 at the age of 36. He entrusted the governance of the kingdom to the Marquis of Pombal, devoting himself to his own pleasures. The Marquis of Pombal became the de facto ruler of Portugal during José's reign.
The king designated his elder daughter, Maria, as his heir and proclaimed her Princess of Brazil. He had lost hope that his wife would bear him a son.
Marquis of Pombal's Reforms
The influential Marquis of Pombal sought to overhaul every aspect of Portugal's economic, social, and colonial policies to better compete with the other great powers of Europe. The attempted assassination of King José in 1758 by members of the Távora family gave Pombal the opportunity (some believe the pretext) to eliminate the powerful Távora family and expel the Jesuits, gaining control over church property.
Lisbon Earthquake and Legacy
José I's reign was marked by the devastating Lisbon Earthquake of 1755, which killed an estimated 100,000 people. The earthquake left the king severely claustrophobic, and he became uncomfortable living in a palace. He relocated the court to a sprawling tent city in the Ajuda Hills. The capital was rebuilt at great expense, and an equestrian statue of King José still dominates Lisbon's central square.
Family and Death
With Mariana Victoria, José had four daughters:Maria I (1734-1816)
Maria Ana Francisca (1736-1813)
Maria Francisca Doroteia (1739-1771)
Maria Francisca Benedita (1746-1829)
Four of their children, including one daughter and three sons, were stillborn. Lacking male heirs, King José married his elder daughter, Maria I, to his brother, Pedro, in 1760. In 1777, his youngest daughter, Maria Francisca Benedita, married her nephew, José, the elder son of Maria I. His other two daughters never married.
José I died on February 24, 1777, after a prolonged illness during which his wife, Mariana Victoria, served as regent. He was succeeded by his elder daughter, Maria I, who promptly dismissed the overbearing Marquis of Pombal.
