Catherine of Braganza

Catherine of Braganza (1638-1705), daughter of John IV of Portugal and wife of Charles II of England. Catherine's marriage to Charles had been planned before the English Revolution, which in 1649 temporarily abolished the English monarchy; but the marriage did not occur until 1662, after the monarchy was restored and Charles took the throne. The union allied the two powers and brought England new territories, trading privileges, and a large sum of money; in return, England guaranteed Portugal military and naval support.

Although Charles had many mistresses, Catherine gradually accepted her role at court. Her Catholic faith was permitted but viewed with suspicion in a time of religious struggles between Catholics and Protestants in England. In 1678 she was accused of trying to poison the king and was charged with high treason, but Charles protected her from standing trial. He also refused his government's attempts to arrange a divorce when it became clear that she could bear no children. When Charles died in 1685 she mourned him greatly.

In the years of political and religious unrest that followed, Catherine remained on the sidelines of power. In 1688 she testified to having witnessed the birth of the only son of James II, Charles's Roman Catholic brother and successor. Because the child would provide a Catholic heir to the throne, rumors circulated that he was an impostor. After James was replaced on the throne in the revolution of 1688, Catherine lived happily under Protestant monarchs William and Mary until she was accused of sheltering antigovernment Catholic plotters.

Catherine returned to Portugal, where her brother, Pedro II, was on the throne. When he became ill in 1704, she ruled successfully for a time as his regent and continued to support good relations between Portugal and England.