Henry, King of Portugal | |
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King of Portugal and the Algarves | |
Reign | 4 August 1578 – 31 January 1580 |
Acclamation | 28 August 1578; Lisbon |
Predecessor | Sebastian |
Successor | Anthony (disputed) or Philip I |
Born | 31 January 1512 Lisbon, Portugal |
Died | 31 January 1580 (aged 68) Almeirim, Portugal |
Burial | Jerónimos Monastery |
Dynasty | Aviz |
Father | Manuel I of Portugal |
Mother | Maria of Aragon |
Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Henry (Portuguese: Henrique Portuguese pronunciation: [ẽˈʁik(ɨ)]; 31 January 1512 – 31 January 1580) was King of Portugal and the Algarves and a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He ruled Portugal between 1578 and 1580 and was known as Henry the Chaste (Portuguese: Henrique o Casto).
Born in Lisbon, Henry was the fifth son of King Manuel I of Portugal and Maria of Aragon.
As the younger brother of King John III of Portugal and a younger son in the royal family, Henry was not expected to succeed to the Portuguese throne. Early in his life, Henry took Holy Orders to promote Portuguese interests within the Catholic Church, then dominated by Spain. He rose fast through the Church hierarchy, becoming in quick succession Archbishop of Braga, Archbishop of Évora and Grand Inquisitor before receiving a Cardinal's hat in 1545, along with the Titulus Ss. Quattuor Coronatorum. From 1564 to 1570 he was Archbishop of Lisbon. Henry, more than anyone, endeavoured to bring the Jesuits to Portugal to employ them in the colonial empire.