Catherine of Austria, Queen of Portugal
| Catherine of Austria | |
|---|---|
Catherine of Portugal; Anthonis Mor, 1552.
|
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| Queen consort of Portugal | |
| Tenure | 10 February 1525 – 11 June 1557 |
| Born | 14 January 1507 Torquemada, Spain |
| Died | 12 February 1578 (aged 71) Lisbon, Portugal |
| Spouse | John III of Portugal |
| Issue |
Maria Manuela, Princess of Portugal Philip, Prince of Portugal Manuel, Prince of Portugal John Manuel, Prince of Portugal Afonso, Prince of Portugal |
| House | House of Habsburg |
| Father | Philip I of Castile |
| Mother | Joanna of Castile |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
| Signature |  |
Catherine of Austria (Portuguese: Catarina; 14 January 1507 – 12 February 1578) was Queen of Portugal as wife of King John III, and regent during the minority of her grandson, King Sebastian, from 1557 until 1562.
An Infanta of Castile and Archduchess of Austria, Catherine was the posthumous daughter of King Philip I by Queen Joanna of Castile. Catherine was born in Torquemada and named in honor of her maternal aunt, Catherine of Aragon. She remained with her mentally unstable mother until her eldest siblings, Eleanor and the future Emperor Charles V, arrived at Spain, coming from Flanders.
All of her five older siblings, except Ferdinand, were born in the Low Countries and had been put into the care of their aunt Margaret of Austria, but Joanna kept hold of young Catherine. Catherine actually stayed with her mother during imprisonment at Tordesillas during her grandfather Ferdinand of Aragon's time as regent. When the time came for her to marry, Catherine was released from the custody that her mother was to endure until her death.
On 10 February 1525, Catherine married her first cousin, King John III of Portugal. They had nine children, but only two survived early childhood.
After the death of her husband in 1557, she was challenged by her daughter-in-law and niece, Joan of Austria, over the role of regent for her grandchild, the infant King Sebastian. Mediation by Charles V resolved the issue in favour of his sister Catherine over his daughter Joan, who was needed in Spain in the absence of Philip II.
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