*** Welcome to piglix ***

Manuel I of Portugal

Manuel I
Manuel I1.jpg
Manuel I of Portugal, in a miniature from the frontispiece of the Livro 1 de Além-Douro of the Leitura Nova (penned 15??-1521).
King of Portugal and the Algarves
Reign 25 October 1495 – 13 December 1521
Acclamation 27 October 1495
Predecessor John II
Successor John III
Born (1469-05-31)31 May 1469
Alcochete, Portugal
Died 13 December 1521(1521-12-13) (aged 52)
Lisbon, Portugal
Burial Jerónimos Monastery
Spouses
Issue
see details...
House Aviz
Father Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu
Mother Beatrice of Portugal
Religion Roman Catholicism
Signature

Manuel I (European Portuguese: [mɐ̃nʊˈɛɫ]; English: Emmanuel I; 31 May 1469 – 13 December 1521), the Fortunate (Port. o Afortunado), King of Portugal and the Algarves, was the son of Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu, by his wife, the Infanta Beatrice of Portugal. His name is associated with a period of Portuguese civilization that was distinguished by significant achievements both in political affairs and the arts. In spite of its small size and population in comparison to the great land powers of Europe, Portugal, during Manuel`s reign, was able to acquire an overseas empire of vast proportions, the first in world history to reach global dimensions.

Manuel's mother was the granddaughter of King John I of Portugal, whereas his father was the second surviving son of King Edward of Portugal and the younger brother of King Afonso V of Portugal. In 1495, Manuel succeeded his first cousin, King John II of Portugal, who was also his brother-in-law, as husband to Manuel's sister, Eleanor of Viseu.

Manuel grew up amidst conspiracies of the Portuguese upper nobility against King John II. He was aware of many people being killed and exiled. His older brother Diogo, Duke of Viseu, was stabbed to death in 1484 by the king himself.

Manuel thus would have had every reason to worry when he received a royal order in 1493 to present himself to the king, but his fears were groundless: John II wanted to name him heir to the throne after the death of his son Prince Afonso and the failed attempts to legitimise Jorge, Duke of Coimbra, his illegitimate son. As a result of this stroke of luck, he was nicknamed the Fortunate.


...
Wikipedia

...