Isabel of Portugal, Lady of Viseu

Isabella of Portugal (1364–1395) was the natural daughter of King Ferdinand I of Portugal, from unknown mother.

Biography

Before 1386 she was betrothed to João Afonso Telo de Menezes, 1st Count of Viana (do Alentejo), son of the powerful Dom João Afonso Telo de Menezes, 4th Count of Barcelos. However, this project was abandoned or dissolved.

She married Alfonso, Count of Gijón and Noroña, natural son of King Henry II of Castile. Her marriage was one of the clauses of the peace treaty, signed in 1373, between Portugal and Castile.

Through a royal letter issued on 2 October 1377, her father granted her the Lordship of Viseu, Celorico, Linhares and Algodres.

She left to the Royal Court of King Henry II of Castile where she lived while waiting for an appropriate age to get married, once her groom was, then, only 9 years old. They finally married in 1378 in the city of Burgos. From this marriage was issued the Noronha family, still represented in several aristocratic houses, both in Portugal and in Spain.

The couple had 7 children:

Due to her husband's conflict with his brother, King John I of Castile, Alfonso, Count of Gijón and Noroña was arrested and died during a fight. Isabella returned to her native Portugal where her uncle, King John I of Portugal, gave her a warm welcome and protection, both to her and to her children.

Once Alfonso was Count of Noreña, an Asturian village he had received from his father, Isabel's children used the Portuguese spelling Noronha as their family name.

See also

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Bibliography

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