Biography of John IV King Portugal 1604-1656

On 17th June 1603 [his father] Teodosio II Duke of Braganza (age 35) and [his mother] Ana de Velasco y Téllez Girón Duchess Braganza (age 18) were married. She by marriage Duchess Braganza.

On 19th March 1604 John IV King Portugal was born to Teodosio II Duke of Braganza (age 35) and Ana de Velasco y Téllez Girón Duchess Braganza (age 19).

On 7th November 1607 [his mother] Ana de Velasco y Téllez Girón Duchess Braganza (age 22) died.

On 29th November 1630 [his father] Teodosio II Duke of Braganza (age 62) died. His son John (age 26) succeeded Duke Braganza.

In 1633 John IV King Portugal (age 28) and Luisa de Guzman Queen Consort Portugal (age 19) were married. She by marriage Duchess Braganza.

On 25th November 1638 [his daughter] Catherine of Braganza Queen Consort England was born to John IV King Portugal (age 34) and [his wife] Luisa de Guzman Queen Consort Portugal (age 25) in Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa, Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Vila Viçosa.

On 1st December 1640 John IV King Portugal (age 36) was created IV King Portugal by popular revolt ending the sixty year period of the Iberian Union where Spain and Portugal had the same ruler. [his wife] Luisa de Guzman Queen Consort Portugal (age 27) by marriage Queen Consort Portugal.

On 21st August 1643 [his son] Alfonso VI King Portugal was born to John IV King Portugal (age 39) and [his wife] Luisa de Guzman Queen Consort Portugal (age 29).

On 26th April 1649 [his son] Peter II King Portugal was born to John IV King Portugal (age 45) and [his wife] Luisa de Guzman Queen Consort Portugal (age 35).

On 6th November 1656 John IV King Portugal (age 52) died. His son [his son] Alfonso (age 13) succeeded King Portuagal.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 10th June 1661. Early to my Lord's, who privately told me how the King had made him Embassador in the bringing over the [his daughter] Queen (age 22)¹. That he is to go to Algier, &c., to settle the business, and to put the fleet in order there; and so to come back to Lisbone with three ships, and there to meet the fleet that is to follow him. He sent for me, to tell me that he do intrust me with the seeing of all things done in his absence as to this great preparation, as I shall receive orders from my Lord Chancellor (age 52) and Mr. Edward Montagu. At all which my heart is above measure glad; for my Lord's honour, and some profit to myself, I hope.

Note 1. Katherine of Braganza, daughter of John IV. of Portugal, born 1638, married to Charles II, May 21st, 1662. After the death of the king she lived for some time at Somerset House [Map], and then returned to Portugal, of which country she became Regent in 1704 on the retirement of her brother Don Pedro. She died December 31st, 1705.

On 27th February 1666 [his former wife] Luisa de Guzman Queen Consort Portugal (age 52) died.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 28th March 1666. Thence set them down at Pierces, and we home, where busy and at my chamber till 12 at night, and so to bed. This night, I am told, the [his former wife] Queene of Portugall (deceased), the mother to our [his daughter] Queene (age 27), is lately dead, and newes brought of it hither this day¹. 29th. All the morning hard at the office.

Note 1. Donna Luiza, the Queen Regent of Portugal. She was daughter of the [his former father-in-law] Duke de Medina Sidonia and widow of Juan IV. The Court wore the deepest mourning on this occasion. The ladies were directed to wear their hair plain, and to appear without spots on their faces, the disfiguring fashion of patching having just been introduced.- Strickland's Queens of England, vol. viii., p. 362.