Teodósio II, 7th Duke of Braganza (28 April 1568 – 29 November 1630) was a Portuguese nobleman and father of

João IV of Portugal John IV ( pt, João, ; 19 March 1604 – 6 November 1656), nicknamed John the Restorer ( pt, João, o Restaurador), was the King of Portugal whose reign, lasting from 1640 until his death, began the Portuguese restoration of independence from H ...

. He is known for his allegiance to King Philip I of Portugal.

Biography

As a child, Teodósio was brought to the court and made page to the king Sebastian I of Portugal. The king was very fond of him and in 1578 insisted on taking him to

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

in the expedition against the king of

Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria ...

. This military campaign was doomed. During the ill-fated

battle of Alcácer Quibir The Battle of Alcácer Quibir (also known as "Battle of Three Kings" ( ar, معركة الملوك الثلاثة) or "Battle of Wadi al-Makhazin" ( ar, معركة وادي المخازن) in Morocco) was fought in northern Morocco, near the t ...

, Teodósio remained at the side of his king until the situation become extremely dangerous. Then, Sebastian ordered servants to take the ten-year-old child to safety behind the lines. The young man was not happy to be set aside and ran away at the first opportunity. Teodósio mounted a horse and went to the front lines of the battle, pursued by very scared servants. Eventually, like many others, he was wounded and taken prisoner. Back in Portugal, his father João went mad with grief and offered a fortune for the ransom of his heir. He also asked king

Philip II of Spain Philip II) in Spain, while in Portugal and his Italian kingdoms he ruled as Philip I ( pt, Filipe I). (21 May 152713 September 1598), also known as Philip the Prudent ( es, Felipe el Prudente), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal fro ...

to write to the king of Morocco in order to spare young Teodósio's life. There was no need for such alarm. Impressed by the tale of his courage in battle, the king of Morocco let the child go, safely and without ransom, in August 1579. Meanwhile, in Portugal, the situation was one of unrest. With the disappearance of King Sebastian in the battle, the new king was Cardinal

Henry I of Portugal Henry ( pt, Henrique ; 31 January 1512 — 31 January 1580), dubbed the Chaste ( pt, o Casto, links=no) and the Cardinal-King ( pt, o Cardeal-Rei, links=no), was king of Portugal and a cardinal of the Catholic Church, who ruled Portugal between ...

an old childless man. Teodósio was the son of Infanta Catarina, an ambitious woman who, with her husband the Duke of Bragança, aspired to the throne. Philip II of Spain also aspired to the Portuguese throne and used every means to keep young Teodósio (great-grandson of King Manuel I and a possible threat) out of the country. Only when he had safely secured the crown did Philip II of Spain, now Philip I of Portugal, allow the child's return. Teodósio became a duke in 1583 at his father's death and grew up to be a faithful servant of the Spanish king of Portugal. He defended Lisbon from the attacks of another candidate ( António of Crato) and was responsible for the kingdom's security for many years. Acknowledging this fidelity, Philip I granted the Braganças more lands and titles.

Marriage and Children

* By his wife, the Spanish Lady

Ana de Velasco y Girón Ana de Velasco y Téllez-Girón (1585 – 7 November 1607) was a Spanish noblewoman and mother of John IV of Portugal, the first Portuguese King of the Braganza Dynasty. She was the daughter of Juan Fernández de Velasco, 5th Duke of Frías and ...

** John II, 8th Duke of Bragança (1604–1656), crowned King John IV of Portugal in December 1, 1640 ** Duarte of Bragança (1605–1649), Lord of

Vila do Conde Vila do Conde (, ; "the Count's Town") is a municipality in the Norte Region of Portugal. The population in 2011 was 79,533, in an area of 149.03 km². The urbanized area of Vila do Conde, which includes the parishes of Vila do Conde, Azurar ...

** Catarina of Bragança (1606–1610) ** Alexandre of Bragança (1607–1637)

Ancestry

Bibliography

*"Nobreza de Portugal e Brazil", Vol. II, page 448. Published by Zairol Lda., Lisbon, 1989.
Genealogy of Teodósio II, 7th Duke of Braganza

External links

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Teodosio 02 Of Braganza, Duke Portuguese royalty House of Braganza 1568 births 1630 deaths Dukes of Braganza

102 102 may refer to: *102 (number), the number *AD 102, a year in the 2nd century AD *102 BC, a year in the 2nd century BC *102 (ambulance service), an emergency medical transport service in Uttar Pradesh, India *102 (Clyde) Field Squadron, Royal Engin ...

Constables of Portugal People from Vila Viçosa 16th-century Portuguese people 17th-century Portuguese people Portuguese nobility