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Elizabeth of Aragon

Elizabeth of Aragon (Portuguese: Isabel) was born on 1271 in Zaragoza, Kingdom of Aragon. She was the daughter of Infante Peter of Aragon (later King Peter III) and his wife, Constance of Sicily.


 She showed early enthusiasm for her faith and religious fervour was common in her family (her great-aunt Elizabeth of Hungary was a saint!). She said the full Divine Office daily, fasted and attended choral masses twice a day.

 In 1281, when Elizabeth was 10, a marriage was arranged for her; the chosen husband was King Dinis of Portugal. However, the wedding was not celebrated until 1288, when Elizabeth was 17 and Dinis 26. The now Queen of Portugal quietly pursued the religious practices of her youth and was devoted to the sick and the poor.
Elizabeth had an active interest in Portuguese politics and was conciliator in the negotiations concerning the Treaty of Alcañices, signed by her husband and King Sancho IV of Castile in 1297.

 Dinis and Elizabeth would have two children: Constança (who would become Queen of Castile) and Afonso (the future Afonso IV of Portugal).

Elizabeth would serve as an intermediary between her husband and her son during the Civil War (1322-1324). Infante Afonso greatly resented his father, whom he accused of favouring his illegitimate son, Afonso Sanches. Dinis was prevented from killing his son through the intervention of the Queen. Legend says that Elizabeth, mounted on a mule, positioned herself between the opposing armies in order to prevent the fight. Peace was restored in 1324, when Afonso Sanches was sent into exile and the Infante swore allegiance to his father.

 The miracle of the roses is the most popular legend about Elizabeth: the Queen left the Castle of Sabugal during the winter to distribute bread to the poor. The King, annoyed she would be always mingling with the poor, surprised her and asked what she was carrying. Afraid he would discover the bread, Elizabeth answered It's roses, Sir!. Not convinced, Dinis asked back Roses? In January?. She then showed him what she carried and, instead of the bread, there were the most beautiful roses ever seen.

 After the King's death in 1325, the Queen retired to the monastery of Poor Claire nuns (Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha) which she had founded in 1314. She joined the Third Order of St Francis, and dedicated herself to the poor and sick.

 Elizabeth was known for being modest in her dress and humble in conversation. She provided lodgings for pilgrims, distributed small gifts, paid the dowries of poor girls and educated the children of poor nobles. She was also a benefactor of various hospitals and religious projects.

 In 1336, Elizabeth was called once more to act as a peacemaker. Her son, Afonso IV, had matched his troops against Alfonso XI of Castile, to whom he had married his daughter, and who had neglected and mistreated her. In spite of her age and weakness, Elizabeth hurried to Estremoz; again, she stopped the fighting and arranged terms of peace. As soon as her mission was completed, she took to her bed with a fever.

 Queen Elizabeth died on 4 July 1336, in the castle of Estremoz. Initially she was buried in the monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha; however, after frequent flooding in the 17th century, her remains were moved to the monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova.

She was beatified in 1526 and canonised by Pope Urban VIII in 1625. Her feast was inserted in the General Roman Calendar for celebration on 4 July.

Dinis of Portugal and Elizabeth of Aragon
Carlos Falch
(1655/6)
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