Joanna, Princess of Portugal

Joanna (Portuguese: Joana) was born on 6 February 1452, in Lisbon. She was the daughter of King Afonso V of Portugal and his wife, Isabel of Coimbra.

After the death of her older brother, João, Joanna was recognised as heiress presumptive to the throne of Portugal. She received the title of Princess of Portugal (usually, the younger children of the monarch had the title of Infante or Infanta of Portugal). In 1455, however, a boy was born. The new prince João was now the heir and Joanna lost her title of Princess. Among the people, however, the now Infanta Joanna was still known as Princess Joanna.

From a young age, the kind and charitable Joanna expressed a desire to become a nun but, because she was the second-in-line to the throne, her father did not allow it. She spent her time in various convents, but she never took the veil.

In 1471, Afonso V led a military expedition to Tangier. While he was gone, Joanna served as Regent of the Kingdom.

After vehemently refusing several marriage proposals, Joanna joined the Dominican Convent of Jesus (her favourite), in Aveiro, in 1475. By that time, her brother already had an heir, so the family line was not in danger of being extinct. Still, she was compelled several times to leave the convent and return to the court.
She received a marriage proposal from Charles VIII of France, which she refused. In 1485, another offer was made, this time by the recently widowed Richard III of England. This was to be part of a double marital contract: Joanna would marry Richard and Elizabeth of York would marry Joanna's cousin, the future Manuel I of Portugal. However, Richard's death (of which Joanna supposedly had a prophetic dream) halted these plans.

Joanna, the once Princess of Portugal, died on 12 May 1490, aged just 38. She was buried in the Convent of Jesus, in Aveiro (if you can, go visit!), the place where she spent most of her time. The legend says that when her funeral procession passed through the convent's garden, the flowers she cared for in life fell on her coffin, paying her one last tribute. This event was considered Joanna's first miracle.

Almost 200 years later, in 1693, Joanna was beatified by Pope Innocent XII. Although she was not canonised, Joanna is known in Portugal as a saint (Santa Joana Princesa). Patron saint of the city of Aveiro, her feast is celebrated on 12 May.

Joanna, Princess of Portugal

Nuno Gonçalves

15th century