João V of Portugal

João Francisco António José Bento Bernardo was born on 22 October 1689, in Lisbon. He was son of King Pedro II of Portugal and his wife, Queen Maria Sophia.

João had a stimulating upbringing surrounded by Europe’s most brilliant minds. The political policies of King Pedro II made the Portuguese court wealthy, the economy stable and the military strong. This made a richly varied and interesting childhood possible for the young Infante. As a child, he was under the tutelage and influence of the Jesuits, and learned military education, politics, astronomy, nautical studies, mathematics and history.

Just over a month before João’s 10th birthday, his mother died aged just 33. This caused João to retreat from court and become depressed. The former Queen of England, his aunt Catherine, returned to Portugal to help João and take control of his education. She remained his tutor and female role model until her death in 1705.

The death of his sister, Teresa Maria, in February 1704 greatly saddened João. He avoided appearing at court and estranged himself from his father. During this time, much gossip was spread, and worries arose about whether João would recover from his depression. In May of that year, he eventually returned to the court and reconciled with his father, saying that missing his sister would not stand in the way of his duties.

In early December 1706, Pedro II was growing ill. On the 5th of that month, he caught a high fever and his health greatly deteriorated. The next day, he called all his children to his bedside and told them of his coming demise; he also appointed João prince regent.

Pedro II died on 9 December 1706. One month later, the time was declared to be appropriate for João to be acclaimed King of Portugal. On 1 January 1707, João’s new throne was placed on the balcony of Ribeira Palace. Once João sat down, wreaths made of gold were laid around the throne and balcony. Wearing his Cross of the Order of Christ and with the Portuguese Crown Jewels beside him, João was acclaimed His Majesty, by the Grace of God, King of Portugal and the Algarves, before and beyond the sea in Africa, Lord of Guinea and of Conquest, Navigation, and Commerce in Ethiopia, Arabia, Persia, and India, our Lord, João, the fifth of that name in the table of the Kings of Portugal.

During his life, Pedro II had worked a long time to secure João a marriage with an Austrian archduchess, to guarantee Portugal’s alliance with the Habsburgs. João continued these negotiations and finally succeeded – on 27 June 1707, a marriage contract was signed with Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor, that made official a match between João and the Emperor’s sister, the Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria.

By late 1710, João and Maria Anna hadn’t produced an heir to the throne, which put in question the future of the House of Braganza. In 1711, the King promised God to build a Franciscan convent in Mafra, if God would deliver his long-desired heir. João’s wish came true later that year, when Maria Anna gave birth to the Infanta Maria Bárbara on 4 December 1711.

João and Maria Anna had a successful marriage but lived separate lives. Maria Anna devoted herself to preserving the decorum of the royal court and her own religious interests, while João concerned himself with whatever pleased him at the moment. João kept many mistresses, including Filipa de Noronha, Paula de Odivelas, Luísa Inês Antónia Machado Monteiro, Madalena Máxima de Miranda, Inácia Rosa de Távora and Luísa Clara de Portugal.

Maria Bárbara’s birth was followed by the birth of Pedro, Prince of Brazil on 19 October 1712. Pedro’s death on 29 October 1714 greatly saddened the King, but he took solace in the fact that his son José (future King José of Portugal) had been born earlier that same year. Following the birth of José, João and Maria Anna would have three more children: Carlos, Pedro and Alexandre.

João fathered at least four children from various extramarital affairs: António of Braganza (by Luísa Inês Antónia Machado Monteiro), Gaspar of Braganza (by Madalena Máxima de Miranda), José of Braganza (by Paula de Odivelas) and Maria Rita of Braganza (by Luísa Clara of Portugal).

When João became King, he chose to reign as an absolute monarch. Notably, he never convened the Portuguese Cortes, the ancient parliament of the three estates in Portugal, and actively ignored meetings of the Council of State. However, João did not act by himself when making decisions – he frequently consulted a close circle of well-informed advisers and held weekly intimate audiences with members of all three estates.

João was known as the Magnanimous (or the Portuguese Sun King), and it was during his reign that Portugal saw the rise of its prestige among European courts. João’s reign saw an enormous influx of gold into the country’s coffers, supplied largely by the colony of Brazil. However, the King nearly depleted the coffers on ambitious architectural works and on commissions and additions for his art and literary collections. Owing to his craving for international recognition, João also spent a large amount of money on the embassies he sent to the courts of Europe.

The King was a very pious man who devoted large parts of his day to prayer and religious study. He rewarded his long-awaited recognition as a lawful monarch with a fervent devotion to the Catholic Church and some very large donations to the Holy See. The Pope granted João V the style Most Faithful Majesty, which appealed to him greatly.

João always had a delicate health. On 10 May 1742, aged just 52, he had a stroke. This would be the first bout of paralysis he would have. The King retired to Caldas da Rainha and returned to Lisbon when he felt better. However, he was already feeling less energetic. His health deteriorated with time and, on July 1750, he felt so ill that he received the last sacraments. King João V of Portugal died on 31 July 1750.

João V, King of Portugal

Domenico Duprà

1725