Catherine of Habsburg (1507-1578)
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- This article is about the daughter of Archduke Philip of Habsburg and Joanna of Castile. For the Polish queen consort in the same dynasty, see Catherine of Austria (1533-1572).
Catherine of Habsburg, also called Catherine of Austria, Catherine of Burgundy or Catherine of Castile (14 January 1507– 12 February 1578) was (as wife of King John III of Portugal) Queen consort of Portugal.
An Infanta of Castile, Archduchess of Austria, and princess of Burgundy, she was the posthumous daughter of Philip of Habsburg by Joanna of Castile. She was named in honor of her maternal aunt, Catherine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII, King of England. She remained with her disturbed mother until the arrival in Spain of her eldest siblings (Eleanor and Charles) brought about the creation of her own household within the castle their mother was virtually imprisoned in.
She was a younger sister of Eleanor of Habsburg, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, Isabella of Habsburg, Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor and Mary of Habsburg.
After the death of her husband, she was challenged by her daughter-in-law (her niece, Juana) over the role of regent for the infant King Sebastian. Mediation by Charles V resolved the issue in favour of his sister Catherine, over his daughter Juana, who was needed in Spain in the absence of Phillip II.
[edit] Marriage and children
On 10 February 1525, Catherine married her first cousin John III of Portugal.
| Name | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| By Catherine of Spain (married February 10, 1525) | |||
| Prince Afonso | February 24, 1526 | March 1526 | Crown Prince of Portugal (1526). |
| Princess Maria | October 15, 1527 | August 12, 1545 | Crown Princess of Portugal (1527-1531; 1537). First wife of King Philip II of Spain. She had one child, Don Carlos, and she died a few days after his birth. |
| Infanta Isabel | April 28, 1529 | April 28, 1529 | |
| Infanta Beatriz | February 15, 1530 | February 15, 1530 | |
| Prince Manuel | November 1, 1531 | April 14, 1537 | Crown Prince of Portugal (1531-1537). Declared heir in 1535. |
| Prince Philip | March 25, 1533 | April 29, 1539 | Crown Prince of Portugal (1537-1539). Declared heir in 1537. |
| Infante Dinis | April 6, 1535 | January 1, 1537 | |
| Prince John | June 3, 1537 | January 2, 1554 | Crown Prince of Portugal (1537-1554). Declared heir in 1539. Married Joan of Spain. Their son became King Sebastian I. |
| Infante António | March 9, 1539 | January 20, 1540 | |
| Preceded by Eleanor of Habsburg |
Queen Consort of Portugal 10 February 1525 - 11 June 1557 |
Succeeded by Anna of Austria |
