Teodósio, Prince of Brazil

Dom Teodósio, Prince of Brazil, Duke of Braganza (Teodósio de Bragança; ; 8 February 1634 – 15 May 1653)Template:Sfn was the eldest son of John IV of Portugal and heir apparent to the Portuguese throne from 1640 until his death. In 1645, he was created Prince of Brazil and 9th Duke of Braganza.

Biography

File:D. Teodósio de Bragança (Museu de Évora, ME5).png

Portrait of the Prince of Brazil as a child.

Born on 8 February 1634 in Vila Viçosa, Teodósio was the first child of John IV of Portugal and Luisa de Guzmán, then the Duke and Duchess of Braganza.Template:Sfn Shortly after birth, he was granted the title Duke of Barcelos.Template:Sfn

In December 1640, John was proclaimed King John IV of Portugal by the Portuguese nobility, marking the end of the 60-year-old Iberian Union and establishing the House of Braganza on the Portuguese throne. A month later, on 28 January 1641, Teodósio was sworn in as heir apparent by the Portuguese Cortes.Template:Sfn Seeking to grant a more prestigious title that would reflect the grandeur of the new dynasty, John IV created the title Prince of Brazil and bestowed it, alongside the title of Duke of Braganza, upon Teodósio in a royal decree issued 27 October 1645.Template:Sfn

In 1646, John IV attempted to secure a dynastic alliance with France by proposing Teodósio marry Louis XIII's niece, La Grande Mademoiselle.Template:Sfn Desperate to solidify the match, John secretly proposed abdicating his throne in favor of Teodósio.Template:Sfn Later, António Vieira suggested to fellow Jesuits that the prince marry a Spanish princess.Template:Sfn Both schemes amounted to nothing.

Teodósio received a comprehensive education aimed at preparing him for governance. He was interested in philosophy, astronomy, mathematics, and watchmaking. In addition to his native Portuguese, Teodósio mastered Greek, Latin, Italian, and Castilian.Template:Sfn He began participating in State Council meetings in 1649.Template:Sfn The focus on a humanist curriculum drew criticism from nobles who advocated for Teodósio's engagement in military service as befitting his role as crown prince.Template:Sfn

Against his father's wishes, Teodósio ran away from court to join an army in Alentejo at seventeen years old. After being persuaded to return, he was given the title Captain-General of Arms in January 1652.Template:Sfn

Death

Afflicted with tuberculosis in late 1652, Teodósio died on 15 May 1653.Template:Sfn His death, deemed a "major disaster for the regime",Template:Sfn deeply impacted his parents.Template:Sfn His younger sister, Catherine, would remember him throughout her life and request to be buried beside him when drafting her will more than forty years later.Template:Sfn

Teodósio's brother, the medically and mentally problem-ridden Afonso, succeeded him as Prince of Brazil, Duke of Braganza and heir apparent of the kingdom.Template:Sfn

See also

• Prince of Brazil
• Afonso VI of Portugal
• Pedro II of Portugal

External links

• Dom Theodosio the Astrologer Prince
• Genealogy of Prince Teodósio

Template:S-endTemplate:Princes of BrazilTemplate:Dukes of BraganzaTemplate:Portuguese infantesTemplate:Authority control