House of Aviz

The House of Aviz was a royal family from Portugal that played a big role during exciting times like the Renaissance and when Portugal expanded its power globally. It started with King John I of Portugal, who was also the leader of the Order of Aviz. He became king after a tricky time without a clear ruler called the 1383–1385 Portuguese interregnum.

Leaders from the House of Aviz helped make Portugal very important in the world. They did this during the Age of Discovery by starting the Portuguese Empire. In 1494, a leader named Pope Alexander VI made a deal called the Treaty of Tordesillas that split the world between Portugal and Spain.

Famous people from this family include Prince Henry the Navigator, King Manuel I of Portugal, and Isabella of Portugal, who became an empress. The Aviz family ruled Portugal from 1385 until 1580. After that, another royal family, the Philippine Dynasty, took over during what is called the Portuguese succession crisis of 1580.

History

Origins

The House of Aviz began with King John I of Portugal. He was born in 1357 to King Pedro I of Portugal and a merchant's daughter named Teresa Lourenço. When John was just seven, he became the Grand Master of the Order of Aviz.

Rise to the throne

Main article: 1383–1385 Portuguese interregnum

The House of Aviz started when King Ferdinand I died in 1383. His wife was unpopular, and their daughter Beatrice was married to a king from another country. In 1385, people chose John of Aviz as their new king. He won a big battle against the other king's forces, securing his place as ruler.

John built a famous monastery to celebrate his victory. His family continued to rule Portugal, and the title of Grand Master of the Order of Aviz became part of the Portuguese Crown.

Age of Discoveries

Main article: Portuguese discoveries

Under the House of Aviz, Portugal grew into a powerful country. They began exploring and settling in Africa, Asia, and Brazil. This time marked the height of the Portuguese Empire.

Fall of the Aviz

See also: Iberian Union and Philippine Dynasty

King John III was followed by his grandson Sebastian I of Portugal, who died in battle. Then Henry, a cardinal with no children, took over. After Henry’s death, there was a fight for the throne. Another claimant, António, Prior of Crato, was defeated by Spanish forces led by Philip II of Spain. Philip then became king of Portugal as well, uniting the two countries under one ruler until 1640.

Aviz monarchs

Main article: List of Portuguese monarchs

Monarchs of Portugal

Monarchs of Aragon

Symbols

Cross of Aviz

See also: Order of Aviz

After becoming king following the 1383–1385 Portuguese interregnum, King John I of Portugal chose the Cross of the Order of Aviz as his special symbol. He added it to the coat of arms of Portugal and the royal flags. King John I used this cross to show his role as Grand-Master of the Order of Aviz. The Cross of Aviz is a green cross with a fleur-de-lys at the end of each arm.

Armillary sphere

The armillary sphere has been an important part of Portuguese heraldry since the time of King Manuel I of Portugal. It became a special symbol for the Portuguese monarchy and was used on the Coat of arms of Portugal and the current Flag of Portugal.

Because of its link to King Manuel I and other rulers from the Aviz family during the Portuguese discoveries, the armillary sphere was used to show Portuguese power in the Portuguese Empire. It was a common design in buildings from the Manueline and Neo-Manueline styles. The symbol is especially tied to Colonial Brazil and the later United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves.

The armillary sphere has been a key part of Portuguese symbols since the 15th century. It was used in naval and colonial flags, especially in Brazil. It was a tool for measuring distances and shows how important Portugal was during the Age of Discovery and the size of its empire when the First Republic began.

Notable members of the House of Aviz

• Peter, Duke of Coimbra, regent of Portugal for nine years.
• Henry the Navigator, Duke of Viseu.
• Isabella, Duchess of Burgundy, twice regent of the Burgundian Low Countries; wife of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, mother of Charles the Bold.
• John, Constable of Portugal.
• Ferdinand the Holy Prince.
• Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu, also first Duke of Beja.
• Eleanor of Portugal, Holy Roman Empress, wife of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor, mother of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor.
• Joanna, Princess of Portugal, daughter of Afonso V. Regent of Portugal and Roman Catholic saint.
• Peter, Constable of Portugal, son of Peter, Duke of Coimbra. King of Aragon, count of Barcelona.
• James of Portugal, son of Peter, Duke of Coimbra. Cardinal and Archbishop of Lisbon.
• Beatrice of Coimbra married Adolph of Cleves, Lord of Ravenstein.
• Isabel of Coimbra, daughter of Peter, Duke of Coimbra, first wife of Afonso V, mother of John II.
• Philippa of Coimbra, unmarried, served as a mother to John II after the death of her sister, Isabella of Coimbra. Lived in the monastery of Odivelas.
• John, Prince of Antioch, son of Peter, Duke of Coimbra.
• Eleanor of Viseu, daughter of Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu and wife of John II of Portugal.
• Isabella of Portugal, empress of the Holy Roman Empire, queen of Aragon, Castile, Sicily, and Naples, wife of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (Charles I of Spain), mother of Philip II of Spain.
• Beatrice, Duchess of Savoy, daughter of Manuel I, who brought the name "Manuel" (Italian: "Emanuele") into the House of Savoy.
• Louis, Duke of Beja, son of Manuel I, lover and possibly later husband of the wealthy New Christian Violante Gomes; their son António, Prior of Crato was the disputed last Aviz king of Portugal.
• Edward, Duke of Guimarães, constable of the kingdom.
• Maria of Guimarães, daughter of Edward, Duke of Guimarães, wife of Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma (and hence Duchess of Parma), who brought the previously exotic Portuguese cuisine to the rest of Europe.
• Catherine, Duchess of Braganza, daughter of Edward, Duke of Guimarães, niece of King Henry, grandmother of John IV of Portugal.
• Edward, Duke of Guimarães, son of Edward, Duke of Guimarães, constable of the kingdom.

Family tree of the House of Aviz