The eleventh king of Portugal and the second of his dynasty born in Viseu, in whose short reign the monarchy strengthened and the voyages of discovery continued, despite also being marked by sad events, such as plagues, famines and the military disaster of Tanger (1437). Son of D. João I, Master of Avis, and of Dona Filipa de Lencatre, ascended the throne (1433) after his father's death. He promulgated the mental law, which excluded women from royal succession and forbade the alienation of crown property, a centralizing measure aimed at defending the nation's heritage, without harming the interests stately. Regarding maritime expansion, his reign was marked by the passage of Cape Bojador by Gil Eanes, a feat that allowed for faster exploration of the African coast.
With the aim of changing the mentality of the time, he wrote the Book of Carthusian (1413), Loyal Counselor (1419), a treatise on moral philosophy, and the Teaching of Well Riding Every Saddle (1426). With the support of Queen D. Leonor and her infant brothers D. Fernando and D. Henrique the Navigator, and against the opposition of the other infant brothers D. Pedro to D. João set out to explore the west coast of Africa and agreed to a plan to conquer Tangier, Morocco.
The expedition failed and his younger brother, D. Fernando, was captured by the Moors and died in captivity due to the refusal of his brother king to give Ceuta for his freedom. Married (1428) to Leonor Trastámara de Aragão, daughter of D. Fernando I, King of Aragon and Sicily, and Queen D. Leonor, were parents of the following children: D. John (1429-1433); D. Philippa (1430-1439); D. Alfonso V (1432-1481); D. Mary (1432) who died the next day; D. Fernando (1433-1470; D. Leonor (1434-1467), D. Duarte (1435) who died shortly thereafter; D. Catarina (1436-1463) and D. Joan (1439-1475).
He died prematurely of the plague in Tomar when his son and successor, D. Afonso V, was just six years old, and six months before the birth of his daughter Joana. Before marriage he had a child with D. Joana Manuel, nobleman of Castilian descent, João Manuel (1420-1476) who became a religious of the Order of Carmo, where he held the office of provincial and received the title of bishop of Tiberias (1441) and primate of Africa (1443). He also became (1450) chief chaplain to D. Afonso V and Bishop of Guarda (1459), city where he never resided.
Picture copied from Manuel Amaral's website: PORTAL DA HISTORY
http://www.arqnet.pt/
Source: http://www.dec.ufcg.edu.br/biografias/
Order and - Biography - Brazil School
