Biography of Alfonso VI King Portugal 1643-1683

In 1633 [his father] John IV King Portugal [aged 28] and [his mother] Luisa de Guzman Queen Consort Portugal [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Duchess Braganza.

On 21st August 1643 Alfonso VI King Portugal was born to John IV King Portugal [aged 39] and Luisa de Guzman Queen Consort Portugal [aged 29].

On 6th November 1656 [his father] John IV King Portugal [aged 52] died. His son Alfonso [aged 13] succeeded King Portuagal.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 17th October 1661. Thence to the Cook's and there dined with Captain Lambert and his father-in-law, and had much talk of Portugall; from whence he is lately come, and he tells me it is a very poor dirty place; I mean the City and Court of Lisbon; that the King [aged 18] is a very rude and simple fellow; and, for reviling of somebody a little while ago, and calling of him cuckold, was run into.... with a sword and had been killed, had he not told them that he was their king. That there are there no glass windows, nor will they have any; which makes sport among our merchants there to talk of an English factor that, being newly come thither, writ into England that glass would be a good commodity to send thither, &c. That the King has his meat sent up by a dozen of lazy guards and in pipkins, sometimes, to his own table; and sometimes nothing but fruits, and, now and then, half a hen. And now that the [his sister] Infanta [aged 22] is become our Queen, she is come to have a whole hen or goose to her table, which is not ordinary.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 24th May 1662. That the King of Portugall [aged 18] is a very fool almost, and his mother [aged 48] do all, and he is a very poor Prince.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 10th February 1664. Thence home straight and busy all the forenoon, and at noon with Mr. Bland to Mr. Povy's [aged 50], but he being at dinner and full of company we retreated and went into Fleet Street to a friend of his, and after a long stay, he telling me the long and most perplexed story of Coronell and Bushell's business of sugars, wherein Parke and Green and Mr. Bland and 40 more have been so concerned about the King of Portugal's [aged 20] duties, wherein every party has laboured to cheat another, a most pleasant and profitable story to hear, and in the close made me understand Mr. Maes' business better than I did before.

On 27th February 1666 [his mother] Luisa de Guzman Queen Consort Portugal [aged 52] died.

On 2nd August 1666 Alfonso VI King Portugal [aged 22] and Marie Françoise Élisabeth of Savoy Queen Consort of Portugal [aged 20] were married. She had arrived in Portugal on the same day. The marriage was not consummated. She subsequently married her brother-in-law Peter II King Portugal [aged 17] when he took control of the Portuguese throne; an example of Married to Two Siblings. She by marriage Queen Consort Portugal. She the daughter of Charles Amadeus Duke of Nemours and Élisabeth Bourbon Vendôme. He the son of John IV King Portugal and Luisa de Guzman Queen Consort Portugal.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 13th December 1667. By and by comes out my cozen Roger [aged 50] to me, he being not willing to be in the House at the business of my Lord Keeling [aged 60], lest he should be called upon to complain against him for his abusing him at Cambridge, very wrongfully and shamefully, but not to his reproach, but to the Chief justice's in the end, when all the world cried shame upon him for it. So he with me home, and Creed, whom I took up by the way, going thither, and they to dine with me, and pretty merry, and among other pieces of news, it is now fresh that the King of Portugall [aged 24] is deposed, and his brother [aged 18] made King; and that my Lord Sandwich [aged 42] is gone from Madrid with great honour to Lisbon, to make up, at this juncture, a peace to the advantage, as the Spaniard would have it, of Spain. I wish it may be for my Lord's honour, if it be so; but it seems my Lord is in mighty estimation in Spain.

On 2nd April 1668 Peter II King Portugal [aged 18] and Marie Françoise Élisabeth of Savoy Queen Consort of Portugal [aged 21] were married. She had, two years before, married his older brother Alfonso VI King Portugal [aged 24] who he, Peter, had deposed; an example of Married to Two Siblings. She the daughter of Charles Amadeus Duke of Nemours and Élisabeth Bourbon Vendôme. He the son of John IV King Portugal and Luisa de Guzman Queen Consort Portugal.

John Evelyn's Diary. 8th February 1678. Supping at my Lord Chamberlain's [aged 60] I had a long discourse with the Count de Castel Mellor, lately Prime Minister in Portugal, who, taking part with his master, King Alphonso [aged 34], was banished by his brother, Don Pedro [aged 28], now Regent; but had behaved himself so uncorruptly in all his ministry that, though he was acquitted, and his estate restored, yet would they not suffer him to return. He is a very intelligent and worthy gentleman.

In 12th September 1683 Alfonso VI King Portugal [aged 40] died. His brother Peter [aged 34] succeeded King Portugal. Marie Françoise Élisabeth of Savoy Queen Consort of Portugal [aged 37] by marriage Queen Consort Portugal for a second time albeit for three months only.

John Evelyn's Diary. 29th November 1683. The whole court and town in solemn mourning for the death of the King of Portugal, [his sister] her Majesty's [aged 45] brother.

On 27th December 1683 [his former wife] Marie Françoise Élisabeth of Savoy Queen Consort of Portugal [aged 37] died.

John Evelyn's Diary. 10th July 1685. The Count of Castel Mellor [aged 49], that greate favourite and prime minister of Alphonso, late King of Portugal, after several yeares banishment, being now receiv'd to grace and call'd home by [his brother] Don Pedro the present King [aged 36], as having ben found a person of the greatest integrity after all his sufferings, desir'd me to spend part of this day with him, and assist him in a collection of books and other curiosities, which he would carry with him into Portugal. Mr. Hussey [deceased], a young gentleman who made love to my late deare child, but whom she could not bring herselfe to answer in affection, died now of the same cruel disease, for wch I was extreamly sorry, because he never enjoy'd himselfe after my daughter's decease, nor was I averse to the match, could she have overcome her disinclination.