List of heirs to the Portuguese throne

This is a list of the individuals who were, at any given time, considered the next in line to inherit the throne of Portugal, should the incumbent monarch die. Those who actually succeeded (at any future time) are shown in bold. Stillborn children and infants surviving less than a month are not included.

For much of Portugal's early history, there was no definite succession law, and potential heirs at any given time, especially when the reigning king had no son, May Be partly a matter of conjecture.

Significant breaks in the succession, where the designated heir did not in fact succeed (due to usurpation, conquest, revolution, or lack of heirs) are shown as breaks in the table below.

1149 to 1383

Heir	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Next in succession	Monarch
Infanta Mafalda	daughter	1149	born	11 November 1154	son born to king	Infanta Urraca, sister	Afonso I
Infante Sancho	son	11 November 1154	born	6 December 1185	became king	Infanta Mafalda 1154–1160, sister
						Urraca, Queen of León 1160–1180, sister
						Infante Raimundo 1180–1185, son
Infante Raimundo	son	6 December 1185	father became king	1189	died	Infanta Teresa 1181–1185, sister	Sancho I
Infante Raimundo	son	6 December 1185	father became king	1189	died	Infante Afonso 1185–1189, brother
Infante Afonso	son	1189	elder brother died	26 March 1212	became king	Infante Pedro 1189–1207, brother
Infante Afonso	son	1189	elder brother died	26 March 1212	became king	Infante Sancho son, 1207–1212
Infante Sancho	son	26 March 1212	father became king	25 March 1223	became king	Infante Afonso, Count of Boulogne, brother	Afonso II
Infante Afonso, Count of Boulogne	brother	25 March 1223	brother became king	4 January 1248	became king	Infante Fernando, Lord of Serpa 1223–1246, brother	Sancho II
Infante Afonso, Count of Boulogne	brother	25 March 1223	brother became king	4 January 1248	became king	?	Sancho II
uncertain							Afonso III
Infanta Branca	daughter	25 February 1259	born	1260	son born to king	?
Infante Fernando	son	1260	born	1262	died	Infanta Branca 1260–1261, sister
Infante Fernando	son	1260	born	1262	died	Infante Dinis 1261–1262, brother
Infante Dinis	son	1262	brother died	16 February 1279	became king	Infanta Branca 1262–1263, sister
Infante Dinis	son	1262	brother died	16 February 1279	became king	Infante Afonso 1263–1279, brother
Infante Afonso, Lord of Portalegre	brother	16 February 1279	brother became king	3 January 1290	daughter born to king	Infanta Branca, sister	Dinis
Infanta Constança	daughter	3 January 1290	born	8 February 1291	son born to king	Infante Afonso, Lord of Portalegre, uncle
Infante Afonso	son	8 February 1291	born	7 January 1325	became king	Infanta Constança 1291–1313, sister
						Infanta Maria 1313–1315, daughter
						Infante Dinis 1317–1318, son
						Infanta Maria 1318–1320, daughter
						Infante Pedro 1320–1325, son
Infante Pedro	son	7 January 1325	father became king	28 May 1357	became king	Infanta Maria 1325–1326, sister	Afonso IV
						Infante João 1326–1327, brother
						Maria, Queen of Castile and León 1327–1342, sister
						Infanta Maria 1342–1345, daughter
						Infante Fernando 1345–1357, son
Infante Fernando	son	28 May 1357	father became king	18 January 1367	became king	Infanta Maria, Marchioness of Tortosa, sister	Pedro I
uncertain							Fernando I
Infanta Beatriz	daughter	February 1373	born	22 October 1383	became pretender to the throne	?	Fernando I

Although King Fernando had intended his daughter Beatriz to succeed (with her mother Queen Leonor as regent), she was an unpopular choice due to fears that her husband King John I of Castile would control the kingdom. After the 1383–1385 Crisis, Fernando's illegitimate half-brother João, Grand Master of the Order of Aviz became king.

1385 to 1580

Heir	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Next in succession	Monarch
uncertain							João I
Infanta Branca	daughter	13 July 1388	born	6 March 1389	died	?
uncertain
Infante Alfonso	son	30 July 1390	born	22 December 1400	died	?
Infante Alfonso	son	30 July 1390	born	22 December 1400	died	Infante Duarte 1391–1400, brother
Infante Duarte	son	22 December 1400	brother died	14 August 1433	became king	Infante Peter, Duke of Coimbra 1400–1429, brother
Infante Duarte	son	22 December 1400	brother died	14 August 1433	became king	Infante João 1429–1433, son
Afonso, Prince of Portugal	son	14 August 1433	father became king (elder brother died same day)	9 September 1438	became king	Infanta Filipa 1433, sister	Duarte
Afonso, Prince of Portugal	son	14 August 1433	father became king (elder brother died same day)	9 September 1438	became king	Infante Fernando 1433–1438, brother	Duarte
Fernando, Prince of Portugal	brother	9 September 1438	brother became king	29 January 1451	son born to king	Infanta Filipa 1438–1439, sister	Afonso V
						Infanta Leonor 1439–1448, sister
						Infante João 1448–1451, son
João, Prince of Portugal	son	29 January 1451	born	1451	died	Infante Fernando, uncle
Fernando, Prince of Portugal	brother	1451	nephew died	6 February 1452	daughter born to king	Infante João, son
Joana, Princess of Portugal	daughter	6 February 1452	born	3 March 1455	son born to king	Infante Fernando, Duke of Beja, uncle
João, Prince of Portugal	son	3 March 1455	born	28 August 1481	became king	Infanta Joana 1455–1475, sister
João, Prince of Portugal	son	3 March 1455	born	28 August 1481	became king	Infante Afonso 1475–1481, son
Afonso, Prince of Portugal	son	28 August 1481	father became king	13 July 1491	died	Infanta Joana 1481–1490, aunt	João II
Afonso, Prince of Portugal	son	28 August 1481	father became king	13 July 1491	died	Infante Manuel, Duke of Viseu 1490–1491, second cousin once removed
Infante Manuel, Duke of Viseu	cousin	13 July 1491	king's son died	25 October 1495	became king	Queen Leonor, sister
Queen Leonor	sister	25 October 1495	brother became king	1498	nephew appointed as Prince of Portugal	Infanta Isabel, Duchess of Braganza, sister	Manuel I
Jaime, Duke of Braganza, Prince of Portugal	nephew	1498	appointed Prince in the childless king's absence	24 August 1498	son born to king	?
Miguel da Paz, Prince of Portugal	son	24 August 1498	born	19 July 1500	died	Queen Leonor, aunt
Queen Leonor	sister	19 July 1500	king's son died	6 June 1502	son born to king	Infanta Isabel, Duchess of Braganza, sister
João, Prince of Portugal	son	6 June 1502	born	13 December 1521	became king	Queen Leonor 1502–1503, aunt
						Infanta Isabel 1503–1506, sister
						Infante Luís 1506–1521, brother
Luís, Prince of Portugal	brother	13 December 1521	brother became king	24 February 1526	son born to king	Infante Fernando, brother	João III
Afonso, Prince of Portugal	son	24 February 1526	born	12 April 1526	died	Infante Luís, uncle
Luís, Prince of Portugal	brother	12 April 1526	king's son died	15 October 1527	daughter born to king	Infante Fernando, brother
Maria Manuela, Princess of Portugal	daughter	15 October 1527	born	1 November 1531	son born to king	Infante Luís, Duke of Beja, uncle
Manuel, Prince of Portugal	son	1 November 1531 (declared heir in 1535)	born	14 April 1537	died	Infanta Maria Manuela 1531–1533, sister
Manuel, Prince of Portugal	son	1 November 1531 (declared heir in 1535)	born	14 April 1537	died	Infante Filipe 1533–1535, brother
Filipe, Prince of Portugal	son	14 April 1537	brother died	29 April 1539	died	Infante João Manuel, brother
João Manuel, Prince of Portugal	son	29 April 1539	brother died	2 January 1554	died	Infante António 1539–1540, brother
						Maria Manuela, Princess of Asturias 1540–1545, sister
						Infante Carlos of Spain 1540–1554, nephew
Sebastião, Prince of Portugal	grandson	20 January 1554	born (after father's death)	11 June 1557	became king	Carlos, Prince of Asturias, cousin
Carlos, Prince of Asturias and Portugal	cousin	11 June 1557	cousin became king	24 July 1568	died	Cardinal-Infante Henrique, great-uncle	Sebastião
Cardinal-Infante Henrique	great-uncle	24 July 1568	great-nephew died	4 August 1578	became king	Infante Duarte, Duke of Guimarães 1568–1576, nephew
						Maria, Hereditary Princess of Parma 1576–1577, niece
						Prince Ranuccio Farnese 1577–1578, great-nephew
Prince Ranuccio Farnese	great-nephew	4 August 1578	great-uncle became king	31 January 1580	became pretender	Prince Odoardo Farnese, brother	Henrique

After Cardinal-King Henrique's death, the throne was claimed by several individuals, including António, Prior of Crato, an illegitimate grandson of King João III, and Infanta Catherine, Duchess of Braganza, a legitimate granddaughter of King João. Eventually King Philip II of Spain, undoubtedly the most powerful claimant, succeeded in becoming king of Portugal.

1580 to 1583

Heir	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Next in succession	Monarch
Manuel (Prince of Portugal)	son	24 July 1580	father proclaimed himself king	1583	father deposed	?	António (disputed)

1581 to 1640

Heir	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Next in succession	Monarch
Diogo, Prince of Asturias and Portugal	son	1581	father became king	21 November 1582	died	Infante Filipe, brother	Filipe I
Filipe, Prince of Asturias and Portugal	son	21 November 1582	brother died	13 September 1598	became king	Infanta Isabella, sister	Filipe I
Infanta Isabella of Spain and Portugal	sister	13 September 1598	brother became king	22 September 1601	daughter born to king	Catalina Micaela, Duchess of Savoy, sister	Filipe II
Infanta Anna of Spain and Portugal	daughter	22 September 1601	born	8 April 1605	son born to king	Infanta Isabella, Duchess of Brabant 1601–1603, aunt
Filipe, Prince of Asturias and Portugal	son	8 April 1605	born	31 March 1621	became king	Infanta Anna 1605–1607, sister
Filipe, Prince of Asturias and Portugal	son	8 April 1605	born	31 March 1621	became king	Infante Carlos 1607–1621, brother
Infante Carlos of Spain and Portugal	brother	31 March 1621	brother became king	21 November 1625	daughter born to king	Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria, brother	Filipe III
Infanta Maria Eugenia of Spain and Portugal	daughter	21 November 1625	born	1627	died	Infante Carlos, uncle
Infante Carlos of Spain and Portugal	brother	1627	king's daughter died	17 October 1629	son born to king	Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria, brother
Baltasar Carlos, Prince of Asturias and Portugal	son	17 October 1629	born	1 December 1640	father deposed	Infante Carlos 1629–1632, uncle
						Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria 1632–1638, uncle
						Infanta Maria Teresa 1638–1640, sister

1640 to 1826

Heir	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Next in succession	Monarch
Teodósio, Prince of Brazil	son	1 December 1640	father became king	13 May 1653	died	Infanta Joana 1640–1643, sister	João IV
Teodósio, Prince of Brazil	son	1 December 1640	father became king	13 May 1653	died	Infante Afonso 1643–1653, brother
Afonso, Prince of Brazil	son	13 May 1653	brother died	6 November 1656	became king	Infante Pedro, brother
Infante Pedro, Duke of Beja	brother	6 November 1656	brother became king	12 September 1683	became king	Catherine, Queen of England and Scotland 1656–1669, sister	Afonso VI
Infante Pedro, Duke of Beja	brother	6 November 1656	brother became king	12 September 1683	became king	Infanta Isabel Luísa 1669–1683, daughter	Afonso VI
Isabel Luísa, Princess of Beira	daughter	12 September 1683	father became king	22 October 1689	son born to king	Catherine, Queen of England and Scotland, aunt	Pedro II
João, Prince of Brazil	son	22 October 1689	born	9 December 1706	became king	Infante Isabel Luísa 1689–1690, sister
						Catherine, Queen of England and Scotland 1690–1691, aunt
						Infante Francisco 1691–1706, brother
Infante Francisco, Duke of Beja	brother	9 December 1706	brother became king	4 December 1711	daughter born to king	Infante António, brother	João V
Barbara, Princess of Brazil	daughter	4 December 1711	born	19 October 1712	son born to king	Infante Francisco, Duke of Beja, uncle
Pedro, Prince of Brazil	son	19 October 1712	born	29 October 1714	died	Infanta Barbara 1712–1714, sister
Pedro, Prince of Brazil	son	19 October 1712	born	29 October 1714	died	Infante José 1714, brother
José, Prince of Brazil	son	29 October 1714	brother died	31 July 1750	became king	Infanta Barbara 1714–1716, sister
						Infante Carlos 1716–1730, brother
						Infante Pedro 1730–1734, brother
						Maria, Princess of Beira 1734–1750, daughter
Maria, Princess of Brazil	daughter	31 July 1750	father became king	24 February 1777	became queen	Infanta Mariana Francisca 1750–1761, sister	José
Maria, Princess of Brazil	daughter	31 July 1750	father became king	24 February 1777	became queen	José, Prince of Beira 1761–1777, son	José
José, Prince of Brazil	son	24 February 1777	parents became queen and king	11 September 1788	died	Infante João, brother	Pedro III
José, Prince of Brazil	son	24 February 1777	parents became queen and king	11 September 1788	died	Infante João, brother	Maria I
João, Prince of Brazil	son	11 September 1788	brother died	20 March 1816	became king	Infanta Mariana Victoria 1788, sister
						Infante Pedro Carlos of Spain and Portugal 1788–1793, nephew
						Teresa, Princess of Beira 1793–1795, daughter
						Francisco, Prince of Beira 1795–1801, son
						Pedro, Prince of Beira 1801–1816, son
Pedro, Prince of Brazil	son	20 March 1816	father became king	10 March 1826	became king	Infante Miguel 1816–1819, brother	João VI
						Infanta Maria 1819–1821, daughter
						João Carlos, Prince of Beira 1821–1822, son
						Infante Maria 1822–1825, daughter
						Pedro, Prince of Beira 1825–1826, son
Pedro, Prince Imperial of Brazil	son	10 March 1826	father became king	28 May 1826	father abdicated	Infanta Maria, sister	Pedro IV

1826 to 1834

Heir	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Next in succession	Monarch
uncertain							Maria II
uncertain							Miguel

1834 to 1910

Heir	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Next in succession	Monarch
uncertain							Maria II and Fernando II
Pedro, Prince Royal	son	16 December 1837	born	15 November 1853	became king	?
Pedro, Prince Royal	son	16 December 1837	born	15 November 1853	became king	Infante Luís 1838–1853, brother
Infante Luís, Duke of Porto	brother	15 November 1853	brother became king	11 November 1861	became king	Infante João, Duke of Beja, brother	Pedro V
Infante João, Duke of Beja	brother	11 November 1861	brother became king	27 December 1861	died	Infante Augusto, Duke of Coimbra, brother	Luís I
Infante Augusto, Duke of Coimbra	brother	27 December 1861	brother died	28 September 1863	son born to king	Princess George of Saxony, sister
Carlos, Prince Royal	son	28 September 1863	born	19 October 1889	became king	Infante Augusto, Duke of Coimbra 1863–1865, uncle
						Infante Afonso, Duke of Porto 1865–1887, brother
						Luís Filipe, Prince of Beira 1887–1889, son
Luís Filipe, Prince Royal	son	19 October 1889	father became king	1 February 1908	died	Infante Manuel, Duke of Beja, brother	Carlos I
Afonso, Prince Royal	uncle	1 February 1908	nephew became king	4 October 1910	monarchy abolished	King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony, cousin	Manuel II

Pretenders since 1910

Heir	Relationship to Pretender	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Next in succession	Pretender
Afonso, Prince Royal	uncle	4 October 1910	monarchy abolished	21 February 1920	died	?	King Manuel II
uncertain
Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza	first cousin once removed	April 1922	Recognised in the so-called Paris Pact	2 July 1932	became (Constitutional) pretender	?
uncertain							Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza
Duarte Pio, Prince of Beira	son	15 May 1945	born	24 December 1976	became pretender	?
Duarte Pio, Prince of Beira	son	15 May 1945	born	24 December 1976	became pretender	Infante Miguel, Duke of Viseu 1946–1976, brother
Infante Miguel, Duke of Viseu	brother	24 December 1976	brother became pretender	25 March 1996	son born to pretender	Infante Henrique, Duke of Coimbra, brother	Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza
Afonso, Prince of Beira	son	25 March 1996	born	current heir		Infante Miguel, Duke of Viseu 1996–1997, uncle
						Infanta Maria Francisca 1997–1999, sister
						Infante Dinis, Duke of Porto 1999–present, brother

1383–1385 CrisisAfonso I of PortugalAfonso II of PortugalAfonso III of PortugalAfonso IV of PortugalAfonso V of PortugalAfonso VI of PortugalAfonso, Prince of BeiraAfonso, Prince of PortugalAfonso, Prince of Portugal (1526)Afonso, Prince Royal of PortugalAlessandro Farnese, Duke of ParmaAnne of AustriaAntónio, Prior of CratoArchduke Charles of Austria (1607–1632)Balthasar Charles, Prince of AsturiasBarbara of PortugalBeatrice of PortugalCardinal-Infante Ferdinand of AustriaCarlos I of PortugalCarlos, Prince of AsturiasCatherine of BraganzaConstance of PortugalDenis of PortugalDiego, Prince of AsturiasDuarte Nuno, Duke of BraganzaDuarte Pio, Duke of BraganzaEdward of PortugalEleanor of Portugal, Holy Roman EmpressEleanor of ViseuFerdinand I of PortugalFerdinand II of PortugalFrederick Augustus III of SaxonyHenry, King of PortugalInês de CastroInfanta Branca, Viscountess of HuelgasInfanta Catherine Michelle of SpainInfanta Catherine, Duchess of BraganzaInfanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of SpainInfanta Maria Anna of Portugal (1843–1884)Infanta Maria Francisca of Portugal (b. 1997)Infanta Maria of GuimarãesInfanta Mariana Francisca of PortugalInfanta Mariana Victoria of PortugalInfante Afonso, Lord of PortalegreInfante Anthony of PortugalInfante Augustus, Duke of CoimbraInfante Dinis, Duke of PortoInfante Edward, 5th Duke of GuimarãesInfante Ferdinand, Duke of Guarda and TrancosoInfante Ferdinand, Duke of ViseuInfante Fernando, Lord of SerpaInfante Francis, Duke of BejaInfante Henrique, Duke of CoimbraInfante João, Duke of BejaInfante John, Duke of ViseuInfante Louis, Duke of BejaInfante Miguel, Duke of ViseuInfante Pedro Carlos of Spain and PortugalInfante Peter, Duke of CoimbraIsabel Luísa, Princess of BeiraIsabella of PortugalIsabella of ViseuJames, 4th Duke of BraganzaJoan, Princess of PortugalJoana, Princess of BeiraJoão Carlos, Prince of BeiraJoão Manuel, Prince of PortugalJohn I of CastileJohn I of PortugalJohn II of PortugalJohn III of PortugalJohn IV of PortugalJohn Manuel, Prince of PortugalJohn V of PortugalJohn VI of PortugalJohn, Prince of Portugal (1451)José, Prince of BrazilJoseph I of PortugalLeonor Telles de MenezesLuís Filipe, Prince Royal of PortugalLuís I of PortugalMafalda of Portugal (1149–1160)Manuel de PortugalManuel I of PortugalManuel II of PortugalMaria I of PortugalMaria II of PortugalMaria Manuela, Princess of PortugalMaria of Portugal, Queen of CastileMaria Theresa of SpainMaria, Marchioness of TortosaMiguel da Paz, Prince of PortugalMiguel of PortugalMiguel, Duke of BraganzaOdoardo Farnese (cardinal)Pedro I of BrazilPedro II of BrazilPedro V of PortugalPeter I of PortugalPeter I, Count of UrgellPeter II of PortugalPeter III of PortugalPhilip II of SpainPhilip III of SpainPhilip IV of SpainPrince of BeiraPrince of BrazilPrince Royal of PortugalRanuccio I Farnese, Duke of ParmaSancho I of PortugalSancho II of PortugalSebastian of PortugalStruggle for the throne of PortugalTeodósio, Prince of BrazilTeresa, Princess of BeiraTheresa of Portugal, Queen of LeónUrraca of Portugal

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List of heirs to the Portuguese throne

1149 to 1383

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1580 to 1583

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1826 to 1834

1834 to 1910

Pretenders since 1910

See also

List of heirs to the Portuguese throne

1149 to 1383

1385 to 1580

1580 to 1583

1581 to 1640

1640 to 1826

1826 to 1834

1834 to 1910

Pretenders since 1910

See also

See Also

List of heirs to the Monegasque throne

List of heirs to the Hawaiian throne

List of Portuguese monarchs by age at accession to the throne

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List of Portuguese monarchs by age at ascension to the throne