Infante Edward, 5th Duke of Guimarães

Who was Infante Edward, 5th Duke of Guimarães?

The Infante Edward, 5th Duke of Guimarães was a Portuguese infante, son of Infante Edward, 4th Duke of Guimarães and his wife, Isabella of Braganza.

Through his father, he was a grandson of King Manuel I of Portugal; through his mother, he was a grandson of James, 4th Duke of Braganza.

He was born posthumously and he inherited his father’s titles and estates: the Dukedom of Guimarães. He was one of the most influential nobles during the reigns of Kings John III and Sebastian.

As member of the State Council he voted, in 1569, for the marriage of King Sebastian to Margaret of Valois and, in 1574, he escorted King Sebastian in his first trip to Tangiers, in north Africa.

In 1557, when King John III died, Edward was one of the three legitimate surviving male descendants of King Manuel I of Portugal.

King Sebastian was jealous of this and several times showed disrespect for Edward's rank. When the King didn’t invite Edward to a royal bull-fight, in Xabregas, Edward was quite upset and, finally, he retired to Évora where, some months later, he died single and without issue.