She was born in Lisbon, Portugal, daughter of King John IV of Portugal (at the time Duke of Braganza) and his wife, Louise of Guzman. Following the restoration of Portuguese independence from Spain, and her father's acession to the throne on December 1, 1640, Catherine was engaged to Charles II. They married on May 3 or May 21, 1662, in Portsmouth, and her dowry brought Tangier and Bombay to British control. She was not a particularly popular choice of queen, being a Roman Catholic, and her religion prevented her ever being crowned, since she could not take part in an Anglican service. Despite Charles's reputation as a womaniser, Catherine never gave birth to a live heir, though she had several pregnancies, the last being in 1669. Her position was a difficult one, as Charles continued to have children by his mistresses, but he insisted that she be treated with respect, and refused to divorce her. Following his death, Catherine remained in England through the reign of James II of England and returned to Portugal during the joint reign of William III and Mary II. She died in Lisbon in 1705. Catherine introduced, and made fashionable, the custom of drinking tea in England. She was very popular and loved by the people, and the Queens borough of New York City was named after her.
Catherine of Braganza (November 25, 1638 – November 30, 1705) (Catherine Henrietta, Portuguese: Catarina Henriqueta de Bragança), was the queen consort of King Charles II of England.
Born in Lisbon, she was the second surviving daughter of King John IV of Portugal (at the time Duke of Braganza) and his wife, Louise of Guzman (Medina-Sidonia).
Although some have claimed that Queens borough of New York City was named after Catherine of Braganza, her name is not mentioned in the first 200 years of historical documents that have been preserved in the county archives.
She was the second daughter of Duarte, Duke of Guimarães (Sixth son of Manuel I of Portugal) and was married to Duke John I of Braganza, a descendant of earlier Portuguese monarchs, and an important feudal prince in Portugal.
The Duchess had several children, of whom dom Teodosio deBraganza, was her eldest surviving son.
Catherine had married the Duke of Braganza, John, who himself as a grandson of the late Duke Jaime of Braganza was a legitimate heir of Portugal.
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