Jaime, Duke of Braganza

James ("Jaime", in Portuguese) was the older son of Ferdinand II, 3rd Duke of Braganza (1430-e.1483) and of his wife, Isabella of Viseu (a Portuguese Infanta sibling to King Manuel I of Portugal) and he became the fourth Duke of Braganza following his father's death.

His father and one of his uncles (Infante João of Viseu, his mother older brother) were both executed for treason, when King John II of Portugal discovered a nobility plot against the Crow. James fled to Castile and returned to Portugal only in 1498, three years after the King's death, when the Braganzas' treason was forgiven by the new King, Manuel I.

After their return, the family regained control of their estates and titles which were previously confiscated, recovering their old privileges.

As James' mother was Infanta Isabella of Viseu, sister of the new King Manuel I, he was sworn Prince of Portugal when the King traveled to Castile and was yet childless.

James married Eleanor of Mendoza, daughter of Spanish noble Juan Alonso de Guzman, 3rd Duke of Medina Sidonia, who was murdered due to James' jealousy (some say it was the Duke himself who killed his wife). To obtain the royal pardon, he prepared a fleet with its own money, to conquer the city of Azamor in the Maroccan Atlantic coast. The city was easily conquered by the Portuguese and the Duke was forgiven.

=Marriages and Children=James of Braganza married twice:

* in 1500, with Eleonor of Mendoza (daughter of the spanish 3rd Duke of Medina Sidonia), killed in 1512 - they had:
**Isabel of Braganza, who married her second-cousin Infante Duarte%2C Duke of Guimar%C3%A3es, King Manuel I sixth son;
**Teodosius I, 5th Duke of Braganza

* and in 1520, with Joana de Mendoça a portuguese noble woman, from whom he had 8 children, the most known are:
**Constantino of Braganza, 7th Viceroy of India;
**Teotónio of Braganza, Archbishop of Évora;
**Eugenie of Braganza, married her cousin Francisco de Melo, 2nd Marquis of Ferreira.

James had also two natural daughters.

Ancestors

=Nobility Titles=
*4th Duke of Braganza,
*2nd Duke of Guimarães,
*3rd Marquis of Vila Viçosa,
*11th Count of Barcelos,
*8th Count of Ourém,
*5th Count of Arraiolos and
*5th Count of Neiva.

=See Also=
*House of Braganza
*Duke of Braganza
*Duke of Guimarães
*Marquis of Vila Viçosa
*List of Portuguese Dukedoms

=External Links= [http://www.geneall.net/P/per_page.php?id=2375 Genealogy of James, 4th Duke of Braganza, in Portuguese]

=Bibliography=”Nobreza de Portugal e do Brasil” – Vol. II, page 651. Published by Zairol Lda., Lisbon 1989.

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