Catherine of Braganza (Queen of England 1662-1685)

Catherine of Braganza (November 1638 – December 1705) was Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1662 to 1685, as the wife of King Charles II. Catherine was born into the House of Braganza, the most senior noble house of Portugal, which became Portugal’s royal house after Catherine’s father, John, 8th Duke of Braganza, was proclaimed King John IV after deposing the House of Habsburg in 1640.  Owing to her devotion to the Roman Catholic beliefs in which she had been raised, Catherine was an unpopular consort for Charles II.

Catherine had three miscarriages and produced no heirs.Her husband kept many mistresses and fathered numerous illegitimate offspring by his mistresses whom he acknowledged.

• Introduction – Part IV
• Margaret Godolphin (b. Blagge)

• Wikipedia entry on Catherine of Braganza

• The Diary, Wikipedia