Catherine’s regency needed the assistance of her brother-in-law, Henry, if only because she was still considered a foreigner after all these years. Catherine was fully aware of the difficulties ahead as she wrote to her brother. Meanwhile, the young King was growing up in Catherine’s household. When his mother Joanna was released from the regency in 1559, she wanted to return to Portugal. However, “Queen Catherine had already given more than enough proof that she was not the type of woman to withdraw easily from the political life.”1 In 1562, Catherine proposed to sign the regency over to her brother-in-law completely, although she remained Sebastian’s guardian.
The following year, he was moved to his own household, and he was separated from his grandmother for the first time in his life. Sebastian continued to visit her every day, and she questioned him about his studies. Nevertheless, she felt a strong pull towards a retirement in a convent, but she never actually took that step. In 1564, Catherine’s brother Ferdinand died, leaving her as the sole surviving sibling.
On 20 January 1568, Sebastian celebrated his 14th birthday, and he no longer required a regent. Catherine stood by his side during the official ceremony, and she was the first to kiss his hand. However, their relationship had become more distant over the last few years. One observer wrote, “I believe that [King Sebastian] finds the Queen’s yoke a great nightmare and that not only in government, but also in company, he wishes to break away, and I have no doubt that in time he will try to do so.”2 Catherine slowly withdrew from politics and repeated her threat to retire to a convent. She was also troubled by the news of her other grandson, Charles, who was locked away by his father around this time. He died on 24 July 1568 at the age of 23, leaving no children. Catherine had begged Philip to care for Carlos herself and offered to travel to Spain to do so, but it was too late. This left Sebastian as her sole descendant, and he was actively avoiding her.
In 1569, one observer wrote, “His Highness has astonished the people both of his kingdom and of the others, who knew that he [Sebastian] had done something so unworthy of his person, and of the great obligation he owes to the Queen […] not to have seen her in four months or so and even more so in such a time [of plague].”3 Meanwhile, King Philip wrote to her that she was welcome to come to Spain and to “choose the place that is most to your liking.”4 There was an emotional meeting between grandmother and grandson, which left both in tears. She later wrote that it was the influence of her brother-in-law, Henry, that was making her want to leave.
Nevertheless, she stayed in Portugal, but she did retire to the palace of Xabregas. In 1571, she wrote, “The most beloved thing I have in my life is the King, my grandson. From all the children I had with the King, my lord, God left me with nothing else to set my eyes and heart on.”5 Catherine began to focus on the completion of the tombs of her husband’s parents, her husband and her own at the Jerónimos Monastery. Even this caused friction with her brother-in-law, who was mad that his parents were to be buried on the left “less noble” side. Catherine had paid for this herself and thus felt entitled to the right “more noble” side. Ultimately, the Cardinal won, with Catherine writing that she wanted to “conform to his opinion rather than appear stubborn in mine.”6
Sebastian had begun to develop an interest in a crusade to Morocco, which worried Catherine as he had not yet married and fathered an heir. Several marriage options had already been discussed for him, such as Isabella Clara Eugenia, the eldest daughter of King Philip II of Spain, and his third wife, Elisabeth of Valois. He remained reluctant to marry and “shows so much hatred towards women, that he takes his eyes off them and if a lady serves him a glass, he tries to take it without touching her.”7
On 7 September 1573, Sebastian’s mother, Joanna, died at the age of 38 after a long and painful illness. Sebastian only became more focused on his crusade. He left for the Algarve, although Catherine feared it was his intention to go to Africa. She was in “a lot of pain and anguish.”8 She was right, and he indeed went to Morocco. He would not return for many months, and it was feared that he had died. When he finally entered Lisbon on 30 November 1574, he was received by cheering crowds.
As Catherine turned 67, she began to feel her ailing body, and she had her will drawn up. She lived for another four years. She had written her last letter on 1 January 1578 to her nephew, King Philip II of Spain. She once again noted that her desire – the marriage of Sebastian and Isabella Clara Eugenia – would likely not take place. She suffered from fevers shortly before her death and received a visit from her grandson on 13 January. He was planning another crusade to Africa as his grandmother was undergoing bloodletting. She was informed of his plans shortly before her death, and one observer wrote, “Although Queen Catherine concealed it, I felt it go through her heart.”9
She began to fall in and out of unconscious on the 10th, and on the 11th, she received the last rites. Sebastian arrived to say goodbye, but she was no longer able to speak, and she did not appear to recognise him. Nevertheless, he was by her side when she died on 12 February 1578 at the age of 71.
Her worst fear came true just six months later. Sebastian disappeared and was most likely killed during a battle in Morocco. He was 24 years old and left no children, which meant that Catherine’s line became extinct. His uncle, Henry, became King of Portugal, but the Cardinal was not released from his ecclesiastical vows, and upon his death, a succession crisis broke out.
- Catarina de Austria by Ana Isabel Buescu p.344-345
- Catarina de Austria by Ana Isabel Buescu p.358
- Catarina de Austria by Ana Isabel Buescu p.372
- Catarina de Austria by Ana Isabel Buescu p.373
- Catarina de Austria by Ana Isabel Buescu p.382
- Catarina de Austria by Ana Isabel Buescu p.403
- Catarina de Austria by Ana Isabel Buescu p.409
- Catarina de Austria by Ana Isabel Buescu p.414
- Catarina de Austria by Ana Isabel Buescu p.432
Be the first to comment