Person

Henry, King of Portugal

1512–1580 · 16th century · Also known as Cardinal-King Henry, Henry I of Portugal

Henry was a son of King Manuel I who became a cardinal and inquisitor general before succeeding his great-nephew Sebastian as king of Portugal in 1578. Elderly and celibate, he could not provide an heir, and his short reign was taken up by the succession question. His death in January 1580 opened the way to Philip II of Spain's claim to the throne.

Henry, King of Portugal
Image: Domenico Tintoretto · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 1 state history

Iberian Union

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Henry, King of Portugal. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/henry-king-of-portugal
MLA
“Henry, King of Portugal.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/henry-king-of-portugal. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Henry, King of Portugal.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/henry-king-of-portugal.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Henry, King of Portugal’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/henry-king-of-portugal (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻