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Isabel Maria of Portugal

Lisbon, 4 Jul 1801 – Benfica, 22 Apr 1876

9 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

  • Born4 Jul 1801, Lisbonnot verified1 source
  • TitleRegent of Portugalnot verified1 source
  • Died22 Apr 1876, Benficanot verified1 source
  • FatherJohn VI of Portugalnot verified1 source
  • MotherCarlota Joaquina of Spainnot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 4 Jul 1801

    Born in Lisbon

  2. 22 Apr 1876

    Dies in Benfica, aged 74

Family

See the tree

Parents

During her lifetime

She lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Lisbon.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1800s · Isabel is born in Lisbon

Who governed

In the news1808

Brazilian Ports Opened (1808)

The 1808 opening of Brazilian ports ended Portugal's colonial trade monopoly, causing a major long-term decline in the Portuguese merchant navy and economic stagnation.

Music

Nuns as skilled musicians

Nuns in monasteries were skilled musicians who played instruments like the organ, harpsichord, and harp, and they sometimes commissioned and performed complex concertato music.

The Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon’s armies redrew the map of Europe from Spain to Moscow; his invasion of Portugal sent its court to Rio de Janeiro.In Europe · 1803–1815

The Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon’s armies redrew the map of Europe from Spain to Moscow; his invasion of Portugal sent its court to Rio de Janeiro.

Ruedi33a · CC BY-SA 4.0

Daily life

Typical urban housing and layout

Urban houses often had a functional layout where the kitchen was placed on the top floor, partly for safety against fire, while ground floors were used for shops or workshops. Living quarters were often cramped, with high buildings blocking sunlight and providing poor insulation against the weather.

In the news1807–1811

French Invasions Ruin Economy (1807-1811)

The French invasions of 1807, 1809, and 1810-1811 caused widespread devastation, economic ruin, and the temporary departure of the royal family to Brazil.

What people wore

Fishermen's daily and festive attire

Fishermen wore wide linen drawers to the knee secured by silver buttons, a wool cap, and a sleeveless vest called a sertum while working. On Sundays and feast days, they wore blue cloth trousers, vests, and jackets, often accessorized with large silver shoe buckles.

Getting around

Lisbon to Coimbra by post carriage

In 1804, a post carriage (mala-posta) route between Lisbon and Coimbra took 40 hours, but the service was suspended shortly after due to high costs and low profits.