List of heirs to the Portuguese throne

This is a list of the individuals who were, at any given time, considered the next in line to inherit the throne of Portugal, should the incumbent monarch die. Those who actually succeeded (at any future time) are shown in bold. Stillborn children and infants that died on the same day they were born are not included.

For much of Portugal's early history, there was no definite succession law, and potential heirs at any given time, especially when the reigning king had no son, may be partly a matter of conjecture.

The traditional Portuguese dynastic division of the monarchs is shown as breaks in the table below.

House of Burgundy (1139–1383)

Heir	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Next in succession	Monarch
uncertain							Afonso I
Infante Henrique	son	17 February 1147	born	1155	died	?
						Infanta Urraca 1148–1154, sister
						Infante Sancho 1154–1155, brother
Infante Sancho	son	1155	brother died	6 December 1185	became king	Infanta Urraca 1155–1156, sister
						Infante João 1156–1164, brother
						Urraca, Queen of León 1164–1178, sister
						Infanta Teresa 1178–1185, daughter
						Infante Afonso 1185, son
Infante Afonso	son	6 December 1185	father became king	26 March 1211	became king	Infanta Teresa 1185–1186, sister	Sancho I
						Infante Raimundo 1186–1189, brother
						Infante Pedro 1189–1207, brother
						Infante Sancho 1209–1211, son
Infante Sancho	son	26 March 1211	father became king	25 March 1223	became king	Infante Afonso, brother	Afonso II
Infante Afonso, Count of Boulogne	brother	25 March 1223	brother became king	4 January 1248	became king	Infante Fernando, Lord of Serpa 1223–1246, brother	Sancho II
Infante Afonso, Count of Boulogne	brother	25 March 1223	brother became king	4 January 1248	became king	Infante Pedro, Count of Urgell 1246–1248, uncle	Sancho II
Infante Pedro, Count of Urgell	uncle	4 January 1248	nephew became king	2 June 1258	died	Teresa, Queen of León 1248–1250, sister	Afonso III
						Mafalda, Queen of Castile 1250–1256, sister
						?
uncertain
Infanta Branca	daughter	25 February 1259	born	1260	son born to king	?
Infante Fernando	son	1260	born	1262	died	Infanta Branca 1260–1261, sister
Infante Fernando	son	1260	born	1262	died	Infante Dinis 1261–1262, brother
Infante Dinis	son	1262	brother died	16 February 1279	became king	Infanta Branca 1262–1263, sister
Infante Dinis	son	1262	brother died	16 February 1279	became king	Infante Afonso 1263–1279, brother
Infante Afonso, Lord of Portalegre	brother	16 February 1279	brother became king	3 January 1290	daughter born to king	Infanta Branca 1279–1288, sister	Dinis I
Infante Afonso, Lord of Portalegre	brother	16 February 1279	brother became king	3 January 1290	daughter born to king	Infante Afonso, Lord of Leiria 1288–1290, son
Infanta Constança	daughter	3 January 1290	born	8 February 1291	son born to king	Infante Afonso, Lord of Portalegre, uncle
Infante Afonso	son	8 February 1291	born	7 January 1325	became king	Constança, Queen of Castile and León 1291–1313, sister
						Infanta Maria 1313–1315, daughter
						Infante Afonso 1315–1317, son
						Infante Dinis 1317–1318, son
						Infanta Maria 1318–1320, daughter
						Infante Pedro 1320–1325, son
Infante Pedro	son	7 January 1325	father became king	28 May 1357	became king	Infanta Maria 1325–1326, sister	Afonso IV
						Infante João 1326–1327, brother
						Maria, Queen of Castile and León 1327–1342, sister
						Infanta Maria 1342–1344, daughter
						Infante Luís 1344, son
						Infanta Maria 1344–1345, daughter
						Infante Fernando 1345–1357, son
Infante Fernando	son	28 May 1357	father became king	18 January 1367	became king	Infanta Maria, Marchioness of Tortosa, sister	Pedro I
Infanta Maria, Marchioness of Tortosa	sister	18 January 1367	brother became king	February 1373	daughter born to king	?	Fernando I
Infanta Beatriz	daughter	February 1373	born	19 July 1382	son born to king	Infanta Maria, Marchioness of Tortosa 1373–a. 1375, aunt
Infanta Beatriz	daughter	February 1373	born	19 July 1382	son born to king	?
Infante Afonso	son	19 July 1382	born	23 July 1382	died	Infanta Beatriz, sister
Beatriz, Queen of Castile and León	daughter	23 July 1382	brother died	22 October 1383	became pretender to the throne	?

Although King Fernando I had intended his daughter Beatriz to succeed (with her mother Queen Leonor as regent), she was an unpopular choice due to fears that her husband King John I of Castile would control the kingdom. After the 1383–1385 Crisis, Fernando's illegitimate half-brother João, Grand Master of the Order of Aviz became king.

House of Aviz (1385–1580)

Heir	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Next in succession	Monarch
uncertain							João I
Infanta Branca	daughter	13 July 1388	born	6 March 1389	died	?
uncertain
Infante Afonso	son	30 July 1390	born	22 December 1400	died	?
Infante Afonso	son	30 July 1390	born	22 December 1400	died	Infante Duarte 1391–1400, brother
Infante Duarte	son	22 December 1400	brother died	14 August 1433	became king	Infante Pedro, Duke of Coimbra 1400–1429, brother
						Infante João 1429–1433, son
						Infante Afonso 1433, son
Prince Afonso, Prince of Portugal	son	14 August 1433	father became king	9 September 1438	became king	Infanta Filipa 1433, sister	Duarte I
Prince Afonso, Prince of Portugal	son	14 August 1433	father became king	9 September 1438	became king	Infante Fernando 1433–1438, brother	Duarte I
Prince Fernando, Prince of Portugal	brother	9 September 1438	brother became king	29 January 1451	son born to king	Infanta Filipa 1438–1439, sister	Afonso V
						Infanta Leonor 1439–1448, sister
						Infante João 1448–1451, son
Prince João, Prince of Portugal	son	29 January 1451	born	1451	died	Infante Fernando, uncle
Prince Fernando, Prince of Portugal	brother	1451	nephew died	6 February 1452	daughter born to king	Infante João, son
Princess Joana, Princess of Portugal	daughter	6 February 1452	born	3 March 1455	son born to king	Infante Fernando, Duke of Beja, uncle
Prince João, Prince of Portugal	son	3 March 1455	born	28 August 1481	became king	Infanta Joana 1455–1475, sister
Prince João, Prince of Portugal	son	3 March 1455	born	28 August 1481	became king	Infante Afonso 1475–1481, son
Prince Afonso, Prince of Portugal	son	28 August 1481	father became king	13 July 1491	died	Infanta Joana 1481–1490, aunt	João II
Prince Afonso, Prince of Portugal	son	28 August 1481	father became king	13 July 1491	died	Infante Manuel, Duke of Viseu 1490–1491, first cousin once removed
Infante Manuel, Duke of Viseu	cousin	13 July 1491	king's son died	25 October 1495	became king	Queen Leonor, sister
Queen Leonor	sister	25 October 1495	brother became king	1498	nephew appointed as Prince of Portugal	Infanta Isabel, Duchess of Braganza, sister	Manuel I
Prince Jaime, Prince of Portugal, Duke of Braganza	nephew	1498	appointed Prince in the childless king's absence	24 August 1498	son born to king	?
Prince Miguel da Paz, Prince of Portugal and Asturias	son	24 August 1498	born	19 July 1500	died	Queen Leonor, aunt
Queen Leonor	sister	19 July 1500	king's son died	6 June 1502	son born to king	Infanta Isabel, Duchess of Braganza, sister
Prince João, Prince of Portugal	son	6 June 1502	born	13 December 1521	became king	Queen Leonor 1502–1503, aunt
						Infanta Isabel 1503–1506, sister
						Infante Luís, Duke of Beja 1506–1521, brother
Prince Luís, Prince of Portugal	brother	13 December 1521	brother became king	24 February 1526	son born to king	Infante Fernando, brother	João III
Prince Afonso, Prince of Portugal	son	24 February 1526	born	12 April 1526	died	Infante Luís, Duke of Beja, uncle
Prince Luís, Prince of Portugal	brother	12 April 1526	king's son died	15 October 1527	daughter born to king	Infante Fernando, brother
Princess Maria Manuela, Princess of Portugal	daughter	15 October 1527	born	1 November 1531	son born to king	Infante Luís, Duke of Beja, uncle
Prince Manuel, Prince of Portugal	son	1 November 1531 (declared heir in 1535)	born	14 April 1537	died	Infanta Maria Manuela 1531–1533, sister
Prince Manuel, Prince of Portugal	son	1 November 1531 (declared heir in 1535)	born	14 April 1537	died	Infante Filipe 1533–1537, brother
Prince Filipe, Prince of Portugal	son	14 April 1537	brother died	29 April 1539	died	Infanta Maria Manuela 1537, sister
Prince Filipe, Prince of Portugal	son	14 April 1537	brother died	29 April 1539	died	Infante João Manuel 1537–1539, brother
Prince João Manuel, Prince of Portugal	son	29 April 1539	brother died	2 January 1554	died	Infante António 1539–1540, brother
						Maria Manuela, Princess of Asturias 1540–1545, sister
						Infante Carlos of Spain 1545–1554, nephew
Carlos, Prince of Asturias	grandson	2 January 1554	uncle died	20 January 1554	son posthumously born to Prince João Manuel	Cardinal-Infante Henrique, granduncle
Prince Sebastião, Prince of Portugal	grandson	20 January 1554	born (posthumously)	11 June 1557	became king	Carlos, Prince of Asturias, cousin
Carlos, Prince of Asturias	cousin	11 June 1557	cousin became king	24 July 1568	died	Cardinal-Infante Henrique, granduncle	Sebastião I
Cardinal-Infante Henrique	granduncle	24 July 1568	grandnephew died	4 August 1578	became king	Infante Duarte, Duke of Guimarães 1568–1576, nephew
						Maria, Hereditary Princess of Parma 1576–1577, niece
						Prince Ranuccio Farnese of Parma 1577–1578, grandnephew
Prince Ranuccio Farnese of Parma	grandnephew	4 August 1578	granduncle became king	31 January 1580	became pretender to the throne	Prince Odoardo Farnese of Parma, brother	Henrique I

After Cardinal-King Henrique's death, the throne was claimed by several individuals, including António, Prior of Crato, an illegitimate grandson of King Manuel I, and Infanta Catarina, Duchess of Braganza, a legitimate granddaughter of King Manuel I.[1] Eventually King Philip II of Spain, undoubtedly the most powerful claimant, succeeded in becoming king of Portugal.

António, Prior of Crato's pretension

Heir	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Next in succession	Monarch
Manuel (Prince of Portugal)	son	24 July 1580	father proclaimed himself king	1583	father deposed	?	António I (disputed)

House of Habsburg (1580–1640)

Note: All Princes of Portugal and infantes from the House of Habsburg were also Princes of Asturias and infantes of Spain respectively.

Heir	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Next in succession	Monarch
Prince Diogo, Prince of Portugal	son	1581	father became king	21 November 1582	died	Infante Filipe, brother	Filipe I
Prince Filipe, Prince of Portugal	son	21 November 1582	brother died	13 September 1598	became king	Infanta Isabel Clara Eugénia, sister	Filipe I
Infanta Isabel Clara Eugénia	sister	13 September 1598	brother became king	22 September 1601	daughter born to king	Infanta Catarina Micaela, Duchess of Savoy, sister	Filipe II
Infanta Ana	daughter	22 September 1601	born	8 April 1605	son born to king	Infanta Isabel Clara Eugénia 1601–1603, aunt
						Infanta Maria 1603, sister
						Infanta Isabel Clara Eugénia 1603–1605, aunt
Prince Filipe, Prince of Portugal	son	8 April 1605	born	31 March 1621	became king	Infanta Ana 1605–1607, sister
Prince Filipe, Prince of Portugal	son	8 April 1605	born	31 March 1621	became king	Infante Carlos 1607–1621, brother
Infante Carlos	brother	31 March 1621	brother became king	14 August 1621	daughter born to king	Cardinal-Infante Fernando, brother	Filipe III
Infanta Maria Margarida	daughter	14 August 1621	born	15 August 1621	died	Infante Carlos, uncle
Infante Carlos	brother	15 August 1621	king's daughter died	25 November 1623	daughter born to king	Cardinal-Infante Fernando, brother
Infanta Margarida Maria Catarina	daughter	25 November 1623	born	22 December 1623	died	Infante Carlos, uncle
Infante Carlos	brother	22 December 1623	king's daughter died	21 November 1625	daughter born to king	Cardinal-Infante Fernando, brother
Infanta Maria Eugénia	daughter	21 November 1625	born	21 July 1627	died	Infante Carlos, uncle
Infante Carlos	brother	21 July 1627	king's daughter died	31 October 1627	son born to king	Cardinal-Infante Fernando, brother
Infanta Isabel Maria Teresa	daughter	31 October 1627	born	1 November 1627	died	Infante Carlos, uncle
Infante Carlos	brother	1 November 1627	king's daughter died	17 October 1629	son born to king	Cardinal-Infante Fernando, brother
Prince Baltasar Carlos, Prince of Portugal	son	17 October 1629	born	1 December 1640	father deposed	Infante Carlos 1629–1632, uncle
						Cardinal-Infante Fernando 1632–1636, uncle
						Infanta Maria Ana Antónia 1636, sister
						Cardinal-Infante Fernando 1636–1638, uncle
						Infanta Maria Teresa 1638–1640, sister

House of Braganza (1640–1910)

Heir	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Next in succession	Monarch
Prince Teodósio, Prince of Brazil	son	1 December 1640	father became king	13 May 1653	died	Infanta Joana 1640–1643, sister	João IV
Prince Teodósio, Prince of Brazil	son	1 December 1640	father became king	13 May 1653	died	Infante Afonso 1643–1653, brother
Prince Afonso, Prince of Brazil	son	13 May 1653	brother died	6 November 1656	became king	Infante Pedro, Duke of Beja, brother
Infante Pedro, Duke of Beja	brother	6 November 1656	brother became king	12 September 1683	became king	Infanta Catarina 1656–1662, sister	Afonso VI
						Nuno, Duke of Cadaval 1662–1669, fifth cousin
						Infanta Isabel Luísa 1669–1683, daughter
Princess Isabel Luísa, Princess of Beira	daughter	12 September 1683	father became king	30 August 1688	son born to king	Nuno, Duke of Cadaval, fifth cousin once removed	Pedro II
Prince João, Prince of Brazil	son	30 August 1688	born	17 September 1688	died	Princess Isabel Luísa, Princess of Beira, sister
Princess Isabel Luísa, Princess of Beira	daughter	17 September 1688	brother died	22 October 1689	son born to king	Nuno, Duke of Cadaval, fifth cousin once removed
Prince João, Prince of Brazil	son	22 October 1689	born	9 December 1706	became king	Princess Isabel Luísa, Princess of Beira 1689–1690, sister
						Nuno, Duke of Cadaval 1690–1691, fifth cousin once removed
						Infante Francisco, Duke of Beja 1691–1706, brother
Infante Francisco, Duke of Beja	brother	9 December 1706	brother became king	4 December 1711	daughter born to king	Infante António, brother	João V
Princess Bárbara, Princess of Beira	daughter	4 December 1711	born	19 October 1712	son born to king	Infante Francisco, Duke of Beja, uncle
Prince Pedro, Prince of Brazil	son	19 October 1712	born	29 October 1714	died	Princess Bárbara, Princess of Beira 1712–1714, sister
Prince Pedro, Prince of Brazil	son	19 October 1712	born	29 October 1714	died	Infante José 1714, brother
Prince José, Prince of Brazil	son	29 October 1714	brother died	31 July 1750	became king	Princess Bárbara, Princess of Beira 1714–1716, sister
						Infante Carlos 1716–1734, brother
						Princess Maria, Princess of Beira 1734–1750, daughter
Princess Maria, Princess of Brazil	daughter	31 July 1750	father became king	24 February 1777	became queen	Infanta Maria Ana Francisca 1750–1761, sister	José I
Princess Maria, Princess of Brazil	daughter	31 July 1750	father became king	24 February 1777	became queen	Prince José, Prince of Beira 1761–1777, son	José I
Prince José, Prince of Brazil	son	24 February 1777	parents became queen and king	11 September 1788	died	Infante João, Duke of Beja, brother	Maria I and Pedro III
Prince João, Prince Royal	son	11 September 1788	brother died	20 March 1816	became king	?
						Princess Maria Teresa, Princess of Beira 1793–1795, daughter
						Prince Francisco António, Prince of Beira 1795–1801, son
						Prince Pedro, Prince of Beira 1801–1816, son
Prince Pedro, Prince Royal (Emperor Pedro I of Brazil since 1822)	son	20 March 1816	father became king	10 March 1826	became king	Infante Miguel, Duke of Beja 1816–1819, brother	João VI
						Princess Maria, Princess of Beira 1819–1821, daughter
						Prince João Carlos, Prince of Beira 1821–1822, son
						Princess Maria, Princess Imperial of Brazil 1822–1825, daughter
						Prince Pedro, Prince Imperial of Brazil 1825–1826, son
Prince Pedro, Prince Imperial of Brazil	son	10 March 1826	father became king	2 May 1826	father abdicated	Princess Maria, Princess of Grão-Pará, sister	Pedro IV
Infante Miguel, Duke of Beja	uncle	2 May 1826	niece became queen	11 July 1828	niece deposed	Infanta Isabel Maria, sister	Maria II
Infanta Isabel Maria	sister	11 July 1828	brother became king	26 May 1834	brother deposed	Infanta Maria da Assunção 1828–1834, sister	Miguel I
	sister	11 July 1828	brother became king	26 May 1834	brother deposed	?	Miguel I
	aunt	26 May 1834	niece became queen	16 December 1837	son born to queen	?	Maria II and Fernando II
Prince Pedro, Prince Royal	son	16 December 1837	born	15 November 1853	became king	Infanta Isabel Maria 1837–1838, grandaunt
Prince Pedro, Prince Royal	son	16 December 1837	born	15 November 1853	became king	Infante Luís, Duke of Porto 1838–1853, brother
Infante Luís, Duke of Porto	brother	15 November 1853	brother became king	11 November 1861	became king	Infante João, Duke of Beja, brother	Pedro V
Infante João, Duke of Beja	brother	11 November 1861	brother became king	27 December 1861	died	Infante Augusto, brother	Luís I
Infante Augusto	brother	27 December 1861	brother died	28 September 1863	son born to king	Infanta Isabel Maria, grandaunt
Prince Carlos, Prince Royal	son	28 September 1863	born	19 October 1889	became king	Infante Augusto 1863–1865, uncle
						Infante Afonso, Duke of Porto 1865–1887, brother
						Prince Luís Filipe, Prince of Beira 1887–1889, son
Prince Luís Filipe, Prince Royal	son	19 October 1889	father became king	1 February 1908	assassinated	Infante Afonso, Duke of Porto 1889, uncle	Carlos I
Prince Luís Filipe, Prince Royal	son	19 October 1889	father became king	1 February 1908	assassinated	Infante Manuel, Duke of Beja 1889–1908, brother	Carlos I
Prince Afonso, Prince Royal	uncle	1 February 1908	nephew became king	4 October 1910	monarchy abolished	?	Manuel II

Miguelist pretenders (1834–1922)

Heir	Relationship to Pretender	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Next in succession	Pretender
Infanta Isabel Maria	sister	26 May 1834	brother became pretender	5 August 1852	daughter born to pretender	?	Miguel I
Infanta Maria das Neves	daughter	5 August 1852	born	19 September 1853	son born to pretender	Infanta Isabel Maria, aunt
Infante Miguel	son	19 September 1853	born	14 November 1866	became pretender	Infanta Maria das Neves, sister
Infanta Maria das Neves	sister	14 November 1866	brother became pretender	26 April 1871	married a foreigner	Infanta Maria Teresa, sister	Miguel, Duke of Braganza
Infanta Maria Teresa	sister	26 April 1871	sister married a foreigner	23 July 1873	married a foreigner	Infanta Maria José, sister
Infanta Maria José	sister	23 July 1873	sister married a foreigner	29 April 1874	married a foreigner	Infanta Aldegundes, sister
Infanta Aldegundes	sister	29 April 1874	sister married a foreigner	15 October 1876	married a foreigner	Infanta Maria Ana, sister
Infanta Maria Ana	sister	15 October 1876	sister married a foreigner	22 September 1878	son born to pretender	Infanta Maria Antónia, sister
Infante Miguel, Duke of Viseu	son	22 September 1878	born	21 July 1920	renounced for himself and his descendants	Infanta Maria Ana 1878–1879, aunt
						Infante Francisco José 1879–1910, brother
						Infanta Isabel Maria "Nadejda" 1910–1912, daughter
						Infante João 1912–1920, son
Infante Duarte Nuno	son	21 July 1920	half-brother renounced for himself and his descendants	31 July 1920	became pretender	Infanta Isabel Maria, sister
Infanta Isabel Maria	sister	31 July 1920	brother became pretender	23 November 1920	married a foreigner	Infanta Maria Benedita, sister	Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza
Infanta Maria Benedita	sister	23 November 1920	sister married a foreigner	April 1922	pretender recognised as heir in the so-called Paris Pact	Infanta Maria Ana 1920–1921, sister
Infanta Maria Benedita	sister	23 November 1920	sister married a foreigner	April 1922	pretender recognised as heir in the so-called Paris Pact	Infanta Maria Antónia 1921–1922, sister

Pretenders since 1910

Heir	Relationship to Pretender	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Next in succession	Pretender
Prince Afonso, Prince Royal	uncle	5 October 1910	king became pretender	21 February 1920	died	?	Manuel II
uncertain
Prince Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza	second cousin twice removed	April 1922	recognised in the so-called Paris Pact	2 July 1932	became pretender	Infanta Maria Benedita, sister
Infanta Maria Benedita	sister	2 July 1932	brother became pretender	15 May 1945	son born to pretender	Infanta Maria Antónia 1932–1934, sister	Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza
Infanta Maria Benedita	sister	2 July 1932	brother became pretender	15 May 1945	son born to pretender	Infanta Filipa 1934–1945, sister
Prince Duarte Pio, Prince of Beira	son	15 May 1945	born	24 December 1976	became pretender	Infanta Maria Benedita 1945–1946, aunt
Prince Duarte Pio, Prince of Beira	son	15 May 1945	born	24 December 1976	became pretender	Infante Miguel, Duke of Viseu 1946–1976, brother
Infante Miguel, Duke of Viseu	brother	24 December 1976	brother became pretender	25 March 1996	son born to pretender	Infante Henrique, Duke of Coimbra, brother	Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza
Prince Afonso, Prince of Beira	son	25 March 1996	born	current heir		Infante Miguel, Duke of Viseu 1996–1997, uncle
						Infanta Maria Francisca 1997–1999, sister
						Infante Dinis, Duke of Porto 1999–present, brother

References

Catherine claimed the inheritance of her late brother, although the senior familial inheritance technically passed to her nephew Ranuccio Farnese, son of her late elder sister Maria. Ranuccio's father Alessandro Farnese, Hereditary Prince of Parma supported Philip of Spain, another claimant, so his young son's claim was not put forward.