Henri Ier of Portugal
See also: Henri, Henri Ier
The cardinal Henri (January 31st, 1512, Almeirim - January 31st, 1580) was the seventeenth king de Portugal. It controlled between 1578 and its death in 1580. It is known as “the Pure one” (considering its ecclesiastical function prevented it from having a descent legitimates), or “the Cardinal-king”. He was bishop of Évora, where he had spent much time and had founded the first university directed by the Jésuites.
Henri was the fifth wire of the king Manuel {{Ier}} and of his second wife Marie d' Aragon and was the youngest brother of the king Jean {{III}}. Obviously, he had never thought of going up on the throne.
It was ordered priest, very early, to increase the influence of Portugal in the Catholic church which was, at the time, very near to the Spain. It progressed quickly in the hierarchy of the Church and was, successively, archbishop of Braga, first archbishop of Évora, archbishop of Lisbon and also Grand Inquisiteur before being cardinal.
Henri, more than anybody, endeavoured to introduce the order of the Jesuits in Portugal, using their services in the colonial empire
From 1557 to 1568, he was the regent of Sebastien, his nephew of second generation, which he succeeded as king after disastrous the battles of Alcácer-Quibir in 1578. After having received the confirmation of died of the king, with the Monastery of Alcobaça, Henri renonça with his ecclesiastical functions, sought one immediately been engaged to envisage the continuation of the Dynastie of Aviz. The pope Gregoire {{XIII}} which was related to the Habsbourgs did not release it from his wishes.
He was acclaimed king, without large pumps, in the church of All-The-Saint, with the Rossio. It fell on to him to solve the problem of the recovery of the prisoners to the Morocco. The new king died in 1580 during the Cortes d' Almeirim; a junta of five governors seized the power.
In November 1580, Philippe {{II}} sent the pile cluster to seize the kingdom of Portugal by the force. Lisbon fell quickly and Philippe was elected king de Portugal under the name of Philippe 1st. A condition was imposed: the kingdom and its colonies could not become Spanish provinces.