King John II’s Campaign Against the Nobility: The Fall of the Dukes of Braganza and Viseu
Upon his succession in 1477 and full assumption of power in 1481, King John II of Portugal launched a determined effort to weaken the Portuguese nobility, particularly the two most powerful noble houses:
- House of Braganza (Fernando II, Duke of Braganza)
- House of Beja and Viseu (Diogo, Duke of Viseu and Beja)
These houses had amassed immense wealth and influence under Afonso V’s reign, leading John II to view them as threats to the Crown’s authority.
The Downfall of Fernando II, Duke of Braganza (1483)
- Fernando II of Braganza (b. 1430) had been a loyal companion to Afonso V, participating in the Moroccan campaigns and the War of the Castilian Succession (1475–1479).
- After the Portuguese defeat in the Castilian War, Fernando maintained correspondence with Isabella I of Castile, which John II saw as treasonous.
- In 1483, John II arrested and charged Fernando with treason, using forged letters as evidence.
- Fernando II was executed in Évora, and his vast lands and estates were confiscated, destroying the power of the House of Braganza for the next century.
The Assassination of Diogo, Duke of Viseu and Beja (1484)
- Diogo, Duke of Viseu and Beja, had inherited great power in 1472 and became a popular court figure.
- Unlike Fernando II, Diogo believed he was safe due to his sister Eleanor’s marriage to King John II (since 1470).
- However, he was suspected of conspiring against the king, particularly after two assassination attempts on John II’s life.
- In 1484, John II accused Diogo of high treason.
- The king personally stabbed and killed Diogo himself, sending a powerful message to the nobility.
The Rise of Manuel I, Duke of Beja and Viseu (1484)
- After Diogo’s execution, John II summoned his younger brother, Infante Manuel of Viseu.
- Showing him Diogo’s body, the king declared he would treat Manuel as his own son.
- Manuel inherited his brother’s titles and estates, becoming Duke of Beja and Viseu, but he remained loyal to John II, avoiding his brother’s fate.
Consequences of John II’s Purge of the Nobility
- Complete Suppression of the Aristocracy – The executions of Fernando II of Braganza (1483) and Diogo of Viseu (1484) ensured that no noble family could challenge the Crown’s power.
- Royal Centralization – John II seized vast noble estates, making the monarchy the wealthiest power in Portugal.
- Military and Economic Strengthening – With noble resistance crushed, John II refocused resources on maritime expansion, leading to Bartolomeu Dias’s voyage around the Cape of Good Hope (1488).
- The Future Rise of Manuel I – Though spared by John II, Infante Manuel would later become King of Portugal (1495–1521), beginning the Portuguese Golden Age.
John II: The Perfect Prince and Absolute Monarch
By crushing the nobility, John II transformed Portugal into a centralized state, where the king ruled without aristocratic interference. His reign paved the way for Portugal’s dominance in global exploration, ensuring that the Crown, and not the nobility, controlled the vast wealth of the Portuguese Empire.
