HISTORICAL DICTIONARY A–Z - Spain and Portugal: A Reference Guide from the Renaissance to the Present - page 241

fact much more in common with the French
palace and the Sun King's desire to impress
his people and the rulers of Europe.

tion were left unresolved at the time of
John's death.

John of Austria (Don Juan de
Austria) (1547-1578)
Spanish prince and military commander
An illegitimate son of C HARLES I (Holy
Roman Emperor Charles V), he was for-
mally recognized by his father and con-
firmed by his half brother, P HILIP II, as a
prince of the H ABSBURG dynasty (the “House
of Austria”). During his 20s he demon-
strated his leadership qualities by com-
manding a naval squadron in the
Mediterranean against Barbary pirates and
putting down a revolt in A NDALUSIA . In
1571, as admiral of the Holy League fleet
confronting a Turkish force at the B ATTLE OF

John VI (João VI) (1769-1826)
king of Portugal
The son of M ARIA I and her king-consort,
P ETER III, John began management of the
royal household in 1792 at the onset of his
mother's mental illness, although he did
not formally assume the title of regent until
1799. An opponent of the revolutionary
change that was sweeping Europe, he clung
to Portugal's long-standing alliance with
Britain and was consequently attacked and
defeated by Spain in its role as ally of
France (the War of the Oranges, 1801).
John attempted to avoid further conflict
thereafter but was marked for vengeance,
ultimately being invaded by a Franco-
Spanish force in 1807. John and his entou-
rage escaped aboard British warships and
found refuge in B RAZIL . Enjoying a com-
fortable residence in Rio de Janeiro, John
proclaimed Brazil a co-equal kingdom
with Portugal and showed no interest in
returning to Lisbon, even after his home-
land was liberated. As king, following his
mother's death in 1816, John VI attempted
to oversee his transatlantic realm from a
distance, but a liberal revolt in 1821 finally
compelled him to return to Portugal where
he attempted to undercut the new consti-
tution. John was nevertheless opposed to
the extreme reactionary party led by his
younger son M IGUEL . John favored the
claim of his older son, but the latter had
been recognized as the ruler (P EDRO I) of
a now-independent Brazil in 1825 leaving
him in an anomalous position. These
issues of inheritance and political orienta- John of Austria (Library of Congress)