Infanta Maria Benedita of Portugal

Infanta Maria Benedita of Portugal
Princess of Brazil
Portrait of the Princess of Brazil by an unknown artist preserved in the Museo del Prado.
Born	(1746-07-25)25 July 1746 Palace of Ribeira, Lisbon, Portugal
Died	18 August 1829(1829-08-18) (aged 83) Lisbon, Portugal
Spouse	Joseph, Prince of Brazil (m 21 February 1777)
Issue	no issue
Full name
Maria Francisca Benedita Ana Isabel Josefa Antónia Lourença Inácia Teresa Gertrudes Rita Joana Rosa de Bragança
Father	Joseph I of Portugal
Mother	Mariana Victoria of Spain
Burial	Royal Pantheon of the Braganza Dynasty

Infanta Maria Benedita of Portugal (Maria Francisca Benedita Ana Isabel Josefa Antónia Lourença Inácia Teresa Gertrudes Rita Joana Rosa; 25 July 1746  – 18 August 1829) was in Infanta of Portugal as a daughter of King Joseph I of Portugal and his wife Mariana Victoria of Spain and was named in honour of Pope Benedict XIV. Married to her nephew, the couple had no children prior to her being widowed in 1788 from then on being known as the "Dowager Princess of Brazil" till her own death in 1829. and was the last surviving granddaughter of John V of Portugal. Maria Benedita was the 142nd Dame of the Order of Noble Ladies of Queen Maria Luisa.

Marriage

21 February 1777 the Infanta Maria Benedita she married her nephew, Infante José, Prince of Beira (later created the Prince of Brazil,), heir apparent of her own sister Maria, the future Queen Maria I of Portugal. The Prince and Princess of Brazil had no children together prior to the Prince's death by smallpox in 1788.

Titles and styles

• 25 July 1746  – 21 February 1777 Her Highness Infanta Dona Maria Benedita of Portugal.
• 21 February 1777  – 11 September 1788 Her Royal Highness The Princess of Brazil, Duchess of Braganza.
• 11 September 1788  – 18 August 1829 Her Royal Highness The Dowager Princess of Brazil, Duchess of Braganza.