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Marie-Françoise de Savoie
(1646–83)

Other names: Other names: Marie-Françoise-Elisabeth, Madame d'Aumâle

Biographical

After marrying Alfonso VI, King of Portugal, Marie-Françoise began to take advantage of his weaknesses, and she quickly dominated Portuguese political life. After making an agreement with her brother-in-law, the Infante Don Pedro, she forced Alfonso to abdicate in April 1667, and had him retire to the island of Terceira in the Azores through an uprising that she instigated. After having had her marriage to him annulled, Pedro was proclaimed regent by the Cortes. The queen also had an extraordinary influence on her second husband, and was in reality the ruler of Portugal.

Place of birth: Paris
Place of first marriage: Lisbon
Place of second marriage: Lisbon
Place of death: Patharam
Place of burial: Lisbon

Daughter of Charles-Amédée de Savoie-Nemours and Elisabeth de Bourbon-Vendôme. She was married firstly to Affonso VI, King of Portugal in 1666 (not consummated, annulled 1668), and secondly to his brother, Pedro II, King of Portugal, in 1668.

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