The Exaltation of the “Holiness” of the Bragança Dynasty as a Legitimating Strategy in the Seventeenth Century

Following the Portuguese Restoration of 1640, the European political framework of the second half of the seventeenth century meant that the newly inaugurated Bragança dynasty faced difficulties in having its legitimacy recognised. This study draws attention to one of the major initiatives established by the new dynasty to combat this issue: the exaltation of the “holiness” of some of its members (Prince Teodósio, Princess Joana) or at least of their “virtue” (Queen Luísa de Guzman; Princess Catherine, queen of England; Princess Isabel Luísa Josefa). This initiative became the most successful strategy employed to support the legitimacy of this “illustrious” royal family, one that was able to “generate saints”.