D. Joanna de Portugal (A Princesa Santa)

Born into the Portuguese court on 6 February 1452, the young princess entered a world still echoing the recent turmoil of the Alfarrobeira tragedy. Her arrival was marked by grand celebrations, yet the kingdom’s fragile peace and the shifting alliances of King Afonso V loomed over her early years. From the moment of her birth, she was hailed by some as a potential heir, a title that would later evolve as her brother João entered the scene.

Orphaned of her mother at the age of five, she was placed under the care of the royal household, where a circle of trusted ladies and learned men guided her upbringing. Her education was unusually rigorous for the time: she mastered Portuguese and Latin, copied manuscripts in the convent of Jesus, and was encouraged to study grammar and the sciences under the watchful eye of the king’s own tutors. This foundation shaped her into a remarkably erudite figure within a court where women’s roles were often limited.

The biography follows her formative years, revealing how a combination of political intrigue, familial duty, and a passion for learning forged her reputation as “the Saintly Princess.” Listeners will discover a portrait of a young noblewoman navigating the expectations of royalty while cultivating a mind ahead of her era.