Page:Catherine of Bragança, infanta of Portugal, & queen-consort of England.djvu/27

1638] them. Castile was ready at the first opening to possess herself of Portugal, and Spain was no more backward in her longings. King Joao's brother-in-law, the then Duke of Bragança, conspired against him a little later on, and was executed. His sons and brothers fled to Castile for safety, but were recalled in the next reign and reinstated. Portugal's Indian possessions were now gorgeous and rich, and Portugal was steadily growing in importance.

From 1557 to 1562 a Catherine, who was the consort of a Duke of Bragança, was Queen of Portugal. She was our Catherine's great-grandmother. The throne of Portugal became so nearly vacant in 1578 that civil wars were imminent. Claimants sprang up on all sides. The Duke of Bragan9a put in his claim, as husband of the granddaughter of King Manoel. Dom Henry, the reigning king, was without heirs, in a direct line. Philip of Spain, seeing at last a chance of annexing the so-long-coveted country, claimed at once through his two grandfathers, Manoel and Joao the third. But, according to Portuguese law, a foreigner could not inherit the crown. The Prince of Parma also put in a claim, and the country was in confusion between the rival claimants.

Spain took the short step, and declared war on Portugal. The Duke of Alva attacked the fleet of Portugal, and took it. Lisbon the beautiful was surrounded. Portugal had to surrender to her more powerful enemy. Now began a reign of unjust oppression. Taxes were imposed, the rule was heavy, the judgment cruel. For sixty years Portugal groaned under the iron yoke of her conquerors. There seemed no hope of relief from her miseries. But the heirs of the Duke of Bragança still firmly held to their claims to the throne, and refused to resign them.

A more miserable condition than Portugal's at this time it would be hard to picture. The Spanish rule was tyrannical, and enriched itself at the expense of