''
Dom'' Pedro II (Peter II; 26 April 1648 – 9 December 1706), nicknamed "the Pacific", was
King of Portugal from 1683 until his death, previously serving as regent for his brother
Afonso VI
Afonso VI (; 21 August 164312 September 1683), known as "the Victorious" (), was the second king of Portugal of the House of Braganza from 1656 until his death. He was initially under the regency of his mother, Luisa de Guzmán, until 1662, when ...
from 1668 until his own accession. He was the fifth and last child of
John IV and
Luisa de Guzmán
Luisa María Francisca de Guzmán y Sandoval ( pt, Luísa Maria Francisca de Gusmão;. 13 October 1613 – 27 February 1666) was a queen consort of Portugal. She was the spouse of King John IV, the first Braganza ruler, as well as the mother ...
.
Early life
Third son of
King John IV and
Queen Luisa, Peter was created
Duke of Beja and Lord of the
House of the Infantado.
Following his father's death, his mother became regent for the new king
Afonso VI
Afonso VI (; 21 August 164312 September 1683), known as "the Victorious" (), was the second king of Portugal of the House of Braganza from 1656 until his death. He was initially under the regency of his mother, Luisa de Guzmán, until 1662, when ...
, Peter's elder, partially paralysed, and mentally unstable brother. In 1662 Afonso put his mother away in a convent and assumed control of the state. In January 1668, shortly before Spanish recognition of Portugal's restoration of independence, Peter acquired political ascendancy over his brother and was appointed regent, banishing Afonso to the
Azores
)
, motto=
( en, "Rather die free than subjected in peace")
, anthem=( en, "Anthem of the Azores")
, image_map=Locator_map_of_Azores_in_EU.svg
, map_alt=Location of the Azores within the European Union
, map_caption=Location of the Azores wi ...
and, later, Sintra where he died in 1683. Peter thereupon inherited the throne.
Peter not only inherited his brother's throne but also wed his former spouse, Queen
Marie-Françoise of Savoy (1646–1683). They had one daughter,