King of Portugal 1357-1367. Also known as Pedro the Cruel, He was the son of king Afonso IV and his queen Beatrice of Castile. Pedro is chiefly known for his love of Inês de Castro, the Hispanic maidservant that his father had killed in 1355. Pedro led at least two revolts against his father before acceeding to the throne. Once he was king he announced that he had married Inês de Castro in secret and that she, despite dead, was queen of Portugal. This fact is based only in the king's word. As king, Pedro I was a surprising success. He brutally murdered the killers of Inês de Castro, but he also persercuted felons of all classes, and instituted reforms to free the Portuguese Crown and Church from papal intervention. His wife, Constanza (1316-1345), had been a Castilian princess, and it was for this reason that Pedro joined an Aragonese invasion of Castile-Léon.

King of Portugal 1357-1367. Also known as Pedro the Cruel, He was the son of king Afonso IV and his queen Beatrice of Castile. Pedro is chiefly known for his love of Inês de Castro, the Hispanic maidservant that his father had killed in 1355. Pedro led at least two revolts against his father before acceeding to the throne. Once he was king he announced that he had married Inês de Castro in secret and that she, despite dead, was queen of Portugal. This fact is based only in the king's word. As king, Pedro I was a surprising success. He brutally murdered the killers of Inês de Castro, but he also persercuted felons of all classes, and instituted reforms to free the Portuguese Crown and Church from papal intervention. His wife, Constanza (1316-1345), had been a Castilian princess, and it was for this reason that Pedro joined an Aragonese invasion of Castile-Léon.

Bio by: Benny Chordt Hansen