The Private Circle of an Unexpected King

Pelúcia, Alexandra

http://hdl.handle.net/10362/146977

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Pelúcia, Alexandra

Resumo(s)

Manuel I of Portugal (reign. 1495-1521) reached the throne unexpectedly, similar to the way he had surprisingly become duke. Therefore, his early life was not punctuated by the usual patronage and court dynamics observed around crown princes. His path to the throne was met with resistance, but also saw the emergence of a circle rallying around him. This article identifies the members of Manuel’s private circle at the moment he became king. Additionally, we analyse his entourage to identify his favourites. For this, we highlight an episode in the early years of his reign, his private pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in 1502. An analysis of his choice of companions for the journey is one of the examples illustrating how throughout his reign Manuel tried to reach a balance between factions, favouring long-time servants and promoting new close relationships in order to strengthen royal power.