Afonso VI of Portugal

Afonso VI of Portugal (1643-1683) was the second son of King João IV of Portugal and his wife, Queen Luisa de Gusmão. He became king at the age of 13 after the death of his father in 1656. During his reign, Afonso was faced with several challenges, including a war with Spain over the control of the Portuguese colonies in South America, and internal conflicts with the nobility and clergy over the control of the government. Afonso was known to be a weak and ineffective ruler, and his reign was marked by political instability and economic difficulties. He was also known for his love of hunting and gambling, and for his extravagant spending habits. In 1662, Afonso married his cousin, Marie Françoise of Savoy, but the marriage was unhappy and they separated after two years. Afonso had no children from this marriage or any other. In 1667, Afonso's younger brother, Pedro, led a successful coup against him and took the throne, forcing Afonso to retire to a monastery where he lived out the rest of his life in seclusion. He died in 1683 at the age of 40.