Review: Charles II’s Portuguese Queen: The Legacy of Catherine of Braganza
By Susan Abernethy
Born a Braganza princess and destined to become the Queen Consort of England, Catherine of Braganza was far more than a diplomatic pawn in a royal marriage. In Charles II’s Portuguese Queen: The Legacy of Catherine of Braganza, Susan Abernethy reclaims her from the margins of Restoration history, offering a richly detailed biography that spans Catherine’s early years in Portugal, her tumultuous reign beside Charles II, and her later return as a regent to her homeland. The book powerfully illustrates how Catherine’s dowry, resilience, and religious faith helped shape not just court life but also the imperial ambitions of England, particularly with the acquisition of Bombay and Tangier.
The review highlights how Abernethy integrates modern queenship scholarship, Portuguese history, and cultural diplomacy to position Catherine as a figure of agency and legacy, one too often overlooked in favour of Charles’s mistresses. This new biography avoids sensationalism, instead offering a thoughtful, narrative-driven portrayal of a queen whose influence spanned continents and centuries. It’s a compelling read for anyone interested in early modern royalty, Anglo-Portuguese relations, or women’s roles in shaping global history.
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