To distinguish her from other infantas of the same name, she is commonly known as Eleanor of Viseu (after her father"s title) or Eleanor of Lancaster (Lancaster, a name used by some Portuguese royals after her great-grandmother Queen Philippa of Lancaster). Eleanor was a daughter of Infante Fernando, Duke of Viseu, and his wife and cousin Beatrice of Portugal.
In Portugal, she is known universally as Rainha Dona Leonor. She is considered one of the most notable Portuguese queen consorts. She was the second and one of only two queen consorts in Portugal who were not foreigners.
Eleanor"s sister Isabel of Viseu married Fernando II of Braganza, who was later accused and executed of treason by Eleanor"s husband King John World War II Eleanor"s older brother Diogo, Duke of Viseu, was also involved in activities that John II considered treasonous and was executed by the king himself.
Her younger brother succeeded John II as King Manuel I of Portugal. The queen consorts of Portugal were awarded fiefs and villages to grant them independent incomes, and Eleanor was granted Silves e Faro and Terras de Aldeia Galega e Aldeia Gavinha for this purpose.
She founded what became the city of Caldas da Rainha, which was named in her honor ("rainha" means "queen" in Portuguese). John II died on 25 October 1495.
The hypothesis of poisoning was never ruled out.
Foreign a short period between 1500 and 1502, Eleanor"s brother Manuel found himself childless, and Eleanor herself became the heir to the throne. Eleanor was extremely wealthy and used much of her money for charity. The original foundations survive today, and more have since been founded in other towns and cities of Portugal and in the Portuguese colonies.
Eleanor supported the foundation of the Hospital Real de Todos os Santos (All Saints Royal Hospital) in Lisbon, considered the best in contemporary Europe.
She also founded the convent Madre de Deus (1509), considered a great architectural work, where she spent many of her later years, dressed almost as a nun.
