Background
His father created him 10th Duke of Braganza. He succeeded his father (João IV) in 1656 at the age of thirteen.
His father created him 10th Duke of Braganza. He succeeded his father (João IV) in 1656 at the age of thirteen.
At the age of three, Afonso suffered an illness that left him paralyzed on the left side of his body, as well as leaving him mentally unstable. He received also the crown-princely title 2nd Prince of Brazil. His mother, Luisa of Medina-Sidonia, was named regent in his father"s will.
His mental instability and paralysis, plus his lack of interest in government, left his mother as regent for six years, until 1662.
Afonso oversaw decisive military victories over the Spanish at Elvas (14 January 1659), Ameixial (8 June 1663) and Montes Claros (17 June 1665), culminating in the final Spanish recognition of sovereignty of Portugal"s new ruling dynasty, the House of Braganza, on 13 February 1668 in the Treaty of Lisbon. Colonial affairs saw the Dutch conquest of Jaffnapatam, Portugal"s last colony in Portuguese Ceylon (1658) and the cession of Bombay and Tangier to England (23 June 1661) as dowry for Afonso"s sister, Catherine of Braganza, who had married King Charles II of England.
English mediation in 1661 saw the Netherlands acknowledge Portuguese rule of Brazil in return for uncontested control of Ceylon. In 1662, the Count of Castelo Melhor saw an opportunity to gain power at court by befriending the king.
He managed to convince the king that his mother was out to steal his throne and exile him from Portugal.
As a result, Afonso took control of the throne and his mother was sent to a convent. That same year, Pedro managed to gain enough support to force the king to relinquish control of the government and he became Prince Regent in 1668. Afonso was exiled to the island of Terceira in the Azores for seven years, returning to mainland Portugal shortly before he died at Sintra in 1683.
His trial is the basis of João Mário Grilo"s 1990 film, The King"s Trial (O Processo do Rei).