MARIA I AND THE VIRADEIRA

Pombal was spectacularly successful in vanquishing his enemies; but there was nevertheless still one nagging political uncertainty over which even he exerted little influence. Who would succeed to the throne when José I died? As the king grew older this became a matter of real concern – for if José I were followed by a monarch unsympathetic to Pombal, then the latter's power would quickly evaporate. His reforms would most likely be undone and perhaps even his life made forfeit. Pombal was manifestly aware of these threats and did his best to guard against them. But there were no easy answers.

José I had no male heir. However, he did have four legitimate daughters each of whom, piously if somewhat confusingly, was called Maria. The oldest, Maria Francisca Isabel, was already sixteen when her father became king, and it was soon proposed that she marry her paternal uncle, Prince Pedro. At first Pombal opposed this match because he feared it might give rise to a rival court where his enemies could find refuge. So nothing happened – until overtures arrived from Madrid proposing the princess marry instead Prince Luís, son of Carlos III of Spain. This was even more unacceptable to Pombal for it raised the old spectre of a Spanish succession to the Portuguese throne.