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John II of Portugal

«the Perfect Prince»

King of Portugal who strengthened royal authority against the great nobility and continued Atlantic expansion. His reign prepared the major overseas expansion under Manuel I.

1455 – 1495King of PortugalAviz · ES
Explore this family · Spanish AtlasBack to people
Portrait of John II of Portugal
Disputed identificationPortrait traditionally identified as John II (inscribed “Ioannes Quartus”); the identification is disputed by some historiansAnonymous artist · Sixteenth centuryKunsthistorisches Museum, ViennaPublic domain · PD-Art / PDM 1.0 · Source

This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 1455 Documented

Death: 1495 Documented

Role: King of Portugal

Other recorded names: John the Perfect Prince

Dynasty: Aviz · ES

Territories: Portugal (ES)

Recorded governments and reigns
King · Portugal · Reign Pending review1481–1495Effective rule
Family network

Recorded relationships

Parents
Partners
Children
Documentation

Sources for this profile

Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.

Evidence for this profile

6 recorded claims · 2 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)
Family and relationships (2/3 with a precise source)
Governments (0/1 with a precise source)
  • GovernmentPending review

    King · Portugal · 1481–1495

    A precise source has not yet been added.
    No individual review recorded ·
Biographical and contextual references (3)
Editorial history
  • 2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
  • 2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.

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