Maria of Portugal

Maria of Portugal (1313–1357), eldest daughter of Afonso IV, became queen of Castile in 1328 by marrying Alfonso XI. The marriage was unhappy from the start: Alfonso kept Leonor de Guzmán, who bore him ten children, and Maria spent long periods secluded in a monastery in Seville.

Her father demanded that Alfonso give Leonor up. In 1340 Alfonso promised to send Leonor to a convent, winning Portuguese support at Río Salado, but returned to her afterwards.

After Alfonso died in 1350, Maria used her influence over her son Peter's council to have Leonor killed in 1351. She joined the revolt against Peter in 1354; in 1356 he killed several nobles of her household at Toro, and she returned to Portugal. She died at Évora in 1357.