JOHN

died 1345 byname John Of Montfort, French Jean De Montfort claimant to the duchy of Brittany upon the death of his childless half brother, John III. He was the only surviving son of Arthur II. At first, John of Montfort had recognized John III's designation of Charles of Blois (nephew of King Philip VI of France) as the successor; but then John of Montfort reneged, had himself crowned at a convocation of bishops and lords at Nantes, and thus started the War of the Breton Succession. John was supported by Edward III of England (who claimed suzerainty over Brittany), but Philip VI favoured his own nephew and captured John at Nantes (1341). John, however, escaped from prison and defeated Charles's partisans at Cadoret (1345). When John himself died the same year, his widow, Joan of Flanders, defended the claims of his son, John IV. Certain authorities count John of Montfort among the dukes of Brittany; he then becomes John IV, and his successors John V and John VI. also called (163040) Joo, 8o Duque (8th duke) De Bragana, byname John The Fortunate, Portuguese Joo O Afortunado born March 18/19, 1604, Vila Viosa, Port. died Nov. 6, 1656, Lisbon king of Portugal from 1640 as a result of the national revolution, or restoration, which ended 60 years of Spanish rule. He founded the dynasty of Bragana (Braganza), beat off Spanish attacks, and established a system of alliances. John, duke of Bragana, the wealthiest nobleman in Portugal, married Luisa de Guzmn, daughter of the Spanish duke of Medina Sidonia. The Bragana duchy, founded in 1461, was a collateral of the extinct royal House of Aviz; and, when the restorers of independence overthrew the Spanish governor on Dec. 1, 1640, they offered John the crown. On December 15 he was enthroned as John IV. Supported by the Cortes, the national assembly, he entrusted each province with its own defense and sent missions to seek recognition from France, England, and the Netherlands. His alliance with the English Stuarts (1642) was frustrated by the English Civil Wars, but in 1654 John made a new treaty with the English Commonwealth, which gained him military aid in return for trading privileges. The Dutch, already in possession of Pernambuco in northeastern Brazil, seized Angola but were expelled from both, while retaining their conquests in the East Indies. The Spanish were defeated at Montijo (May 26, 1644) and were blocked from further invasion. John IV and his Queen Leonor governed through a royal council and a committee of the Cortes, the Board of Three Estates, and instituted the Overseas Council. He survived attempts at assassination and Spanish attempts to influence the Vatican to isolate the Portuguese church. John was a notable composer. At John's death his wife became regent for their son Afonso VI (ruled 165683). His daughter Catherine of Braganza married Charles II of England in 1662.