Eleanor of Austria, Queen of France

**Eleanor of Austria** (November 15, 1498 - February 25, 1558) was an Austrian Archduchess and Queen of Portugal an then Queen of France. She was the eldest daughter of Joanna of Castile and Archduke Phillip the Handsome, She was raised by her aunt Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy.

Eleanor married her uncle whom was Manuel I, King of Portugal and then she married Francis I, King of France, but Eleanor only had one child named Maria of Portugal, Duchess of Viseu whom was fathered by Manuel. She left her daughter in Portugal when she married Francis. Eleanor's sister Catherine of Austria married Eleanor's stepson John III, King of Portugal.

Her husband Francis was widowed when his wife Claude of France died, Eleanor was Queen until Francis died, there she went to live with her younger sister Mary of Austria, Eleanor invited her daughter to come live with her, but her daughter only stayed there for 3 weeks, Eleanor died shortly after.

## Early Life

Eleanor (Spanish: Leonor) was born November 15, 1498 in Flanders, her mother was Joanna of Castile whom was heiress to the Kingdom of Castile, her father was Archduke Phillip the Handsome whom was abusive, and unfaithful to Eleanor's mother Joanna. Eleanor was raised by her aunt Margaret of Austria because her father refused to take care of Eleanor.

Eleanor's mother Joanna was known for having terrible mental health, her mother was nicknamed "Joanna the Mad" or "Juana la Loca" her mother was declared insane by her father, and husband. She was imprisoned in Phillip's palace. Eleanor was the current Junior heiress to Castile and Aragon after her mother, but she was not heir on her fathers side to the Holy Roman Empire, the Holy Roman Empire forbid woman from taking control.

### Birth of Younger brother

on February 24, 1500 the year after Eleanor's birth, Eleanor's younger brother Charles was born, Charles bumped Eleanor's succession rights out because Charles was heir to the Duchy of Burgundy, Holy Roman Empire, and the Kingdoms of Castile and Aragon, Charles was raised with Eleanor of Austria.

Unlike Eleanor, Charles was born sick, he had a long chin, small neck, and he was unattractive. Eleanor only had a little bit of the Hapsburg Jawline on her lip.

## Marriage to Manuel I, King of Portugal

In 1518, Eleanor married her uncle Manuel I, King of Portugal, two of Eleanor's aunts Isabella of Aragon, and Maria of Aragon had also been married to Manuel, Eleanor was crowned Queen of Portugal, Eleanor gave birth to a son named Infante Charles whom died in childbirth, Eleanor had a daughter named Maria whom became "Infanta Maria"

Maria was not heir to the throne of Portugal because Eleanor's aunt Maria of Aragon gave birth to a son.

## Queen of France

On December 13, 1521 Manuel died, Eleanor's daughter Maria was given the Duchy of Viseu, Eleanor's brother whom was married to Eleanor's half daughter married Eleanor to the King of France whom was Francis I, Francis was widowed by the Duchess of Brittany who was Claude of France, Francis married Eleanor in 1530, Eleanor left her daughter of Portugal, Eleanor's sister Catherine of Austria married Eleanor's step-son John III, King of Portugal, Catherine of Austria took care of Eleanor's daughter.
Eleanor's husband gave Eleanor the Duchy of Touraine. Francis had many other children before he married Eleanor, he had 3 sons, and 2 daughters.

### Death of Francis

In late 1547 Francis died, Eleanor went to Spain to live with her younger sister Mary of Austria. Eleanor invited her daughter to come live with her in Spain, but Maria declined the offer and only stayed there for 3 weeks.

## Death

Eleanor outlived all her siblings and died in 1558 of unknown causes.

## Gallery

Eleanor of Austria as a babyEleanor's mother JoannaEleanor's mother Joanna and father Phillip in EnglandEleanor's sister Isabella of Austria