Catarina de Bragança

by Isabel Stiwell

With 23 years-old infanta Catherine of Braganza, daughter of King John IV and Queen Luísa de Gusmão, left behind everything that was dear and close towards a new life. A mixture of sadness and joy was at her heart: missing Lisbon, Vila Viçosa, the smell of oranges, her brothers. But her dark eyes showed enthusiasm for marrying the man of her dreams, Charles II of England, who Catherine loved madly even before they meet. She suffered in a country with a diferent language, customs and religion. She watched her husband's infidelities and the birth of his bastard children while she was unable to generate the desired heir. Catherine failed to meet the sole purpose that was demanded as a woman and queen. "If only I did not love him so much!" she thought in the long and sad nights...