Editing Afonso V of Portugal (section)

==Early life==
Born in [[Sintra National Palace|Sintra]] on 15 January 1432, Afonso was the second son of King [[Edward of Portugal]] by his wife [[Eleanor of Aragon, Queen of Portugal|Eleanor of Aragon]].{{sfn|Pereira|Rodrigues|1904|p=64}} Following the death of his older brother, Infante João (1429–1433), Afonso acceded to the position of heir apparent and was made the first [[Prince of Portugal]] by his father, who sought to emulate the English court's custom of a dynastic title that distinguished the heir apparent from the other children of the monarch.{{sfn|Livermore|1947|p=196}} He was only six years old when he succeeded his father in 1438.{{sfn|Flood|2019|p=189}}{{sfn|Marques|1976|p=131}}

During his minority, Afonso was placed under the regency of his mother, Eleanor, in accordance with the will left by his late father.{{sfn|McMurdo|1889|p=413}}{{sfn|Disney|2009|p=128}} As both a foreigner and a woman, the queen was not a popular choice for regent.{{sfn|Livermore|1947|p=196}} When the {{Lang|pt|[[Portuguese Cortes|cortes]]}} met in late 1438, a law was passed requiring a joint regency consisting of Eleanor and [[Pedro, Duke of Coimbra]], the younger brother of the late king.{{sfn|Stephens|1891|p=130}} The dual regency was a failure and in 1439, the {{lang|pt|cortes}} named Pedro "protector and guardian" of the king and "ruler and defender" of the kingdom.{{sfn|Disney|2009|p=129}}{{sfn|Stephens|1891|p=131}} Eleanor attempted to resist, but without support in Portugal she fled to Castile.{{sfn|McMurdo|1889|p=433}}

Pedro's regency was characterized by political unrest and weakened authority caused by strife with [[Afonso, 1st Duke of Braganza|Afonso, Count of Barcelos]], his half-brother and political enemy.{{sfn|Marques|1976|p=132}} In 1441, Afonso's V betrothal to Pedro's eldest daughter, [[Isabel of Coimbra|Isabella]], was arranged.{{sfn|Rogers|1961|p=59}} The engagement caused a conflict between Pedro and the Count of Barcelos, who had wished for the monarch to marry his granddaughter.{{sfn|Rogers|1961|pages=60, 86}}{{sfn|McMurdo|1889|p=415}}

Afonso reached the age of majority in 1446, but Pedro retained administrative power and the title of regent.{{sfn|Livermore|1947|p=201}} Afonso and Isabella were formally married on 6 May 1447,{{sfn|Rogers|1961|p=59}} seemingly strengthening Pedro's power at court.{{sfn|Disney|2009|p=139}} However, the Count of Barcelos began to wield more influence over the young king and persuaded him to dispense Pedro in July 1448.{{sfn|Livermore|1947|p=201}}{{sfn|Disney|2009|p=139}} On 15 September of the same year, Afonso V nullified all the laws and edicts approved under the regency.{{sfn|Disney|2009|p=139}} Tensions escalated and in early 1449 Pedro marched his ducal army towards Lisbon, igniting a brief civil war.{{sfn|McMurdo|1889|pages=479-481}} Pedro was eventually defeated and killed by Afonso V's royal forces in the [[Battle of Alfarrobeira]] in May 1449.{{sfn|Livermore|1947|p=201}}