Fernando II, born in 1430, was a successful young man and quickly grew popular amongst the Portuguese nobility.

The Portuguese invaded Castile, and during the Battle of Toro, Fernando was responsible for Queen Joanna’s safety.

When King John II of Portugal succeeded his father, King Afonso V, he sought to bring down the power of the Portuguese nobility, which had greatly flourished under his father's reign.

[8] King John II accused Fernando of Braganza, his second half-cousin, of high treason and had him executed at Évora in 1483.

[11][a] Shortly after, in 1484, John accused his first cousin, Diogo I of Beja and Viseu (brother-in-law of Fernando II), of the same offense and stabbed him to death.