1430, was the second son of Fernando I, Duke of Braganza and of his wife, the duchess Joan of Castro.

Before 25 July 1460, he married his 3rd cousin, Isabel of Noronha (niece of Christopher Columbus), a natural daughter of the Archbishop of Lisbon Pedro de Noronha (who was himself, a grandson of king Fernando I of Portugal and grandson of king Henry II of Castile through an illegitimate line).

When king John II of Portugal succeeded to the Portuguese throne and started actively his policy against the high nobility power (namely the Braganza and the Viseu families) João soon became one of the king's targets.

He escaped to Castile but in Portugal he was condemned for treason, and his statue was symbolically executed in Abrantes, on 12 September 1483.

He died in Seville, on 30 April 1484, where he was buried, together with his wife, in the Santa Paula Monastery.