Dona Maria Manuela (15 October 1527 – 12 July 1545[1]) was the eldest daughter and second child of King John III of Portugal and his wife Catherine of Austria.

Maria was born in Coimbra on 15 October 1527 and was one of the two children of John III to survive childhood.

[2] In her youth, Maria received a humanistic education that was considered typical for a princess of her time.

[4] As she was to be married to the Prince of Asturias, heir apparent to the Spanish crown, and being an Infanta of Portugal, their wedding became one of the most remarkable in the history of Spain due to its opulence.

She gave birth to their son Carlos on 8 July 1545 in Valladolid, but died four days later due to a haemorrhage.