# Catherine of Braganza

> Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland (1638–1705)

**Wikidata**: [Q176253](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q176253)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_of_Braganza)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/catherine-of-braganza

## Summary
Catherine of Braganza (1638–1705) was the Queen consort of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Born into the Kingdom of Portugal and later holding citizenship ties to the Kingdom of England, she served as a major monarchical figure during the 17th century. Her historical legacy extends to the founding and naming of geographic locations in the New World, most notably the borough and county of Queens in New York.

## Biography
- **Born:** November 25, 1638
- **Died:** December 31, 1705
- **Nationality:** Kingdom of Portugal, Kingdom of England
- **Known for:** Serving as Queen consort of England, Scotland, and Ireland
- **Field(s):** Monarchy, Regency

## Contributions
As Queen Consort, Catherine of Braganza's primary historical footprint lies in her geopolitical connections between the Kingdom of Portugal and the Kingdom of England. Her most tangible historical contribution to the broader world is her namesake legacy in the United States. She is directly connected as a namesake and related entity to Queens County and the borough of Queens in New York City, both of which were officially established in 1683. Additionally, her role is closely associated with the function of a regent—a governing official who rules in the absence or incapacity of a monarch—highlighting her proximity to active rulership and state administration.

## FAQs
**Who was Catherine of Braganza?**
Catherine of Braganza was a historical human figure who served as the Queen consort of England, Scotland, and Ireland, living from 1638 to 1705. 

**When was Catherine of Braganza born and when did she die?**
She was born on November 25, 1638, and died on December 31, 1705.

**What kingdoms was Catherine of Braganza associated with?**
She held citizenship connections to the Kingdom of Portugal (a kingdom in Southwestern Europe established in 1139) and the Kingdom of England.

**Is Catherine of Braganza connected to any places in the United States?**
Yes, she is historically linked to Queens County and the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. Both locations were established in 1683 and are named in her honor.

**How is Catherine of Braganza remembered in art?**
She is memorialized through a recognized portrait by Sir Peter Lely (1618–1680) that is part of the Royal Collection, and she possesses a dedicated heraldic coat of arms (Coat of Arms of Catherine of Braganza.svg).

## Why They Matter
Catherine of Braganza mattered significantly as a bridging figure between two major European powers: the Kingdom of Portugal and the Kingdom of England. Her position as Queen consort placed her at the center of the British monarchy during the Stuart era, a pivotal timeframe that saw the Kingdom of England transition toward its eventual merger with Scotland in 1707 to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. Furthermore, her cultural impact transcended the European continent; without her influence and namesake, the geographical and civic identity of New York City would be fundamentally different, as the sprawling borough of Queens would not bear its current name. 

## Notable For
- Serving as Queen consort of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1638–1705).
- Holding citizenship ties to the historic Kingdom of Portugal and the Kingdom of England.
- Being the namesake for Queens County and the borough of Queens in New York (established 1683).
- Being the subject of a notable portrait by Sir Peter Lely housed in the Royal Collection.
- Possessing a distinct heraldic Coat of Arms (Coat of Arms of Catherine of Braganza.svg).
- Being associated with the administrative role of a regent.

## Body

### Early Life and Origins
Catherine of Braganza, natively referred to as Catarina de Bragança (and alternatively spelled Catharine of Braganza), was born on November 25, 1638. As a human (Homo sapiens), she was inherently connected to the Kingdom of Portugal, a historic kingdom in Southwestern Europe that was established in 1139 and lasted until 1910. Her early life in this kingdom set the stage for her later intercontinental influence.

### Role as Queen Consort
Catherine served as the Queen consort of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Her role placed her directly within the Kingdom of England, a historic kingdom on the British Isles that existed from 927 to 1649, and again from 1660 to 1707. During her tenure, the kingdom was centered around its capital in London, utilized the pound sterling as its official currency, and was eventually succeeded by the Kingdom of Great Britain. Her position is linked to the function of a "regent"—a governing official who rules in the absence or incapacity of a monarch. She maintained official citizenship connections to both the Kingdom of Portugal and the Kingdom of England throughout her life.

### Geographic Legacy in the New World
Catherine's influence extended into the Americas during the colonial expansion of the 17th century. She is a direct related entity to Queens County and the borough of Queens in New York City, New York, United States. Both of these regions share an inception date of 1683. Her name was applied to these areas, permanently embedding her legacy into the civic and geographic structure of the United States.

### Artifacts and Representation
Catherine's visual and historical record is preserved through several key artifacts and identifiers. She was famously painted by the artist Sir Peter Lely (1618–1680), with her portrait cataloged as "RCIN 401214" in the Royal Collection. In addition to her portrait, her royal identity is captured in her heraldic symbol, documented as the "Coat of Arms of Catherine of Braganza.svg." 

### Death and Historical Context
Catherine of Braganza died on December 31, 1705. Her life spanned a transformative period for the British Isles. The Kingdom of England she was tied to operated in English, had a population of 5,750,000 during its existence, and ultimately dissolved in 1707 when it was replaced by the Kingdom of Great Britain. The kingdom was preceded by the Kingdom of Wessex and followed the Heptarchy, marking her reign during a distinct era of British history prior to the modern formation of the United Kingdom.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/stuart_29.html)
2. [Source](http://www.unofficialroyalty.com/category/formermonarchies/portuguese-royals/)
3. [Source](http://h2g2.com/approved_entry/A2998461)
4. [Source](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-wedding/8484309/Royal-wedding-an-occasion-of-high-majesty-tempered-by-delightful-sense-of-informality..html)
5. [Source](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-wedding/8466853/Royal-wedding-consorts-through-the-ages.html)
6. NNDB
7. Source
8. The Peerage
9. Virtual International Authority File
10. Integrated Authority File
11. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
12. SNAC
13. Find a Grave
14. Proleksis Encyclopedia
15. A historical dictionary of British women
16. Croatian Encyclopedia
17. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
18. IdRef
19. CERL Thesaurus
20. LIBRIS. 2013