Maria of Portugal was a Portuguese princess born on December 17, 1527. She was the daughter of King John III of Portugal and Catherine of Austria. Maria became known for her marriage to Duke John of Braganza, which helped strengthen the ties between the Portuguese and Braganza families. Maria played a significant role in the royal court and was involved in various charitable activities. She was also the mother of several children, including King John IV of Portugal, who later became a key figure in restoring the Portuguese monarchy after the Iberian Union. Maria passed away on January 10, 1577.