#23: Peter III of Portugal and Inês de Castro
Peter, later Peter I of Portugal, fell in love with Inês de Castro in the 1340s while he was still married to another noblewoman. Their relationship caused concern at court due to her family’s influence. In 1355, she was executed on orders tied to political fears. When Peter became king in 1357, he claimed they had secretly married. According to chroniclers, he ordered her remains placed on the throne and required courtiers to acknowledge her as queen. The account blends fact and legend, but their story remains one of Portugal’s most discussed royal tales
