ANTONIO, PRIORE DI CRATO

ANTONIO, prior of Crato. - A Portuguese prince, born in 1531 in Lisbon, died in Paris in 1595. Having entered the Order of St John, he obtained the very wealthy priory of Crato and the title of constable of the kingdom. As a pretender to the throne, he was declared illegitimate and exiled by Henry, son of John III, in 1579. Upon Henry's death, he had himself proclaimed king, but came into conflict with the most formidable rival, Philip II of Spain. Defeated at Alcántara, he was forced to take refuge in France (1581), where Catherine de' Medici, for her anti-Spanish political ends, helped him to reach the Azores, which remained loyal to him. Again defeated (1582), he returned to France, whence he passed into England under the protection of Elizabeth, who also considered him a useful instrument against Spain, but he waited in vain to be recalled by the Portuguese after the defeat of the 'Invincible Armada'. He left behind some historical and religious works.