ANTONIO, prior of CRATO. - Portuguese prince, b. in 1531 at Lisbon, d. at Paris in 1595. Having entered the Order of St. John, he obtained the exceedingly wealthy priory of Crato and the title of constable of the kingdom. A claimant to the throne, he was declared illegitimate and exiled by Henry, son of Giovanni III, in 1579. Having had himself proclaimed king upon Henry’s death, he came into conflict with the more formidable rival, Philip II of Spain. Defeated at Alcântara, he was obliged to take refuge in France (1581), where Caterina de' Medici, for her anti-Spanish political purposes, helped him reach the Azores, which had remained faithful to him. Defeated again (1582), he returned to France, whence he went to England, under the
protection of Elizabeth, who likewise regarded him as 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 several historical and religious works.