Luisa Maria de Guzmán, Rainha-Consorte de Portugal

Luisa de Guzmán; October 13, 1613 – February 27, 1666) was Queen Consort of Portugal as wife of King John IV, the first king of the Braganza Dynasty.

She was born a Spanish noblewoman, daughter of Juan Manuel Perez de Guzman, the 8th Duke of Medina Sidonia, and Juana Lorenza Gomez de Sandoval y la Cerda. Luisa was a granddaughter of the renowned Alonso de Guzmán, "El Bueno" and 2nd great granddaughter of St. Francis Borgia. Despite her Spanish origins, the ambitious Luisa guided her husband's policies during the Portuguese rebellion of 1640 against Spain. She is considered the main influence behind John IV's acceptation of the throne of Portugal when the Revolution seemed to tend to the Portuguese side.

When she was made aware of a failed attempt to murder the King in 1641, she is said to have been one of the members of the Corte, which supported the execution of nobles like the Duke of Caminha.

She was named Regent of the Kingdom after her husband's death and during the minority of her son Afonso VI. She continued to occupy the post even after Afonso became an adult because her son was mentally unstable. She was the target of a failed conspiracy headed by Luís de Vasconcelos e Sousa, Count of Castelo Melhor.

She is also mainly responsible for the diplomatic success of the new alliance with England, as well as the organization of the armies that in the next year would completely secure Portuguese independence through the victories in the Portuguese Restoration War.

She defended the principles of freedom and independence of the Kingdom and controlled the government with a strong hand fearing her son was incapable.

Her daughter Catherine married Charles II of England.

Doña Luifa Maria Francifca de Guzman, hija mayor de los Duques, cafó con Juan IV Rey de Portugal, antes octavo Duque de Braganza. Historia de la Muy Ilustre Casa de Sousa España, 1770. Casa Real de Portugal. Pág. 384