Portrait of Catherine of Braganza, three-quarter-length, in an ermine trimmed blue dress and pearl necklace

Catherine of Braganza was the Portuguese wife of Charles II of England. She was married to Charles in 1662 as part of an alliance between England and Portugal, bringing England trading privileges and the port cities of Tangier and Bombay. She produced no heir. She helped convert Charles to Catholicism shortly before his death. In 1692 she returned to Portugal, and in 1704 she governed the country as regent for her ailing brother, Pedro II.