Blessed Ferdinand
- Memorial
- 5 June
- Profile
- A prince, the son of King John I of Portugal.
He grew up in the royal court, but spent his free time in prayer and helping the poor.
Though a layman, he was offered a cardinalate by Pope Eugene IV; he declined.
In 1437, with his brother Henry, he commanded an expedition to Morocco against the Moors.
The Portuguese were defeated at Tangiers; Ferdinand offered himself as a hostage to secure the cession of Ceuta to the Moors.
Ferdinand was thrown into a dungeon at Fez, Morroco where he survived five years of abuse and torture.
The writer Calderon made him the hero of the drama, "El Principe Constante."
- Born
- 1402 at Santarem, Portugal
- Died
- 1443 in prison in Fez, Morocco of maltreatment;
body in the royal crypt at Batalha
- Beatified
- 1470
- Canonized
- pending
- Print References
- New Catholic Dictionary
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