Lore:
John IV (Portuguese: João) 19 March 1604 – 6 November 1656), nicknamed John the Restorer (Portuguese: João o Restaurador), was the King of Portugal whose reign, lasting from 1640 until his death, began the Portuguese restoration of independence from Habsburg Spanish rule. His accession established the House of Braganza on the Portuguese throne, and marked the end of the 60-year-old Iberian Union, by which Portugal and Spain shared the same monarch. 60 years ago, King Sebastian, last of heir to the throne, died without leaving an heir, creating the 1580 succession crisis, which lead to Portugal losing its independence and being forced into a union with Spain, called Iberian Union. In 1640, was at all time high due to the king of Spain raising Taxes on the Portuguese merchants, the Portuguese nobility beginning to lose its influence and government posts in Portugal being increasingly occupied by Spaniards. Ultimately, Philip III tried to make Portugal a Spanish province, meaning Portuguese nobles stood to lose all of their power.
This situation culminated in a revolution organized by the nobility and the bourgeoisie, executed on 1 December 1640, fifty-nine years after the accession of Philip II of Spain to the throne of Portugal. John IV was persuaded into becoming the face of the revolution due to him being legitimate heir of the bloodline of the Portuguese First King. Although he initially seemed indecisive on a possible revolt, his main concern was the possibility of a counter revolt that might harm his citizens due to lack of preparation. It is said that he was convinced by his wife to become the head of the revolt, who allegadely : "de maneira varonil, quebrara os receios do marido ao afirmar que antes queria morrer reinando do que acabar servindo" (She would rather be Queen for a day than ending up the rest of her life serving others).
A plot was planned by several associates, known as the Forty Conspirators, who killed the Secretary of State, Miguel de Vasconcelos, and imprisoned the king's cousin, Margaret of Savoy, the Vicereine of Portugal, governing the country in the King's name. Philip's troops were at the time fighting the Thirty Years' War and also dealing with a revolution in Catalonia which severely hampered Spain's ability to quash the rebellion.
Within a matter of hours and with popular support, John, then the 8th Duke of Braganza, was acclaimed as King John IV of Portugal claiming legitimate succession through his grandmother Catherine, Duchess of Braganza. Every Portuguese happily accepted him as the new king after the revolution. From Bragança to Algarve, Minho to Madeira, Lisbon to Macau, going to Brasil, Africa and India. The King proclaimed and declared the queen "Nossa senhora de conceição" (A title of Virgin Mary), becoming Queen and Patron of Portugal, an action that shaped future chants into pairing Portugal and Virgin Mary. The ensuing conflict with Spain brought Portugal into the Thirty Years' War as, at least, a peripheral player. From 1641 to 1668, the period during which the two nations were at war, Spain sought to isolate Portugal militarily and diplomatically, and Portugal tried to find the resources to maintain its independence through political alliances and maintenance of its colonial income.
Restoration War
His accession led to a protracted war with neighbouring Spain, a conflict known as the Portuguese Restoration War, which ended with the recognition of Portuguese independence in a subsequent reign (1668). Portugal signed lengthy alliances with France (1 June 1641) and Sweden (August 1641) but by necessity its only contributions in the Thirty Years' War were in the field against Spain and against Dutch encroachments on the Portuguese colonies.
The period from 1640 to 1668 was marked by periodic skirmishes between Portugal and Spain, as well as short episodes of more serious warfare, much of it occasioned by Spanish and Portuguese entanglements with non-Iberian powers. Spain was involved in the Thirty Years' War until 1648 and the Franco–Spanish War until 1659, while Portugal was involved in the Dutch–Portuguese War until 1663. In Spain, a Portuguese invasion force defeated the Spanish at Montijo, near Badajoz, in 1644.
At the end, Portugal ended up being recognized as a country in 1668 with all colonies returned except Ceuta by Spain. Portugal also had to pay 4 million (63m3 of gold) in exchange for extinguishing their claims over Brazil in the 1661 Treaty of the Hague. Unfortunately, King John IV had died before he could see all of this happening. Due to his bad relations with the Holy Office, he ended up being excommunicated, but after death that action was withdrawn.
Although mostly a face of an empire, his role was important, as he also provided for the sending of several embassies to European courts, for the signing of peace or truce treaties, to obtain military and financial assistance and the legitimate justification of 1640.
Due to him, the creation of the War Council (1640), the Junta dos Três Estados (1643), the Overseas Council (1643) and the Company of the Junta de Comercio (1649), in addition to the reform in 1642 of the Finance Council was possible. And the regulation of the affairs of the Secretariat of State, to better coordinate the tasks of the Government. This, on November 29, 1643, was divided into the Secretary of State, on the one hand, which coordinated all internal and foreign policy, and that of «das Mercês e Expediente», on the other, which dealt with «consultations, orders, decrees and orders »not dependent on the other Secretariat.
Personality:
Caster is a cautious and realistic men who thinks before acting. Initially he had doubts about being the face of the revolt, not due to harming him but because it might harm his people because they weren't yet prepared. Even so, his loyalty to his country made him accept the role of the face of Portugal. Caster mostly just was present as a symbol of Portugal, instead of acting his people did that for him but even so it would be wrong to say he did nothing. By existing as a symbol, he gave hope to his people. One could say he was the opposite of King Sebastian, Portugal's previous Portuguese King. While Sebastian was a rash and naive King who let his dreams kill him and ruin his country, John IV was a cautious man who was not a born messiah but a chosen one who not only answered his peoples expectations but also brought back the golden days of Portugal and with it the Zenith of the Empire. Caster is also a man of arts, being so captivated by it that he owned the biggest musical library in Europe in his lifetime.
Relationships:
Saber King Sebastian: "Ah, my predecessor is also here! Some may call him foolish for ruining our Country, but I cant hate someone who just tried to answer the peoples expectations. At the very least, I am grateful I could undo his mistake. Although... Master, why is he child???"
Musician Servants: "It is truly an honor to meet such a marvelous artist. Please let me hear your beautiful melody!"
Saver of the Fifth Empire: "That's me? I see, he went further than I could ever have. Master, you said he governed a Kingdom without differences? I pity him, he could not stop answering his peoples wishes and ended up throwing away everything he cared for. I hope he can find peace. Luisa, I hope wherever you are you also grant him the gift of your presence."
Elizabeth Bathory: "How dare that Lizard call that music?! Master, please use a command spell to shut her up!"
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Originally Posted by DelRey
