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Theresa was born a princess, the oldest daughter of King Sancho I. She was married to King Alfonso IX of Leon, Spain; northern Portugal formed part of her dowry. She was a mother of three children. Several years into the marriage, it was dissolved by the Vatican upon the revelation that Theresa and Alfonso were cousins. Single again, Theresa returned to Portugal where she converted the Benedictine monastery at Lorvão into a convent for 300 Cistercian nuns. Theresa then moved into the convent, though she did not take vows. In 1231, she left to settle a bitter succession dispute between her children over the throne of Leon. With peace between them, she returned to the convent, took vows, and remained there as a nun for the rest of her life.
Born
- 4 October 1178 in Coimbra, Portugal
Died
- 18 June 1250 at Lorvão Abbey, Portugal of natural causes
Canonized
- 20 May 1705 by Pope Clement XI (cultus confirmed)
Source: https://catholicsaints.info/saint-theresa-of-portugal/
