According to the historical account available at Quinta das Lágrimas in Coimbra, Dom Alphonso IV, King of Castile, chose Dona Constanca Manual, a Castilian princess to wed his son, Dom Pedro. Soon after their marriage in 1340, Dom Pedro fell in love with Inés de Castro, one of Dona Constanca’s ladies-in-waiting. Dom Pedro secretly had an affair with her, meeting her on the grounds of his farm and sending her messages via the conduit that flowed from her living quarters to his. When Don Constanca died in childbirth, Dom Pedro brought Inés to his estate.
The Political Conspiracy of Dom Alphonso’s Advisors
The two lovers lived happily and had four children. Church records have not been found to confirm their marriage. When word of Dom Pedro’s new lifestyle reached Dom Alphonso’s counselors, they convinced the king that Inés was giving bad advice to Dom Pedro. Besides that, Dom Pedro’s union with Inés could eventually mean problems for the family if her sons tried to claim the throne. The counselors convinced Dom Alphonso that Inés must be killed.
Murder in Coimbra
When Dom Alphonso arrived in Coimbra, he could not bear to think of killing the mother of his grandchildren. His heart softened, but his counselors insisted she could not live. They murdered her near the very stream which had carried her love letters to Dom Pedro. Some say the stains of her blood are still on the surrounding rocks today. When Dom Pedro returned home and found his beloved dead, he set out on a military attack against his father, but his mother intervened.
Dom Pedro Takes Revenge
When Dom Pedro became king, he vowed revenge against Inés’ murderers. His soldiers captured the three men. One escaped, but two paid the price for their evil deed by having their hearts torn from their bodies. Still not content that Inés received her rightful tribute, Dom Pedro erected a new tomb for her at the monastery of Alcobaça. Legend says that before she was buried there, Dom Pedro forced his court to pay homage to her enthroned corpse.
In Coimbra, the setting associated with the lives of the two lovers has become the inspiration of artists. They have chosen to display their interpretations of the events surrounding the lives of the lovers in the gallery of the renovated residence. In much the same way, throughout the centuries, famous writers around the world , including Voltaire, Victor Hugo and Ezra Pound, have chosen to retell the compelling story of Pedro and Inés.
The year 2005 marked the 650-year anniversary of the death of Inés. As a way of paying tribute to her memory, the ministries of culture in Coimbra, Alcobaça, and Montemor-O-Velho organized commemorative activities. The owner of Quintas das Lágrimas sponsored a foundation to support works of art, cultural activities, and research related to the Romeo and Juliet of Portugal.
Source: Historical Review, Quinta das Lágrimas, Relais & Chateaux. Coimbra ,Portugal, p. 9-13.
