MsRaves

In 1656 after the death of John IV of Portugal, was named in the will of her husband regent of the kingdom, when a minor child of Alfonso VI of Portugal. D. Alfonso VI was proclaimed king in the Paco da Ribeira 15 November 1656 at age 13. Vox populi was that Mr Alfonso suffered from a severe mental illness, so I come to consider the suspension of the ceremony.
Procuro regent organize the government to impose on the palate factions in the game, so it appointed Mr Francisco de Faro, the Count of Obidos, as tutor of the king and held the positions of the royal house in the hands of those who served in time of her husband. Public affairs continued in the hands of the secretaries of State and Mercedes, Pedro Vieira da Silva de Faria and Gaspar Severim. But the rivalry between the Count and Odemira D. Antonio Luis de Meneses, Count of Castanhede hampers their action. Was therefore required to appoint the Board called Night, by having meetings at night, with several of his trusted advisers. Besides the nobles, also formed the marques of Nyssa, Pedro Fernandes Monteiro, Count de Sao Lourenco, and the principal, Frei Domingos do Rosario, diplomatic skills. The system hard during the regency, to be useful for the proper conduct of public affairs.

During his regency was the great Portuguese victory in the Battle of the Lines of Elvas, 14 January 1659. This victory was very important because defeat would have meant the loss of Lisbon. But it was not a decisive battle for the signature of peace between Spain and France that same year by the Treaty of the Pyrenees, left Spain and Portugal without U.S. military came to feel seriously threatened. Luisa organized armies that ensured the independence of Portugal in the Portuguese War of Restoration. Supervise military victories against the Spanish in Ameixial on June 8 of 1663, as well as in Montes Claros on June 7 1665. Thanks to these defeats in Spain, the kingdom of Portugal recognized the independence on February 13, 1668.
The alliance with England, signed in 1662 and sealed with the marriage of their daughter, Catherine of Braganza to Charles II of England, was largely his work.
Was the target of an unsuccessful conspiracy led by Luis de Vasconcelos e Sousa, conde de Castelo Melhor III. D. The parties concerned Alfonso VI was openly in the fight against the queen regent, who, however, decided to keep the regency fearing the disastrous management of his son, who was mentally unstable. The widow of John IV defended the principles of freedom and independence of the Restoration and the government remained suspicious that his heir would act similarly.
It is said, under tufts of white hair showing his portraits, which may have vitiligo Luisa. Lies in the pantheon of Braganza in the monastery of San Vicente de Afuera in Lisbon, where he was transferred from Xabregas.