Portuguese infantes
Infante had no feminine form at first in Portugal and may be related in Portuguese to the Portuguese lower nobility, the infanções, who were also the younger children with no prospects of heritage in the noble houses they were born to, just distinguished in law by some prerogatives, but almost no patrimony.
Afterwards, the word Infanta emerged in Portugal as a feminised form applied to the Portuguese princesses after the 16th and 17th centuries. Also, after Edward of Portugal, in the 15th century, the heir apparent and his older son, or daughter, were styled just as "Prince" and "Princess". The first Prince in Portugal was the future Afonso V, his eldest son, maybe adopting the French royal style by an English influence brought by queen Philippa of England.
After the ascension of the House of Braganza to the royalty, it was added the title "Most Serene" (Sereníssimo) to the title of Infante, as well as Sereníssima to Infanta, since the complete name of this house was "Most Serene House of Braganza" (Sereníssima Casa de Bragança), a style granted by the Pope. The style, however, does not seem to be used with the title of Prince Royal.
The current Infantes of Portugal (presently a republic) are close relatives of Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza, head of the Portuguese Royal House:
- Maria Francisca, Infanta de Portugal: Duarte Pio's 2nd child;
- Infante Dinis, Duke of Porto: Duarte Pio's 3rd child;
- Infante Miguel, Duke of Viseu: Duarte Pio's 2nd brother;
- Infante Henrique, Duke of Coimbra: Duarte Pio's 3rd brother;
Afonso de Santa Maria, Prince of Beira, Duarte Pio's eldest son, as heir apparent to the Portuguese Royal House, is styled Prince of Beira, not Infante.
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