Maria was born in Coimbra on 15 October 1527 and was one of the few children of John III to survive childhood. In her youth, Maria received a humanistic education that was considered typical for a princess of her time.[2] She married her cousin Philip on 12 November 1543 at Salamanca.[3] She gave birth to their son Don Carlos on 8 July 1545, but died four days later due to a haemorrhage[4] in Valladolid.