Her eldest sister Isabella, Princess of Asturias, was the first wife of Manuel I, but her death in 1498 created a necessity for Manuel to remarry; Maria became the next bride of the Portuguese king, reaffirming dynastic links with Iberian royal houses.
Isabella, Princess of Asturias, being Manuel I's eldest sibling, led to his need for a new spouse after her death in 1498; Maria subsequently wed the Portuguese king, solidifying the dynasty's bonds with Iberian royal families.