Victorious António, Prior of Crato

Suppose António, Prior of Crato emerges victorious in the Portuguese War of Succession and Portugal and Spain never form the Iberian Union together. How significant would the outcome be? Despite popular objection, his illegitimate son, Manuel is named successor to avoid another war of succession in Portugal or better yet, Catherine, Duchess of Braganza takes advantage of the second succession crisis and establishes the reign of the House of Braganza early.
 
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I imagine it would make Portugal the only monarchy where illegitimate succession is rather freely permitted, it'd be the third precedent on record (João d'Avis, António himself and then Manuel). Would be interesting to see if the Hapsburgs would judge the new Infante as worthy of an Archduchess-Infanta.
 
I imagine it would make Portugal the only monarchy where illegitimate succession is rather freely permitted, it'd be the third precedent on record (João d'Avis, António himself and then Manuel).
It'd be intersting if one would see codified a Salic Law where upon extinction of the legitimate agnates, an illegitimate agnate would automatically step in.

Portuguese nobility had already something similar in place. Albeit noble titles were personal and (barring some kind of legitimation) were inheritable only through legitimate lines, there's the case of the noble treatment of "Dom". All male-line descendants - legitimate or otherwise! - of a royal or of a noble explicitly awarded with such a right, would inherit the official right to be treated as Dom/Dona...
 
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