 At the age of 12, she was given in marriage to Denis, the king of Portugal. She exercised piety and charity. She befriended and helped pilgrims, strangers, the sick, the poor, all those whose need came to her notice. She also remained devoted to her husband, whose infidelity to her was a scandal to the kingdom. Denis gave up his life of sin, and she repeatedly sought an affected peace between the king and their rebellious son, Alfonso.