The Suite is a musical setting for a tragic love story from 14th-century Portugal. Dom Pedro, son of Alfonso IV and heir to the throne, scorned his politically-arranged betrothed for one of her ladies-in-waiting, Inês de Castro. They became lovers, parents, and adoring soul mates. However, the scandal at court was too much for the king, who banished her to Spain. Dom Pedro installed his Inês and their children in the convent of Santa Clara, and for ten years they maintained their extraordinary and blissful relationship. Political pressures drove the king to sanction the killing of Inês and their children, which was carried out in 1355. Swearing revenge, Dom Pedro led a bloody but unsuccessful rebellion against his father. When his father died, his first act as King Pedro was to order the c