The House of Braganza who ruled in Portugal and Brazil
Portugal really is a great country to celebrate your holiday. It has everything: lovely beaches, high cultural cities, very nice landscapes, a rich history and of course the tasty port wine (porto). A while ago, I started to research more about the history of Portugal and in particular the royal one of that wonderful country.
On 5 October 1910, a revolution took place in Portugal which decided that the monarchy should come to an end. Before that tragic date Portugal was ruled by members of the House of Braganza. There is even more: this noble dynasty also reigned over Brazil. So the royal family really has a nice history.
Some royal history
On 30 December 1442, Afonso, the natural son of King John I of Portugal was created the Duke of Braganza, as a gesture of good will. Afonso's elevation to the dukedom, the highest level of nobility, marked the foundation of the House of Braganza, which was to become a key family in the Portuguese history.
Afonso I, who married the heiress Beatriz Pereira de Alvim, daughter of general de Alvim, one of the wealthiest men of the Kingdom, founded the noble dynasty of Braganza.
Their children had all secured successful positions and privileged lifes. Afonso's son also a Afonso was a prominent member of the nobility. He was an accomplished diplomat and served as the king's representative at the Council of Basel in 1436 and the Council of Florence in 1439. He also
escorted infanta Leonor of Portugal to her husband the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III.
Afonso I 's first daughter was Isabel of Braganza. She married Infante João, Lord of Reguengos de Monsaraz, she linked thus the House of Braganza to the Royal House of Portugal. Isabel's strategic marriage proved successful and produced four children.
Afonso I's last child and successor, Fernando I, Duke of Braganza continued his legacy of prominence in the military and society. He was created Count of Arraiolos. Fernando I became the favourite of King Afonso V and he became Governor of Ceuta, Marquis of Vila Viçosa and Count of Neiva.
By the tenure of the third duke Fernando II, the House of Braganza was without no doubt one of the greatest noble houses of Portugal and Iberia as a whole. Although Fernando II was accused by King João II of treason. His titles and properties were merged into the crown and his family members
exiled to Castile.
However King Manuel I, forgave the House of Braganza and he offered all their properties in exchange of their loyalty.
The seventh Duke of Braganza, Teodósio II, really became famous already from a very young age. He was a page of King Sebastião of Portugal. They marched into the Battle of Alcácer Quibir.
This Teodósio II married Ana de Velasco y Girón, a daughter of the Catilian Juan Fernández de Velasco, 5th. Duke of Frías. Together they had 4 children.
The Duke's first son João, raised the House of Braganza to new heights of power, having launched the Portuguese Restoration War. He became King João IV of Portugal, thus installing the House as the ruling dynasty of Portugal.
After the accession of the Braganzas to the throne, the duchy was linked to the throne. "Duke of Braganza" became the traditional title of the heir to the throne.
In 1808, faced with the invasion of Napoleon Bonaparte, the Braganzas transferred their royal court to the State of Brazil, which was then the largest colony of Portugal.
Later a royal decree changed the status of Brazil from a Portuguese colony into a kingdom alongside Portugal. The United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves was formed.
In 1821 João VI returned to Portugal. Pedro, Prince Royal of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves, the eldest son of João VI seded with the Brazilian rebels in January 1822. He was proclaimed Emperor Pedro I of an independed Brazil and in 1822 he founded the Empire of Brazil. He ruled till 1831 over Brazil, then Pedro I abdicated in favour of his son Pedro II and returned to Portugal to help his daughter Maria II. However in 1889 the monarchy in Brazil was abolished.
Meanwhile in Portugal Pedro I of Brazil had become King as Pedro IV but no one wanted to re-establish the union of Portugal and Brazil. So, Pedro abdicated the Portuguese throne in favour of his daughter Princess Maria, who was at that moment 7 years old. Pedro's brother Miguel acted as regent
till Maria came to age. However in 1828, Miguel proclaimed himself King.
Maria was forced into exile by her uncle, the new King Miguel. Her father Pedro IV of Portugal returned from Brazil and launched a succesful military campaign against his brother. He finally defeated and exiled Miguel I in 1834.
Maria II of Portugal married Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. She was succeeded in 1853 by her son Pedro V, who was a hard-working reformer. However he died in 1861 due to cholera. Pedro was succeeded by his brother Louis.
In 1889 Louis was succeeded by his son Carlos I. But carlos I's popularity declined after an unfavourable deal, whereby the Portuguese Empire ceded its claims between Portuguese West Africa and Portuguese East Africa to Great Britain.
In 1908 Carlos I was assasinated together with his eldest son, Louis Filipe by republicans. His younger son Manuel Duke of Beja survived the attack and he became king as Manuel II, but 2 years later the revolution came. He was forced into exile in England.
The current Duke of Braganza, Duarte Pio, a great-grandson of King Miguel I of Portugal, still is the claimant of the Portuguese throne. The Duke maintained his high position until today. He is often invited to State Banquets by the president of Portugal.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
On 5 October 1910, a revolution took place in Portugal which decided that the monarchy should come to an end. Before that tragic date Portugal was ruled by members of the House of Braganza. There is even more: this noble dynasty also reigned over Brazil. So the royal family really has a nice history.
Some royal history
On 30 December 1442, Afonso, the natural son of King John I of Portugal was created the Duke of Braganza, as a gesture of good will. Afonso's elevation to the dukedom, the highest level of nobility, marked the foundation of the House of Braganza, which was to become a key family in the Portuguese history.
Afonso I, who married the heiress Beatriz Pereira de Alvim, daughter of general de Alvim, one of the wealthiest men of the Kingdom, founded the noble dynasty of Braganza.
Their children had all secured successful positions and privileged lifes. Afonso's son also a Afonso was a prominent member of the nobility. He was an accomplished diplomat and served as the king's representative at the Council of Basel in 1436 and the Council of Florence in 1439. He also
escorted infanta Leonor of Portugal to her husband the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III.
Afonso I 's first daughter was Isabel of Braganza. She married Infante João, Lord of Reguengos de Monsaraz, she linked thus the House of Braganza to the Royal House of Portugal. Isabel's strategic marriage proved successful and produced four children.
Afonso I's last child and successor, Fernando I, Duke of Braganza continued his legacy of prominence in the military and society. He was created Count of Arraiolos. Fernando I became the favourite of King Afonso V and he became Governor of Ceuta, Marquis of Vila Viçosa and Count of Neiva.
By the tenure of the third duke Fernando II, the House of Braganza was without no doubt one of the greatest noble houses of Portugal and Iberia as a whole. Although Fernando II was accused by King João II of treason. His titles and properties were merged into the crown and his family members
exiled to Castile.
However King Manuel I, forgave the House of Braganza and he offered all their properties in exchange of their loyalty.
The seventh Duke of Braganza, Teodósio II, really became famous already from a very young age. He was a page of King Sebastião of Portugal. They marched into the Battle of Alcácer Quibir.
This Teodósio II married Ana de Velasco y Girón, a daughter of the Catilian Juan Fernández de Velasco, 5th. Duke of Frías. Together they had 4 children.
The Duke's first son João, raised the House of Braganza to new heights of power, having launched the Portuguese Restoration War. He became King João IV of Portugal, thus installing the House as the ruling dynasty of Portugal.
Rubens' painting of João IV of Portugal
After the accession of the Braganzas to the throne, the duchy was linked to the throne. "Duke of Braganza" became the traditional title of the heir to the throne.
In 1808, faced with the invasion of Napoleon Bonaparte, the Braganzas transferred their royal court to the State of Brazil, which was then the largest colony of Portugal.
Later a royal decree changed the status of Brazil from a Portuguese colony into a kingdom alongside Portugal. The United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves was formed.
In 1821 João VI returned to Portugal. Pedro, Prince Royal of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves, the eldest son of João VI seded with the Brazilian rebels in January 1822. He was proclaimed Emperor Pedro I of an independed Brazil and in 1822 he founded the Empire of Brazil. He ruled till 1831 over Brazil, then Pedro I abdicated in favour of his son Pedro II and returned to Portugal to help his daughter Maria II. However in 1889 the monarchy in Brazil was abolished.
Meanwhile in Portugal Pedro I of Brazil had become King as Pedro IV but no one wanted to re-establish the union of Portugal and Brazil. So, Pedro abdicated the Portuguese throne in favour of his daughter Princess Maria, who was at that moment 7 years old. Pedro's brother Miguel acted as regent
till Maria came to age. However in 1828, Miguel proclaimed himself King.
Maria was forced into exile by her uncle, the new King Miguel. Her father Pedro IV of Portugal returned from Brazil and launched a succesful military campaign against his brother. He finally defeated and exiled Miguel I in 1834.
Maria II of Portugal married Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. She was succeeded in 1853 by her son Pedro V, who was a hard-working reformer. However he died in 1861 due to cholera. Pedro was succeeded by his brother Louis.
In 1889 Louis was succeeded by his son Carlos I. But carlos I's popularity declined after an unfavourable deal, whereby the Portuguese Empire ceded its claims between Portuguese West Africa and Portuguese East Africa to Great Britain.
In 1908 Carlos I was assasinated together with his eldest son, Louis Filipe by republicans. His younger son Manuel Duke of Beja survived the attack and he became king as Manuel II, but 2 years later the revolution came. He was forced into exile in England.
The current Duke of Braganza, Duarte Pio, a great-grandson of King Miguel I of Portugal, still is the claimant of the Portuguese throne. The Duke maintained his high position until today. He is often invited to State Banquets by the president of Portugal.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
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