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
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.
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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