Brazilian imperial family
Brazilian imperial family Família imperial brasileira House of Braganza-Brazil House of Brazil | |
---|---|
Prince Bertrand of Orléans-Braganza Petrópolis branch: Pedro Carlos Orléans-Braganza | |
Final ruler | Pedro II |
Titles |
|
Estate(s) | Brazil |
Deposition | 1889 |
Cadet branches | House of Orléans-Braganza House of Saxe-Coburg and Braganza |
The Imperial House of Brazil (Brazilian Portuguese: Casa Imperial Brasileira) is a Brazilian dynasty of Portuguese origin that ruled the Brazilian Empire from 1822 to 1889, from the time when the then Prince Royal Dom Pedro of Braganza (later known as Emperor Pedro I of Brazil) declared Brazil's independence, until Dom Pedro II was deposed during the military coup that led to the Proclamation of the Republic in 1889.
The members of the family are dynastic descendants of Emperor Pedro I. Claimants to headship of the post-monarchic Brazilian Imperial legacy descend from Emperor Pedro II, including the senior agnates of two branches of the House of Orléans-Braganza; the so-called Petrópolis and Vassouras lines.[1] Prince Pedro Carlos of Orléans-Braganza (born 1945) heads the Petrópolis line, while the Vassouras branch is led by his second cousin, Bertrand of Orléans-Braganza.[2]
Rivalry within the family erupted in 1946 when
Following the tradition of the Portuguese monarchy, itself abolished in 1910, the closest relatives of the Brazilian emperor are considered members of the Brazilian imperial family.
History
Founded by
Prince Pedro, then, was acclaimed as Emperor of Brazil throughout the land. The
Post monarchy
With the proclamation of the Brazilian republic on 15 November 1889, the imperial family went into exile in
Despite the prohibition then in force,
Repatriation
Currently, the remains of five members of the imperial family are buried in the
In 1954, the remains of the first Empress,
-
The Imperial Crypt and Chapel in the Monument to the Independence of Brazil in São Paulo, the final resting place of Emperor Pedro I (also King of Portugal as Pedro IV) and his two wives
-
The tombs of Emperor Pedro II and other members of the imperial family in the Imperial Mausoleum (Cathedral of Petrópolis)
-
A mausoleum containing the remains of several princes and princesses of the Empire of Brazil in the Convent of Santo Antônio in Rio de Janeiro
Dynastic question
The so-called Brazilian dynastic question concerns inheritance rights to the titles of Head of the Brazilian Imperial House, Prince Imperial of Brazil, Prince of Grão-Pará and Prince of Brazil, who consequently would indicate the preferred heirs to the Brazilian imperial throne. The primacy in the line of succession is disputed by some members and partisans of the dynastic branches of Petrópolis and Vassouras.
In 1908, Dom Pedro de Alcântara, then Prince Imperial of Brazil in exile, wanted to marry
I, Prince Pedro de Alcântara Luiz Filipe Maria Gastão Miguel Gabriel Rafael Gonzaga of Orleans-Braganza, having maturely reflected, have resolved to renounce the right that, by the Constitution of the Empire of Brazil, promulgated on 25 March 1824, accords to me the Crown of that nation. I declare, therefore, that by my free and spontaneous will I hereby renounce, in my own name, as well as for any and all of my descendants, to all and any rights that the aforesaid Constitution confers upon us to the Brazilian Crown and Throne, which shall pass to the lines which follow mine, conforming to the order of succession as established by article 117. Before God I promise, for myself and my descendants, to hold to the present declaration. Cannes 30 October 1908 signed: Pedro de Alcântara of Orleans-Braganza[14]
This renunciation was followed by a letter from Isabel to royalists in Brazil:
9 November 1908, Château d'Eu
Most Excellent Gentlemen Members of the Monarchist Directory,
With all my heart I thank you for the congratulations upon the marriages of my dear children Pedro and Luiz. Luiz's took place in Cannes on the 4th with the brilliance that is desired for so solemn an act in the life of my successor to the Throne of Brazil. I was very pleased. Pedro's shall take place next on the 14th. Before the marriage of Luiz he signed his resignation to the crown of Brazil, and here I send it to you, while keeping here an identical copy. I believe that this news must be published as soon as possible (you gentlemen shall do it in the way that you judge to be most satisfactory) in order to prevent the formation of parties that would be a great evil for our country. Pedro will continue to love his homeland, and will give all possible support to his brother. Thank God they are very united. Luiz will engage actively in everything with respect to the monarchy and any good for our land. However, without giving up my rights I want that he be up to date on everything so that he may prepare himself for the position which with all my heart I desire that one day he will hold. You may write to him as many times as you may want to so that he shall be informed of everything. My strength is not the same as it once was, but my heart is still the same to love my homeland and all those who are so dedicated to us. I give you all my friendship and confidence,
a) Isabel, comtesse d'Eu
If the 1908 renunciation of
Prince Pedro de Alcântara did not dispute the validity of the renunciation.[16][17] Though he did not claim the headship of the Imperial House himself, in 1937 he did say in an interview that his renunciation "did not meet the requirements of Brazilian Law, there was no prior consultation with the nation, there was none of the necessary protocol that is required for acts of this nature and, furthermore, it was not a hereditary renunciation."[18]
The dynastic dispute over the Brazilian crown began after 1940 when
Pedro Gastão actively campaigned in support of Brazil's 1993 referendum on restoration of the Brazilian monarchy, which would have postponed for subsequent decision by Parliament of which descendant of the former imperial family should occupy the throne if monarchy had been re-instated, but the option of restoration was defeated despite garnering approximately 7 million votes.[3] After the death of Pedro Gastão in 2007, his eldest son Prince Pedro Carlos and younger children declared themselves republicans.[21] Several of Pedro Gastão's grandchildren also have dual citizenship.[22]
Branches
House of Orléans-Braganza
With the marriage of
Of the four children of the couple, two have generated offspring and this branch of the family has more than thirty members. Many are those who renounced for themselves and their descendants any rights in succession to the imperial throne, losing titles and precedence in the imperial family.
In 1909, Prince Gaston engaged in negotiations with
House of Saxe-Coburg-Braganza
The Saxe-Coburg-Braganza branch is descended from
With the birth of Dom Pedro de Alcântara, Prince of Grão-Pará and eldest son of Princess Isabel, the Saxe-Coburg-Braganza branch yielded first place in the line of succession to the Orleans-Braganza branch.The only members of the Saxe-Coburg-Braganza branch who still retain Brazilian nationality, which was a constitutional requirement to succeed to the now defunct Brazilian throne, are the descendants of Princess Teresa Cristina of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, daughter of Augusto Leopoldo.[24] Her Brazilian nationality was recognized by the government of Brazil only in 1922; her four children were registered in the consulate of Brazil in Vienna as Brazilian citizens.[24] Carlos Tasso de Saxe-Coburgo e Bragança, Baron Taxis-Bordogna-Valnigra and son of Princess Teresa Cristina, is the current head of this branch.
Emperors of Brazil
The Empire of Brazil remained a constitutional monarchy until 1889 – when the republic was proclaimed after a military coup d'état, and had two reigning emperors, both from the House of Braganza:
- Dom Pedro I of Brazil (1822–1831): Born in 1798, deceased in 1834. Was also King of Portugal in 1826, as Pedro IV.
- Dom Pedro II of Brazil (Regency 1831–1840; Reigned personally 1840–1889): Born in 1825 and deceased in 1891.
Their full style and title were: "His Imperial Majesty, Constitutional Emperor and Perpetual Defender of Brazil".
Name | Became monarch | Notes |
---|---|---|
Pedro I of Brazil | 1822 | Emperor of Brazil; declarer of Brazilian Independence King of Portugal and the Algarves |
Pedro II of Brazil | 1831 | Emperor of Brazil; last Emperor of Brazil |
Pretenders to the Brazilian throne since 1889
- Pedro II of Brazil (1889–1891)
- Isabel of Brazil (1891–1921): Born in 1846, died in 1921. Princess Imperial and former regent of Brazil, she was the elder daughter of Pedro II and after his death considered de jure Empress of Brazil
The Vassouras line
- Prince Luís of Orléans-Braganza (1878–1920).
- Luiz of Orléans-Braganza (1981–2022): Born in 1938, died in 2022, the eldest son of Prince Pedro Henrique
- Bertrand of Orléans-Braganza (2022–present): born in 1941, third son of Prince Pedro Henrique
- Heir : Antônio of Orléans-Braganza (born in 1950)
The Petrópolis line
- Pedro Gastão of Orléans-Braganza (1940–2007): Born in 1913, son of Isabel's eldest son, who had renounced all rights to the Brazilian throne for himself and his descendants. The validity of the renunciation was disputed by Pedro Gastão.[25]
- Pedro Carlos of Orléans-Braganza (2007–present): eldest son of Pedro Gastão. He does not put in question the validity of the renunciation. Contrariwise, he declared himself a republican.[26]
- Heir : Pedro Thiago of Orléans-Braganza (born in 1979)
Past members and some descendants of the imperial family
- Dom Pedro I of Brazil (1798–1834)
- Dona Maria II of Portugal (1819–1853)
- Miguel, Prince of Beira(1820)
- Dom João Carlos, Prince of Beira (1821–1822)
- Dona Januária Maria, Princess Imperial of Brazil(1822–1901)
- Princess Dona Paula Mariana of Brazil(1823–1833)
- Princess Dona Francisca Carolina of Brazil (1824–1898)
- Dom Pedro II of Brazil (1825–1891)
- Dom Afonso Pedro de Alcântara, Prince Imperial of Brazil (1845–1847)
- Dona Isabel Cristina, Princess Imperial of Brazil (1846–1921)
- Dom Pedro de Alcântara, Prince of Orléans-Braganza (1875–1940)
- Isabelle of Orléans-Braganza(1911–2003)
- Pedro Gastão of Orléans-Braganza (1913–2007)
- Pedro Carlos of Orléans-Braganza (born 1945)
- Pedro Thiago of Orléans-Braganza (born 1979)
- Filipe Rodrigo of Orléans-Braganza (born 1982)
- Maria da Glória of Orléans-Braganza (born 1946)
- Pedro Carlos of Orléans-Braganza (born 1945)
- Maria Francisca of Orléans-Braganza(1914–1968)
- João Maria of Orléans-Braganza (1916–2005)
- Prince Dom Luiz Maria of Orléans-Braganza(1878–1920)
- Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza (1909–1981)
- Luiz of Orleans-Braganza(1938-2022)
- Eudes Maria of Orléans-Braganza (1939–2020)
- Luiz Philippe of Orléans-Braganza (born 1969)
- Bertrand of Orléans-Braganza (born 1941)
- Antônio João of Orléans-Braganza (born 1950)
- Pedro Luiz of Orléans-Braganza (1983–2009)
- Rafael Antônio of Orléans-Braganza (born 1986)
- Eleonora Maria of Orléans-Braganza (born 1953)
- Henrique Antônio de Ligne (born 1989)
- Luís Gastão of Orléans-Braganza(1911–1931)
- Pia Maria of Orléans-Braganza(1913–2000)
- Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza (1909–1981)
- Prince Dom Antônio Gastão of Orléans-Braganza (1881–1918)
- Dom Pedro de Alcântara, Prince of Orléans-Braganza (1875–1940)
- Princess Dona Leopoldina of Brazil (1847–1871)
- Prince Pedro Augusto of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha(1866–1934)
- Prince Augusto Leopoldo of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1867–1922)
- Princess Teresa Cristina of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1902–1990)
- Carlos Tasso of Saxe-Coburg and Braganza (born 1931)
- Princess Teresa Cristina of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1902–1990)
- Prince José Fernando of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1869–1888)
- Dom Pedro Afonso, Prince Imperial of Brazil (1848–1850)
- Princess Dona Maria Amélia of Brazil (1831–1853)
Genealogy
Genealogical tree of the Brazilian branch House of Braganza and the subsequent House of Orléans-Braganza, cadet branch and current Imperial Family.
Princess Maria Amélia Princess of Brazil (1831–1853) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
From her descends the | Princess Isabel Princess Imperial of Brazil (1846–1921) | Princess Leopoldina Princess of Brazil Princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1847–1871) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
From him descends the Petrópolis branch of the House of Orléans-Braganza | From him descends the Vassouras branch of the House of Orléans-Braganza | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Armorial
Coat of arms | Title | Tenure | Coat of arms | Title | Tenure | Coat of arms | Title | Tenure | Coat of arms | Title | Tenure | Coat of arms | Title | Tenure | Coat of arms | Title | Tenure |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Emperor of Brazil |
1822–1889
|
1824–1889
|
Prince of Grão-Pará: 1824-1889
|
Prince of Brazil: 1824–1889
|
Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Braganza: 1866–present
|
Prince of Orléans and Braganza: 1909–present
|
Estates and properties
-
Imperial Palace of Petrópolis, Petrópolis
-
Schladming Castle, Schladming
See also
- History of Brazil
- House of Orléans-Braganza
- Emperor of Brazil
- Prince Imperial of Brazil
- Prince of Grão-Pará
References
- ^ SMITH, Peter H. Democracy in Latin America, p. 148.
- ^ a b c Les manuscrits du C.E.D.R.E. – Dictionnaire Historique et Généalogique, vol. III. Le Royaume de Portugal, L’Empire du Brésil. Cercle d'Études des Dynasties Royales Européennes (president, Jean-Fred Tourtchine), Paris, 1987, p. 51. (French). ISSN 0764-4426.
- ^ ISBN 2-9507974-3-1
- ISBN 2-908003-04-X
- ^ SAINT, Guy Stair. House of Bourbon: Branch of Orléans-Braganza. In: Chivalric Orders Archived 2008-10-25 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
- ISBN 0-85011-023-8
- ^ BARMAN, Roderick J (2005) (in Portuguese). Princesa Isabel do Brasil: gênero e poder no século XIX, UNESP
- ^ a b c VIANNA, Hélio (1968) (in Portuguese). Vultos do Império. São Paulo: Companhia Editoria Nacional, p. 224
- ^ a b c FREYRE, Gilberto. Ordem e Progresso (1959) (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro: José Olympio, p. 517 and 591
- ^ a b c LYRA, Heitor (1940) (in Portuguese). História de Dom Pedro II, 1825–1891. São Paulo: Companhia Editora Nacional, vol.III, p. 300
- ^ a b c BARSA (1992) (in Portuguese). Braganza, vol. 4, p. 210
- ^ a b c JANOTTI, Maria de Lourdes (1986) (in Portuguese). Os Subversivos da República. São Paulo: Brasiliense, pp. 255–257
- ^ a b c MALATIAN, Teresa Maria (1978) (in Portuguese). A Ação Imperial Patrianovista Brasileira. São Paulo, p. 153-159
- ISBN 2-913211-00-3.
- ^ MALATIAN, Teresa (2007) (in Portuguese). In: BrHistória issue 4, p. 35
- ^ SANTOS (1988: 76)
- ^ SILVA (1994: 228–229)
- ^ VILLON, Victor (2008). Elisabeth Dobrzensky von Dobrzenicz "Empress of Brazil". In: Royalty Digest Quarterly, 3, p. 33.
- ^ CERQUEIRA, Bruno da Silva A. (2007) (in Portuguese). In: BrHistória issue 4, p. 58
- ^ SANTOS (1988: 197)
- ^ GUTIÉRREZ, Bernardo (2008) (in Spanish). La familia real brasileña defiende los nuevos ideales. In: Público.es, 2008-01-09.
- ^ Revista Caras. (March 28, 2013) Paola de Orleans e Bragança.
- ^ SAXE-COBURGO E BRAGANÇA, Dom Carlos de (1959) (in Portuguese). Princesa Leopoldina. In: Revista do Instituto Histórico e Geográfico Brasileiro Archived 2010-12-21 at the Wayback Machine, vol. 243, pp. 75, 80–81.
- ^ ISSN 0101-4366)
- ^ Bodstein, Astrid (2006). "The Imperial Family of Brazil". Royalty Digest Quarterly (3).
- ^ Bernardo Gutiérrez, "La familia real brasileña defiende los nuevos ideales", Príncipes Republicanos (09/01/2008)
- ^ "LEI N. 91 - DE 30 DE OUTUBRO DE 1835".
External links
- Imperial House of Brazil Official Website of the Vassouras Line
- Imperial Brazil Institute