Line of succession to the Brazilian throne
Encyclopedia
The Brazilian monarchy came to an end on November 15, 1889, following a military coup which overthrew Emperor Dom Pedro II
. The current Brazilian Imperial Family is split into two branches: the Petrópolis and the Vassouras. The Petrópolis branch, headed by Prince Pedro Carlos of Orléans-Braganza
, is descended from Princess Isabel
's eldest son, Pedro de Alcântara, while the Vassouras branch, headed by Prince Luís of Orléans-Braganza
, is descended from her second son, Luís. The Brazilian monarchy was hereditary according to male-preference primogeniture
and dynasts in the line of succession were required to hold Brazilian nationality. In 1908 Dom
Pedro de Alcântara (Petrópolis Branch) renounced his succession rights.
After the death of Pedro II in 1891, his eldest daughter, Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil
became the pretender
to the abolished
Brazilian throne. In 1908 D. Pedro wanted to marry Countess Elisabeth Dobržensky de Dobrženicz
(1875–1951) who, although a noblewoman
of the kingdom of Bohemia
, did not belong to a royal or reigning dynasty
. Although the constitution of the Brazilian Empire did not require a dynast to marry equally
, his mother ruled that the marriage would not be valid dynastically for the Brazilian succession, and as a result he renounced his rights to the throne of Brazil
on 30 October 1908: To solemnize this, Dom Pedro, aged thirty-three, signed the document translated here:
This renunciation was followed by a letter from Isabel to royalists
in Brazil:
Assuming that the 1908 renunciation of Pedro de Alcântara was valid, his brother Luís (and eventually, Pedro Henrique) became next in the line of succession after their mother. Isabel's headship of the Brazilian Imperial House lasted until her death in 1921, when she is widely considered to have been succeeded by her grandson, Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza
. Pedro Henrique was the elder son of Prince Luís of Orléans-Braganza (1878–1920), second child of Isabel and a veteran of World War I
who had died in 1920 from an illness he contracted in the trenches.
Prince Pedro de Alcantara did not dispute the validity of the renunciation during his lifetime. 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."
The dynastic dispute over the Brazilian crown began after 1940 when Prince Pedro Gastão of Orléans-Braganza
, eldest son of Pedro de Alcântara rejected his father's renunciation and claimed the headship of the Brazilian Imperial House.
After the death of Pedro Gastão in 2007, his eldest son Prince Pedro Carlos
and younger children declared themselves republicans.,
, Robert Heinlein's novel Time for the Stars
depicts its protagonists returning to Earth after a galactic voyage lasting several centuries, and landing at Rio de Janeiro, where they are greeted by "Emperor Dom Pedro III", who presents them with a medal on behalf of the World Government
. Heinlein does not specify the circumstances under which, in the future depicted, the Brazilian monarchy was restored.
Pedro II of Brazil
Dom Pedro II , nicknamed "the Magnanimous", was the second and last ruler of the Empire of Brazil, reigning for over 58 years. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he was the seventh child of Emperor Dom Pedro I of Brazil and Empress Dona Maria Leopoldina and thus a member of the Brazilian branch of...
. The current Brazilian Imperial Family is split into two branches: the Petrópolis and the Vassouras. The Petrópolis branch, headed by Prince Pedro Carlos of Orléans-Braganza
Prince Pedro Carlos of Orléans-Braganza
Prince Pedro Carlos of Orléans-Braganza is one of two claimants to the defunct Brazilian throne, and head of the Petrópolis branch of the Brazilian Imperial House.-Life:...
, is descended from Princess Isabel
Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil
Dona Isabel , nicknamed "the Redemptress", was the heiress presumptive to the throne of the Empire of Brazil, bearing the title of Princess Imperial....
's eldest son, Pedro de Alcântara, while the Vassouras branch, headed by Prince Luís of Orléans-Braganza
Prince Luís of Orléans-Braganza
Prince Luís of Orléans-Braganza is one of the two claimants to the defunct Brazilian throne, and head of the Vassouras branch of the Brazilian Imperial House...
, is descended from her second son, Luís. The Brazilian monarchy was hereditary according to male-preference primogeniture
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
and dynasts in the line of succession were required to hold Brazilian nationality. In 1908 Dom
Don (honorific)
Don, from Latin dominus, is an honorific in Spanish , Portuguese , and Italian . The female equivalent is Doña , Dona , and Donna , abbreviated "Dª" or simply "D."-Usage:...
Pedro de Alcântara (Petrópolis Branch) renounced his succession rights.
Overview
Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil
Dona Isabel , nicknamed "the Redemptress", was the heiress presumptive to the throne of the Empire of Brazil, bearing the title of Princess Imperial....
became the pretender
Pretender
A pretender is one who claims entitlement to an unavailable position of honour or rank. Most often it refers to a former monarch, or descendant thereof, whose throne is occupied or claimed by a rival, or has been abolished....
to the abolished
Abolished monarchy
Throughout history, monarchies have been abolished, either through revolutions, legislative reforms, coups d'état, or wars. The twentieth century saw a major acceleration of this process, with many monarchies violently overthrown by revolution or war, or else abolished as part of the process of...
Brazilian throne. In 1908 D. Pedro wanted to marry Countess Elisabeth Dobržensky de Dobrženicz
Countess Elisabeth Dobržensky de Dobrženicz
Countess Elisabeth Maria Dobržensky de Dobrženicz was the daughter of Johann Wenzel Count Dobrzensky of Dobrzenicz and his wife, Elisabeth Countess Kottulinsky, Baroness of Kottulin and Krzižkowitz ....
(1875–1951) who, although a noblewoman
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
of the kingdom of Bohemia
Kingdom of Bohemia
The Kingdom of Bohemia was a country located in the region of Bohemia in Central Europe, most of whose territory is currently located in the modern-day Czech Republic. The King was Elector of Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806, whereupon it became part of the Austrian Empire, and...
, did not belong to a royal or reigning dynasty
Dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers considered members of the same family. Historians traditionally consider many sovereign states' history within a framework of successive dynasties, e.g., China, Ancient Egypt and the Persian Empire...
. Although the constitution of the Brazilian Empire did not require a dynast to marry equally
Equal marriage
Equal marriage can refer to:*The custom or legal requirement of Ebenbürtigkeit practiced by royalty in Europe and elsewhere; see Royal intermarriage....
, his mother ruled that the marriage would not be valid dynastically for the Brazilian succession, and as a result he renounced his rights to the throne of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
on 30 October 1908: To solemnize this, Dom Pedro, aged thirty-three, signed the document translated here:
This renunciation was followed by a letter from Isabel to royalists
Monarchism
Monarchism is the advocacy of the establishment, preservation, or restoration of a monarchy as a form of government in a nation. A monarchist is an individual who supports this form of government out of principle, independent from the person, the Monarch.In this system, the Monarch may be the...
in Brazil:
Assuming that the 1908 renunciation of Pedro de Alcântara was valid, his brother Luís (and eventually, Pedro Henrique) became next in the line of succession after their mother. Isabel's headship of the Brazilian Imperial House lasted until her death in 1921, when she is widely considered to have been succeeded by her grandson, Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza
Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza
Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza , was a great-grandson of the last emperor of Brazil, Pedro II, and one of two claimants to the abolished throne.-Early life in Europe:...
. Pedro Henrique was the elder son of Prince Luís of Orléans-Braganza (1878–1920), second child of Isabel and a veteran of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
who had died in 1920 from an illness he contracted in the trenches.
Prince Pedro de Alcantara did not dispute the validity of the renunciation during his lifetime. 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."
The dynastic dispute over the Brazilian crown began after 1940 when Prince Pedro Gastão of Orléans-Braganza
Prince Pedro Gastão of Orléans-Braganza
Prince Pedro Gastão of Orléans-Braganza was one of two claimants to the Brazilian throne and head of the Petrópolis branch of the Brazilian Imperial House.-Biography:Prince Pedro Gastão was the son of Prince Pedro de Alcântara...
, eldest son of Pedro de Alcântara rejected his father's renunciation and claimed the headship of the Brazilian Imperial House.
After the death of Pedro Gastão in 2007, his eldest son Prince Pedro Carlos
Prince Pedro Carlos of Orléans-Braganza
Prince Pedro Carlos of Orléans-Braganza is one of two claimants to the defunct Brazilian throne, and head of the Petrópolis branch of the Brazilian Imperial House.-Life:...
and younger children declared themselves republicans.,
Petrópolis line of succession
- Head: HI&RHImperial and Royal HighnessImperial and Royal Highness is a style possessed by someone who either through birth or marriage holds two individual styles, Imperial Highness and Royal Highness....
Prince Pedro Carlos of Orléans-BraganzaPrince Pedro Carlos of Orléans-BraganzaPrince Pedro Carlos of Orléans-Braganza is one of two claimants to the defunct Brazilian throne, and head of the Petrópolis branch of the Brazilian Imperial House.-Life:...
(b. 1945)
- HI&RH Prince Pedro Thiago of Orléans-BraganzaPrince Pedro Thiago of Orléans-BraganzaPrince Pedro Thiago of Orléans-Braganza is a member of the Brazilian Imperial Family. According to the claims of the Petrópolis branch, he is the current Prince Imperial of Brazil and therefore first in line of succession to the defunct Brazilian throne.-Biography:He was born in Petrópolis the son...
, Prince Imperial of Brazil (b. 1979) - HI&RH Prince Felipe Rodrigo of Orléans-Braganza (b. 1981)
- HRH Prince Afonso Duarte of Orléans-Braganza (b. 1948)
- HRH Princess Maria of Orléans-Braganza (b. 1974)
- HRH Princess Júlia of Orléans-Braganza (b. 1977)
- HRH Prince Manuel Álvaro of Orléans-Braganza (b. 1949)
- HRH Prince Manuel Afonso of Orléans-Braganza (b. 1981)
- HRH Princess Luisa Christina of Orléans-Braganza (b. 1978)
- HRH Prince Francisco of Orléans-Braganza (b.1956)
- HRH Prince Francisco Teodoro of Orléans-Braganza (b.1979)
- HRH Prince Gabriel of Orléans-Braganza (b. 1989)
- HRH Princess Maria Isabel of Orléans-Braganza (b. 1982)
- HRH Princess Manuela of Orléans-Braganza (b. 1997)
- HRH Princess Maria da Gloria, Duchess of Segorbe (b. 1946)
- HRH Princess Cristina of Orléans-Braganza (b. 1950)
- HSH Princess Ana Teresa Sapieha-Rozanska (b. 1981)
- HSH Princess Paola Sapieha-Rozanska (b. 1983)
- HRH Prince João Henrique of Orléans-Braganza (b. 1954)
- HRH Prince João Philippe of Orléans-Braganza (b. 1986)
- HRH Princess Maria Christina of Orléans-Braganza (b. 1989)
- Followed by the Vassouras branch
Vassouras line of succession
- Head: HI&RHImperial and Royal HighnessImperial and Royal Highness is a style possessed by someone who either through birth or marriage holds two individual styles, Imperial Highness and Royal Highness....
Prince Luís of Orléans-BraganzaPrince Luís of Orléans-BraganzaPrince Luís of Orléans-Braganza is one of the two claimants to the defunct Brazilian throne, and head of the Vassouras branch of the Brazilian Imperial House...
(b. 1938)
- HI&RH Prince Bertrand of Orléans-BraganzaPrince Bertrand of Orléans-BraganzaPrince Bertrand of Orléans-Braganza is a member of the Imperial House of Brazil. According to the disputed claims of the Vassouras branch of the family, he is first in the line of succession to the defunct Brazilian throne, and consequently the current Prince Imperial of Brazil.-Biography:The...
, Prince Imperial of Brazil (b. 1942) - HI&RH Prince Antônio of Orléans-BraganzaPrince Antonio of Orléans-BraganzaPrince Antônio of Orléans-Braganza , whose baptismal name is Antônio João Maria José Jorge Miguel Gabriel Rafael Gonzaga de Orléans e Bragança e Wittelsbach, is a member of the Imperial House of Brazil...
(b. 1950) - HRH Prince Rafael of Orléans-BraganzaPrince Rafael of Orléans-BraganzaPrince Rafael of Orléans-Braganza is a member of the Imperial House of Brazil...
(b. 1986) - HRH Princess Amélia of Orléans-Braganza (b. 1984)
- HRH Princess Maria Gabriela of Orléans-Braganza (b. 1989)
- HRH Princess Isabel Maria of Orléans-Braganza (b. 1944)
- HRH Princess Eleonora of Orléans-BraganzaEleanora, Princess of LigneEleanora, Princess of Ligne is the wife of Michel, 14th Prince of Ligne, the head of the House of Ligne since 2005...
(b. 1953) - HSH Henri Antoine, Hereditary Prince of Ligne (b. 1989)
- HSH Princess Alix of Ligne (b. 1984)
Saxe-Coburg branch
Since 1908, the Saxe-Coburg branch has not been considered dynastic by either the Head of the Brazilian Imperial House or by Brazilian monarchists.In fiction
In science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, Robert Heinlein's novel Time for the Stars
Time for the Stars
Time for the Stars is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published by Scribner's in 1956 as one of the Heinlein juveniles. The basic plot line is derived from a 1911 thought experiment in special relativity, commonly called the twin paradox, proposed by French physicist Paul Langevin...
depicts its protagonists returning to Earth after a galactic voyage lasting several centuries, and landing at Rio de Janeiro, where they are greeted by "Emperor Dom Pedro III", who presents them with a medal on behalf of the World Government
World government
World government is the notion of a single common political authority for all of humanity. Its modern conception is rooted in European history, particularly in the philosophy of ancient Greece, in the political formation of the Roman Empire, and in the subsequent struggle between secular authority,...
. Heinlein does not specify the circumstances under which, in the future depicted, the Brazilian monarchy was restored.
See also
- Brazilian Imperial Family
- Prince Imperial of BrazilPrince Imperial of BrazilPrince Imperial of Brazil is the title created after the proclamation of independence of the Empire of Brazil, in 1822, to designate the heir apparent to the Brazilian imperial throne...
- Empire of Brazil
- History of BrazilHistory of BrazilThe history of Brazil begins with the arrival of the first indigenous peoples, thousands of years ago by crossing the Bering land bridge into Alaska and then moving south....