BRAZIL

The Bragança Dynasty

BRIEF HISTORY

The Imperial House represents the senior, though female, line of the Portuguese Bragança dynasty. The Kingdom of Brazil was established by Dom João VI while Regent of Portugal in exile in Rio de Janeiro during the Napoleonic wars. After his reluctant return to Portugal in 1821, Brazil declared its independance and proclaimed the regent, his son and heir, as Emperor under the name of Dom Pedro I on 12th October 1822. He in turn abdicated in favour of his son, Dom Pedro II, and returned to Portugal in 1831. He had inherited that kingdom from his father in 1826, and abdicated the same in favour of his daughter Dona Maria. Dom Pedro II was forced to abdicate following a military coup d’etat, Brazil being declared a Republic on 15th November 1889.

STYLES & TITLES:
The Sovereign: Sua Majestade Imperial o Senhor Dom (personal reign name), pela Graça de Deus e Unãnime Aclamação dos Povos, Imperador Constitucional e Defensor Perpétuo do Brasil, Constitutional Emperor and Perpetual Defender of Brazil, with the style of His Majesty.
The wife of the Sovereign: Dona (personal reign name), Empress of Brazil, with the style of Her Majesty.
The Heir Apparent: Prince (or Princess) Imperial of Brazil, with the style of His or Her Imperial Highness.
The Heir Presumptive: Prince (or Princess) of Grão Pará, with the style of His Imperial Highness.
The Other children of the Sovereign and their descendants in the line of succession: Prince or Princess of Brazil, with the style of His or Her Highness - confirmed by the Annual Almanach for 1888.
The children and male-line descendants of Dona Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil, by her husband the Count d’Eu, were recognised as Princes and Princesses of Orléans-Bragança with the style of His or Her Royal Highness, 26th April 1909.

NOBILITY:
Following the declaration of independence in 1822, Brazil adopted a system of nobility closely based upon that of Portugal. The number of these creations before 1889 consisted of 3 in the rank of Duke (and 2 in that of Duchess), 47 in that of Marquess, 50 as Counts, 248 as Viscounts and 930 as Barons. There were seven ranks graded as follows:
1) Duke (Duque) - always created with the accompanying rank of Grandee (Grandeza).
2) Marquess (Marquês) - always created with the accompanying rank of Grandee.
3) Count (Conde) - always created with the accompanying rank of Grandee.
4) Viscount (Visconde) - with the accompanying rank of Grandee.
5) Baron (Barão) - with the accompanying rank of Grandee.
6) Viscount - without the rank of Grandee.
7) Baron - without the rank of Grandee.
8) Noble without title (fidalgo)

RULES OF SUCCESSION:
Primogeniture.

ORDERS & DECORATIONS:
See link below.

SOURCES:
Albano da Silveira Pinto and Visconde de Sanchas de Baena, Resinha das Familias Titulares e Grandes de Portugal. Francisco Arthur da Silva, Libon, 1890.
Almanach de Gotha, annuaire généalogique, diplomatique et statistique. Justus Perthes, Gotha, 1826-1944.
Almanach de Gotha, Annual Genealogical Reference. Almanach de Gotha Ltd, London, 1999.
Burke’s Royal Families of the World, Volume I: Europe & Latin America. Burke’s Peerage Ltd, London, 1977.
Brasil Imperial, http://www.monarquia.org.br/

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
José Vicente de Bragança
Isabelle Maltais
Lauren Strauss-Jones

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