Descendants of Miguel I of Portugal

The descendants of Miguel I of Portugal, of the House of Braganza, were numerous and left a lasting mark on European royalty. Miguel married Princess Adelaide of Löwenstein and the strategic marriages for all of their children into various European royalties would earn Miguel the nickname of Grandfather of Europe.

His descendants can be found in both reigning and non-reigning royal families all over Europe.

This article deals with the children of Miguel I and in turn their senior heirs.

Background on Miguel I

Miguel, born on 26 October 1802 at Queluz Royal Palace, was the second son of King João VI and Carlota Joaquina of Spain.

Throne of Portugal

In 1823, Miguel led a coup in an attempt to place himself on the throne and restore the absolutist regime to Portugal. The coup, known as the Vilafrancada, took place on 27 May 1823, in Vila Franca de Xira.Paulo Jorge Fernandes et al. (2003), p.13

The coup was unsuccessful and Miguel was forgiven and made chief of the army. This would not play out well, as Miguel would use his forces in the April Revolt. Following the eventual demise of the April Revolt, Miguel was exiled from Portugal.Neill Macaulay (1986), p.117

Miguel returned to Portugal, as regent to his niece Queen Maria II of Portugal and also a potential royal consort. While regent, he seized the Portuguese throne in accordance with the so-called Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom and reigned for six years. His older brother Pedro IV of Portugal, Maria II's father, lost his, and therefore her, rights from the moment that Pedro had made war on Portugal and become the sovereign of a foreign state (the Brazilian Empire). This led to a difficult political situation which culminated in the Portuguese Liberal Wars between the absolutist Miguelists and constitutionalist liberals.

Pedro, Duke of Braganza (former Pedro IV of Portugal and I of Brazil) launched a campaign from the Azores which would eventually topple Miguel. The Miguelite War, one of the many names given to the civil war, would last throughout the six-year duration of Miguel's reign and would end with the Concession of Evoramonte, when Miguel renounced his claims to the throne, recognized Maria II as queen, and was exiled from Portugal.

Miguel would spend his exiled years in the Grand Duchy of Baden, where he would have seven children, with his wife Princess Adelaide of Löwenstein. He and his wife would spend a great deal of their resources seeking to establish their family, through advantageous marriages of their children. Their descendants include the reigning sovereigns of Belgium, Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg.

Descendants

On 24 September 1851, Miguel I married Princess Adelaide of Löwenstein. The couple had 7 children:

Maria das Neves of Braganza

Descendant Image Birth Marriages Death Maria das Neves of Braganza1852–1941 5 August 1852 Kleinheubachdaughter of Miguel I and Adelaide of LöwensteinAlfonso Carlos I of Spain (carlist)April 26, 1871no children14 February 1941Viennaaged 88

Miguel Januário of Braganza

Descendant Image Birth Marriages Death Miguel Januário of Braganza1853–1927 19 September 1853Kleinheubachson of Miguel I and Adelaide of LöwensteinElisabeth of Thurn and Taxis17 October 18773 childrenMaria Theresa of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg8 November 18938 children11 October 1927Seebensteinaged 74 Miguel Maria Maximiliano of Braganza1878–1923 22 September 1878Reichenau an der Raxson of Miguel Januário of Braganza and Elisabeth of Thurn and TaxisAnita Stewart Morris15 September 19093 children(renounced rights to the Throne July 1920)21 February 1923New York Cityaged 44 Duarte Nuno of Braganza1907–1976 23 September 1907Seebensteinson of Miguel Januário of Braganza and Maria Theresa of LöwensteinMaria Francisca of Orléans-Braganza15 October 19423 children24 December 1976Seebensteinaged 69 Duarte Pio of Braganza1945–present 15 May 1945Bernson of Duarte Nuno of Braganza and Maria Francisca of Orléans-BraganzaIsabel Inês de Castro Curvelo de Herédia13 May 19953 children Afonso of Santa Maria of Braganza1996–present 25 March 1996Lisbonson of Duarte Pio of Braganza and Isabel Inês de Castro Curvelo de Herédianot married

Maria Teresa of Braganza

Descendant Image Birth Marriages Death Maria Teresa of Braganza1855–1944 24 August 1855Kleinheubachdaughter of Miguel I and Adelaide of LöwensteinArchduke Karl Ludwig of Austria23 July 18732 children12 February 1944Viennaaged 88 Archduchess Maria Annunciata of Austria1876–1961 31 July 1876Reichenau an der Raxdaughter of Maria Teresa of Braganza and Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austrianever married8 April 1961Viennaaged 84 Archduchess Elisabeth Amalie of Austria1878–1960 7 July 1878Reichenau an der Raxdaughter of Maria Teresa of Braganza and Archduke Karl Ludwig of AustriaPrince Aloys of Liechtenstein20 April 19038 children13 March 1960Liechtensteinaged 81 Franz Joseph II of Liechtenstein1906–1989 16 August 1906Styriason of Archduchess Elisabeth Amalie of Austria and Prince Aloys of LiechtensteinCountess Georgina von Wilczek7 March 19435 children13 November 1989Grabsaged 81 Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein1945–present 14 February 1945Zurichson of Franz Joseph II of Liechtenstein and Countess Georgina von WilczekCountess Marie Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau30 July 19674 children Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein1968–present 11 June 1968Zurichson of Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein and Countess Marie Kinsky von Wchinitz und TettauPrincess Sophie, Duchess in Bavaria3 July 19934 children Prince Joseph Wenzel of Liechtenstein1995–present 24 May 1995Londonson of Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein and Princess Sophie, Duchess in Bavarianot married

Maria José of Braganza

Descendant Image Birth Marriages Death Maria José of Braganza1857–1943 19 March 1857Wertheim am Maindaughter of Miguel I and Adelaide of LöwensteinKarl Theodor, Duke in Bavaria29 April 18745 children11 March 1943Munichaged 85 Ludwig Wilhelm, Duke in Bavaria1884–1968 17 January 1884Schloss Tegernseeson of Maria José of Braganza and Karl Theodor, Duke in BavariaEleonore Anna Lucie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg19 March 1917 no children5 November 1968Wildbad Kreuthaged 84 Elisabeth of Bavaria1876–1965 25 July 1876Possenhofen Castledaughter of Maria José of Braganza and Duke Karl Theodor in BavariaAlbert I of Belgium2 October 19003 children23 November 1965Brusselsaged 89 Leopold III, King of the Belgians1901–1983 3 November 1901Brusselsson of Elisabeth of Bavaria and Albert I of BelgiumAstrid of Sweden4 November 19263 childrenLilian Baels11 September 19413 children25 September 1983Woluwe-Saint-Lambertaged 81 Baudouin, King of the Belgians1930–1993 7 September 1930Laekenson of Leopold III of Belgium and Astrid of SwedenFabiola de Mora y Aragón15 December 1960no children31 July 1993Villa Astrida, Motrilaged 62 Albert II, King of the Belgians1934–present 6 June 1934Laekenson of Leopold III of Belgium and Astrid of SwedenPaola Ruffo di Calabria2 July 19593 children Philippe, King of the Belgians1960–present 15 April 1960Laekenson of Albert II of Belgium and Paola Ruffo di CalabriaMathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz4 December 19994 children Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant2001–present 25 October 2001Anderlechtdaughter of Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant and Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoznot married

Adelgundes de Jesus of Braganza

Descendant Image Birth Marriages Death Adelgundes de Jesus of Braganza1858–1946 10 November 1858Wertheim am Maindaughter of Miguel I and Adelaide of LöwensteinPrince Henry, Count of Bardi15 October 1876 no children15 April 1946Bernaged 87

Maria Ana of Braganza

Descendant Image Birth Marriages Death Maria Ana of Braganza1861–1942 13 July 1861Wertheim am Maindaughter of Miguel I and Adelaide of LöwensteinWilliam IV of Luxembourg21 June 18936 children31 July 1942New York Cityaged 81 Marie-Adélaïde, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg1894–1924 14 June 1894Berg Castledaughter of Maria Ana of Braganza and William IV of Luxembourgnever married24 January 1924Schloss Hohenburgaged 29 Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg1896–1985 23 January 1896Berg Castledaughter of Maria Ana of Braganza and William IV of LuxembourgPrince Felix of Bourbon-Parma6 November 1919 6 children9 July 1985Schloss Fischbachaged 89 Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg1921–2019 5 January 1921Berg Castleson of Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg and Prince Felix of Bourbon-ParmaPrincess Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium9 April 19535 children23 April 2019Luxembourg City, Luxembourgaged 98 Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg1955–present 16 April 1955Betzdorf Castleson of Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Princess Joséphine Charlotte of BelgiumMaria Teresa Mestre y Batista-Falla7 November 19805 children Guillaume V, Grand Duke of Luxembourg1981–present11 November 1981Luxembourgson of Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Maria Teresa Mestre y Batista-FallaCountess Stéphanie de Lannoy20 October 20122 sons Prince Charles of Luxembourg2020–present 10 May 2020Luxembourgson of Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy not married

Maria Antónia of Braganza

Descendant Image Birth Marriages Death Maria Antónia of Braganza1862–195928 November 1862Wertheim am Maindaughter of Miguel I and Adelaide of LöwensteinRobert I, Duke of Parma15 October 188412 children14 May 1959Berg Castleaged 96 Prince Sixtus of Bourbon-Parma1886–19341 August 1886Canton of St. Gallenson of Maria Antónia of Braganza and Robert I, Duke of ParmaPrincess Hedwig de la Rochefoucauld14 March 19191 child 14 March 1934Parisaged 47(pre-succession death) Xavier, Duke of Parma1889–1977 25 May 1889Camaioreson of Maria Antónia of Braganza and Robert I, Duke of ParmaMadeleine de Bourbon12 November 1927 6 children7 May 1977Zizersaged 87 Carlos Hugo, Duke of Parma1930–20108 April 1930Parisson of Xavier, Duke of Parma and Madeleine de BourbonPrincess Irene of the Netherlands29 April 19644 children18 August 2010Barcelonaaged 80 Carlos, Duke of Parma1970–present27 January 1970Nijmegenson of Carlos Hugo, Duke of Parma and Princess Irene of the NetherlandsAnnemarie Gualthérie van Weezel28 August 20103 children

See also

Descendants of Christian IX of DenmarkDescribes progeny of another European king whose descendants married into multiple royal families Descendants of Queen Victoria Descendants of John VI of Portugal Descendants of Manuel I of Portugal

References Notes

Sources