Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza (13 September 1909 – 5 July 1981), nicknamed The Expected Prince () was the eldest son of Prince Luís of Orléans-Braganza and Princess Maria di Grazia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, and head of the Vassouras branch of the Imperial House of Brazil from 1921 until his death in 1981.

Early life in Europe

He was born in 1909 in France at

Boulogne-sur-Seine Boulogne-Billancourt (; often colloquially called simply Boulogne, until 1924 Boulogne-sur-Seine, ) is a wealthy and prestigious commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France, located from the centre of Paris. It is a subprefecture of the Hau ...

during the exile of the Brazilian imperial family, which had been deposed in 1889. His father, Prince Luiz of Orléans-Braganza, was the second son of the heir to the defunct Brazilian throne, the Princess Imperial Isabel, and

Prince Gaston, Count of Eu Prince Gaston of Orleans, Count of Eu (; 28 April 1842 – 28 August 1922) was a French prince and military commander who fought in the Hispano–Moroccan War (1859–1860), Hispano-Moroccan War and the Paraguayan War. He was the first son o ...

. His mother was Princess Maria Pia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. The year before Pedro Henrique's birth, she recognized his father, Luiz, as the heir to the succession when Luiz's elder brother,

Pedro de Alcântara, Prince of Grão-Pará '' Dom'' Pedro de Alcântara of Orléans-Braganza, Prince of Grão Pará (15 October 1875 – 29 January 1940) was the first-born son of '' Dona'' Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil and Prince Gaston of Orléans, Count of Eu, and as such, ...

, renounced his claim to the throne on behalf of himself and his descendants. Thus, at birth Prince Pedro Henrique became claimant to the title of

Prince of Grão-Pará The Prince of Grão-Pará was the title bestowed on the eldest son of the Prince Imperial of Brazil. It was inspired and was analogous to the title of Prince of Beira, bestowed on the eldest son of the Prince Royal of Portugal. The title holder w ...

, according to Article 105 of the defunct

Constitution of 1824 A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organization or other type of entity, and commonly determines how that entity is to be governed. When these princ ...

. He was baptized in the chapel of the

Château d'Eu The Château d'Eu () is a former royal residence in the town of Eu, in the Seine-Maritime department of France, in Normandy. The Château d'Eu stands at the centre of the town and was built in the 16th century to replace an earlier one purpose ...

with the waters of the fountain taken from Largo da Carioca, in Rio de Janeiro. His godparents were his paternal grandmother, Princess Isabel of Brazil, and maternal grandfather Prince Alfonso, Count of Caserta, Head of the royal house of the

Two Sicilies The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies () was a kingdom in Southern Italy from 1816 to 1861 under the control of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, a cadet branch of the Bourbons. The kingdom was the largest sovereign state by population and land are ...

. He and his family lived between the Eu castle and a palace in Boulogne-sur-Seine, both belonging to the Imperial Family. He was raised primarily by his paternal grandmother, and numerous preceptors educated him as future emperor of Brazil. In 1920, his father died in

Cannes Cannes (, ; , ; ) is a city located on the French Riviera. It is a communes of France, commune located in the Alpes-Maritimes departments of France, department, and host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and Cannes Lions Internatio ...

of injuries acquired in the trenches of the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. In the same year Brazil's banishment of the Orléans-Braganzas was revoked by the then President

Epitácio Pessoa Epitácio Lindolfo da Silva Pessoa (; 23 May 1865 – 13 February 1942) was a Brazilian politician and jurist who served as the 11th president of Brazil between 1919 and 1922, when Rodrigues Alves was unable to take office due to illness, after b ...

. Pedro Henrique accompanied Count d'Eu when he led part of the Imperial Family back to Brazil, without the aged and infirm Princess Isabel. Grandfather and grandson soon returned to Europe. Upon the death of his father in 1920 Pedro Henrique became claimant to the title of Prince Imperial, but on 14 November 1921 Princess Isabel died at the Castle d'Eu. So, aged 12 Prince Pedro Henrique became the head of the imperial family. Had he became emperor, his imperial name would be Dom Pedro III. He continued living in France with his mother, Princess Maria Pia, where she thought he could get a better education with his siblings Luiz Gastão and Pia Maria. Pedro Henrique was educated at the

École des Sciences Politiques Sciences Po () or Sciences Po Paris, also known as the Paris Institute of Political Studies (), is a public research university located in Paris, France, that holds the status of ''grande école'' and the legal status of . The university's unde ...

in Paris. He was described by his grandmother as "a very intelligent child". In 1925, at the age of 16, the Brazilian government ruled against his request to serve in the military.

Life in Brazil

Pedro de Alcântara died in 1940. Prince Pedro Henrique was only able to return to Brazil in 1945, when the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

ended. He settled first in

Petrópolis Petrópolis (), also known as the Imperial City, is a municipality in the Southeast Region of Brazil. It is located in the state of Rio de Janeiro, northeast of the city of Rio de Janeiro. According to the 2022 Brazilian census, Petrópolis mun ...

, Rio de Janeiro, in the palace of the Grão-Pará, and then in the neighborhood of Retiro, also in Petrópolis. His cousin,

Prince Pedro Gastão of Orléans-Braganza A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The fema ...

, the eldest son of

, challenged Pedro Henrique's claim to the succession in 1946, on the basis that his father's renunciation had no legal force. In 1951, D. Pedro Henrique bought a farm, Fazenda Santa Maria, in the town of Jacarezinho, interior of Paraná. In 1965, he returned to Rio de Janeiro, settling in

Vassouras Vassouras (, lit. 'Brooms') is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by popul ...

, an important city in the days of Empire for coffee production. Pedro Henrique resided at a site called Santa Maria until the end of his life. He was active in the monarchist movement. On his death in 1981, Pedro Henrique's claim to the throne passed to his eldest son, Luiz.

Marriage and children

Pedro Henrique married Princess Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria at

Nymphenburg Palace The Nymphenburg Palace (, Palace of the Nymphs) is a Baroque palace situated in Munich's western district Neuhausen-Nymphenburg, in Bavaria, southern Germany. The Nymphenburg served as the main summer residence for the List of rulers of Bavaria, ...

, Bavaria, on 19 August 1937. They had thirteen children: # Prince Luiz of Orléans-Braganza (6 June 1938 in

Mandelieu-la-Napoule Mandelieu-la-Napoule (; ; locally spelled Mandelieu-La Napoule) is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. Located on the French Riviera, just to the southwest of Cannes and ...

– 15 July 2022 in São Paulo). Unmarried and without issue. # Prince Eudes of Orléans-Braganza (8 June 1939 in

– 13 August 2020 in Rio de Janeiro), renounced Imperial succession rights for himself and his descendants on 3 June 1966 and married, firstly, on 14 May 1967 in

São Paulo São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...

, Ana Maria de Cerqueira César Moraes de Barros (born 20 November 1945 in São Paulo), from whom he was divorced in 1976, having had two children. He remarried on 26 March 1976 in Rio de Janeiro, Mercedes Willemsens Neves da Rocha (born 26 January 1955 in Petrópolis), with whom he had four children. # Prince Bertrand of Orléans-Braganza (born 2 February 1941 in Mandelieu-la-Napoule). Unmarried and without issue. # Isabel Maria Josefa Henriqueta Francisca of Orléans-Braganza (4 April 1944 in

La Bourboule La Bourboule (; Auvergnat: ''La Borbola'') is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in central France. La Bourboule is situated on the right bank of the Dordogne at an average elevation . It was known for its mineral ...

– 5 November 2017 in Rio de Janeiro). # Pedro de Alcântara Henrique Maria Miguel Gabriel Rafael Gonzaga of Orléans-Braganza (born 1 December 1945 in Petrópolis), renounced Imperial succession rights for himself and his descendants on 28 December 1972 and married on 4 July 1974 in Rio de Janeiro, Maria de Fátima Baptista de Oliveira Rocha (born 14 July 1952 in Rio de Janeiro), with whom he had five children. # Maria Caroline of Orléans-Braganza (28 September 1946 in Petrópolis — 28 September 1946 in Petrópolis). Maria Caroline lived for only 10 hours, dying on the same day of her birth due to prematurity and respiratory failure. # Fernando Diniz Maria José Miguel Gabriel Rafael Gonzaga of Orléans-Braganza (born 2 February 1948 in Petrópolis), renounced Imperial succession rights for himself and his descendants on 24 February 1975 and married 19 March 1975 in Rio de Janeiro, Maria de Graça de Siqueira Carvalho Baere de Araújo (born 27 June 1952 in Rio de Janeiro), with whom he had three daughters. # Prince Antônio of Orléans-Braganza (24 June 1950 in Rio de Janeiro – 8 November 2024 in Rio de Janeiro), married on 25 September 1981 in Belœil, Princess Christine de Ligne (born 11 August 1955 in Belœil), daughter of

Antoine, 13th Prince of Ligne Antoine Maria Joachim Lamoral de Ligne, 13th Prince of Ligne, Prince of Épinoy, Prince of Amblise, GE (8 March 1925 – 21 August 2005) was the son of Eugène, 11th Prince of Ligne, and his wife, Philippine de Noailles. Life and career Prin ...

, and

Princess Alix of Luxembourg Alix, Princess de Ligne (Alix Marie Anne Antoinette Charlotte Gabrielle; 24 August 1929 – 11 February 2019) was the fourth daughter and youngest child of Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, and Felix of Bourbon-Parma.de Badts de Cugnac, Chan ...

. They had four children. # Princess ''Eleonora'' Maria Josefa Rosa Filipa Miguela Gabriela Rafaela Gonzaga of Orléans-Braganza (born 20 May 1953 in Jacarezinho), married on 10 March 1981 in Rio de Janeiro, Michel, 14th Prince of Ligne (born 26 May 1951 in Belœil), son of

, and

. They have two children. # Francisco Maria José Rasso Miguel Gabriel Rafael Gonzaga of Orléans-Braganza (born 6 April 1955 in Jacarezinho), renounced Imperial succession rights for himself and his descendants on 11 December 1980 and married on 28 December 1980 in Rio de Janeiro, Cláudia Regina Lisboa Martins Godinho (born 11 July 1954 in Rio de Janeiro), with whom he had three daughters. # Alberto Maria José João Miguel Gabriel Rafael Gonzaga of Orléans-Braganza (born 23 June 1957 in Jundiaí do Sul), renounced Imperial succession rights for himself and his descendants on 22 December 1982 and married on 11 January 1983 in Rio de Janeiro, Maritza Bulcão Ribas Bockel (born 29 April 1961 in Rio de Janeiro), with whom he had four children. # Maria Teresa Aldegunda Luiza Josefa Micaela Gabriela Rafaela Gonzaga of Orléans-Braganza (born 14 July 1959 in Jundiaí do Sul), renounced Imperial succession rights for herself and her descendants on 30 October 1995 and married on 4 November 1995 in Rio de Janeiro, Johannes Hessel de Jong (born 5 March 1954 in Joure, Friesland, the Netherlands), with whom she had two children. # Maria Gabriela Dorotéa Isabel Josefa Micaela Gabriela Rafaela Gonzaga of Orléans-Braganza (born 14 July 1959 in Jundiaí do Sul), renounced Imperial succession rights for herself and her descendants on 18 December 2003 and married in Rio de Janeiro on 20 December 2003 (and divorced in 2005), Theodore Senna de Hungria da Silva Machado (born 12 July 1954 in Petrópolis). They had no issue.

Honors

ESP Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George Justicia BAR

Bailiff Knight Grand Cross of Justice with Collar of the

Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George The Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George (; ), also historically referred to as the Imperial Constantinian Order of Saint George and the Order of the Constantinian Angelic Knights of Saint George, is a dynastic order of knighthood ...

Ancestry

Notes

References

* * * * ORLEANS E BRAGANÇA, Pia Maria de. ''Minha Mãe, a Princesa Imperial Viúva''. Rio de Janeiro: Edição da Autora, 1990. Tradução de José Ubaldino Motta do Amaral. * SANTOS, Armando Alexandre dos. ''Dom Pedro Henrique, o Condestável das Saudades e da Esperança''. São Paulo: Artpress, 2006 {{DEFAULTSORT:Pedro Henrique Of Orleans-Braganza 1909 births 1981 deaths Brazilian people of Italian descent Brazilian people of Portuguese descent Heads of the Imperial House of Brazil House of Orléans-Braganza People from Boulogne-Billancourt Brazilian monarchists Pretenders to the Brazilian throne Patrianovists Far-right politics in Brazil Child pretenders People from Jacarezinho, Paraná