The House of Braganza (Portuguese: Casa de Bragança; ), officially the Most Serene House of Braganza (Portuguese: Sereníssima Casa de Bragança), is an important Portuguese noble house that later became the royal house of the Kingdom of Portugal and its colonial empire, from 1640 to 1910. In 1822 a branch of the house proclaimed independence of the Portuguese colony of Brazil, founding and ruling the Empire of Brazil from 1822 to 1889, as the Brazilian Imperial Family.
The House of Braganza forms a collateral line of the House of Aviz, which ruled Portugal from 1385 until 1580. The House of Aviz was itself a branch of the Portuguese House of Burgundy (also called Afonsine Dynasty), and thus of the House of Burgundy. The Afonsine Dynasty was founded Portugal in 1139, when it proclaimed independence of the County of Portugal from the Kingdom of León. The Afonsine Dynasty ruled until 1385, when the House of Aviz succeeded the throne, as result of the 1383-1385 Succession Crisis.
In 1853, Queen Dona Maria II of Portugal married Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The royal house continued to be called House of Braganza, though their descendants are sometimes classified by foreign genealogists into the House of Braganza-Saxe-Coburg and Gotha or Braganza-Coburg, a cadet branch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, following the patrilineal principle of membership common in European royal houses. However, the Portuguese constitution of 1838 clearly states that "the Most Serene House of Braganza is the reigning house of Portugal and continues through the Person of the Lady Queen Maria II".
Read more about House Of Braganza: Coats of Arms of Titles Held By The House of Braganza
Famous quotes containing the word house:
“Whatever house you enter, first say, Peace to this house!’ And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you.”
—Bible: New Testament, Luke 10:5,6.