After the accession of the House of Braganza to the Portuguese throne in 1640, following the House of Habsburg, the heir to the throne of Portugal was styled as the Duke of Braganza (see that article for further developments of the dukedom) together with Prince of Brazil, and later Prince Royal of Portugal. After the foundation of the Portuguese Republic in 1910, the tradition of the heir to the throne being titled Duke of Braganza was revived by some pretenders to signify their claims to the throne.
By 1640, Portugal was on the verge of rebellion and a new Portuguese king had to be found. The choice fell upon the eighth duke, John II of Braganza, who had a claim both through his grandmother, Infanta Catherine, and through his great-great-grandfather, the 4th duke, nephew of King Manuel. The duke was a modest man without particular ambitions to the crown. Legend says that his wife, Leonor of Guzman, daughter of the duke of Medina-Sidónia, urged him to accept the offer saying, I'd rather be Queen for one day than duchess for a lifetime. He accepted the leadership of the rebellion, which was successful, and was acclaimed John IV of Portugal on December 1, 1640.
After the accession of the Braganzas to the throne, the duchy was linked to the Crown and the Duke of Braganza became the traditional title of the heir to the Crown, together with or alternate to Prince of Beira, much as Prince of Wales is in the United Kingdom. The fief itself became merged in the crown.
Members of the Ducal House |
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| 2nd generation | |
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| 3rd generation | - Roderigo, 1st Marquis of Ferreira
- Jorge Alberto, 1st Count of Gelves
- Beatriz, Duchess of Coimbra
- Joana, Countess of Vimioso
- Maria, Countess of Portalegre
- Filipe
- Jaime I
- Dinis, Count of Lemos
- Margarida
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| 4th generation | |
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| 5th generation | - John I
- Jaime
- Isabel, Duchess of Caminha
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| 6th generation | - Maria
- Serefina
- Teodósio II
- Duarte, 1st Marquise of Frechilla
- Alexandre, Archbishop of Évora
- Querubina
- Angélica
- Maria
- Isabel
- Filipe
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| 7th generation | - John II
- Duarte, 1st Lord of Vila do Conde
- Catarina
- Alexandre
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Members of the Royal House |
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Members of the Imperial house |
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Members of the Miguelist House |
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