Prince Luís of Orléans-Braganza
Encyclopedia
Prince Luís of Orléans-Braganza (born Luís Gastão Maria José Pio Miguel Gabriel Rafael Gonzaga de Orléans e Bragança e Wittelsbach on 6 June 1938) is one of the two claimants to the defunct Brazilian throne, and head of the Vassouras branch of the Brazilian Imperial House. He is the firstborn child of Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza
, grandson of Luís of Orléans-Braganza, great-grandson of Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil
, and Prince Gaston, Count of Eu, and great-great-grandson of Emperor Dom Pedro II
.
, Alpes-Maritimes
, France
, to Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza
(1909–1981) and Princess Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria
(1914–2011), of the House of Wittelsbach. He is the oldest of twelve children.
He was baptized
in the chapel of Mas-Saint-Louis, a cottage belonging to his grandmother, Princess Maria di Grazia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
(1878–1973). She and his maternal uncle Louis, Prince of Bavaria (1913–2008) stood as godparents. Jurist and professor Alcibiades Delamare Nogueira da Gama was his godfather in his chrism
.
Although Prince Luís was born after the revocation
of the exile
that had been imposed on the Imperial family by Brazil's first Republican government
, the aftermath of World War I
and World War II
detained the entire family in Europe
until 1945, when the Vassouras branch of the family was finally repatriated
, settling in the town of Petrópolis
. He currently resides in São Paulo
.
According to the legitimist claims, he is de jure Emperor
of Brazil
(Luís I of Brazil). He is viewed as the pretender
to the Brazilian Imperial throne.
, a traditionalist Catholic organization which opposes land reform
. After he succeeded Prince Pedro Henrique as the claimant to the Brazilian throne by the Vassouras branch, many royalists started questioning the desirability of having as their de jure Emperor a person belonging to this organization.
At some point, the idea that Prince Luís should renounce his claim to the throne in favour of his brother Prince Antônio
(the second in line of succession, Prince Bertrand
is also a member of the organization), gained momentum among royalists. Meetings were held between spokesmen for the two branches of the Brazilian Imperial Family, and Prince Antônio's name as claimant to the Brazilian throne was apparently accepted. Prince Antônio, however, chose not to ascend to his older brother's position by such means.
He has been styled as Prince and as His Imperial and Royal Highness throughout his life. In Brazil, where the honorific "Dom
" has disappeared from everyday use, he is regularly called "Dom Luís".
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Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza
Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza , was a great-grandson of the last emperor of Brazil, Pedro II, and one of two claimants to the abolished throne.-Early life in Europe:...
, grandson of Luís of Orléans-Braganza, great-grandson of Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil
Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil
Dona Isabel , nicknamed "the Redemptress", was the heiress presumptive to the throne of the Empire of Brazil, bearing the title of Princess Imperial....
, and Prince Gaston, Count of Eu, and great-great-grandson of Emperor Dom Pedro II
Pedro II of Brazil
Dom Pedro II , nicknamed "the Magnanimous", was the second and last ruler of the Empire of Brazil, reigning for over 58 years. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he was the seventh child of Emperor Dom Pedro I of Brazil and Empress Dona Maria Leopoldina and thus a member of the Brazilian branch of...
.
Biography
Prince Luís was born in Mandelieu-la-NapouleMandelieu-la-Napoule
Mandelieu-La Napoule is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France, located on the French Riviera just to the southwest of Cannes and northeast of Théoule-sur-Mer....
, Alpes-Maritimes
Alpes-Maritimes
Alpes-Maritimes is a department in the extreme southeast corner of France.- History : was created by Octavian as a Roman military district in 14 BC, and became a full Roman province in the middle of the 1st century with its capital first at Cemenelum and subsequently at Embrun...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, to Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza
Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza
Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza , was a great-grandson of the last emperor of Brazil, Pedro II, and one of two claimants to the abolished throne.-Early life in Europe:...
(1909–1981) and Princess Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria
Princess Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria
align=right|Princess Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria was the eldest daughter of Prince Franz of Bavaria, third son of King Ludwig III of Bavaria.-Early life:...
(1914–2011), of the House of Wittelsbach. He is the oldest of twelve children.
He was baptized
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
in the chapel of Mas-Saint-Louis, a cottage belonging to his grandmother, Princess Maria di Grazia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
Princess Maria di Grazia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
Princess Maria di Grazia Pia Chiara Anna of Bourbon-Two Sicilies) was a Princess of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and Princess Imperial consort of Brazil through her marriage to Prince Luís of Orléans-Braganza.-Family:Maria was the daughter of Prince Alfonso of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Count of Caserta and his...
(1878–1973). She and his maternal uncle Louis, Prince of Bavaria (1913–2008) stood as godparents. Jurist and professor Alcibiades Delamare Nogueira da Gama was his godfather in his chrism
Chrism
Chrism , also called "Myrrh" , Holy anointing oil, or "Consecrated Oil", is a consecrated oil used in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Rite Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, in the Assyrian Church of the East, and in Old-Catholic churches, as well as Anglican churches in the administration...
.
Although Prince Luís was born after the revocation
Revocation
Revocation is the act of recall or annulment. It is the reversal of an act, the recalling of a grant, or the making void of some deed previously existing.-Contract law:...
of the exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
that had been imposed on the Imperial family by Brazil's first Republican government
History of Brazil (1889-1930)
The period of Brazilian history from 1889 to 1930 is commonly called the República Velha . The República Velha ended in 1930 with a military coup that installed a dictator.-Overview:...
, the aftermath of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
detained the entire family in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
until 1945, when the Vassouras branch of the family was finally repatriated
Repatriation
Repatriation is the process of returning a person back to one's place of origin or citizenship. This includes the process of returning refugees or soldiers to their place of origin following a war...
, settling in the town of Petrópolis
Petrópolis
Petrópolis , also known as The Imperial City of Brazil, is a town in the state of Rio de Janeiro, about 65 km from the city of Rio de Janeiro....
. He currently resides in São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
.
According to the legitimist claims, he is de jure Emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
(Luís I of Brazil). He is viewed as the pretender
Pretender
A pretender is one who claims entitlement to an unavailable position of honour or rank. Most often it refers to a former monarch, or descendant thereof, whose throne is occupied or claimed by a rival, or has been abolished....
to the Brazilian Imperial throne.
Traditionalism
Prince Luís is a member of the Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and PropertyAmerican Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property
The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property is a civic organization of traditional Roman Catholic inspiration...
, a traditionalist Catholic organization which opposes land reform
Land reform
[Image:Jakarta farmers protest23.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Farmers protesting for Land Reform in Indonesia]Land reform involves the changing of laws, regulations or customs regarding land ownership. Land reform may consist of a government-initiated or government-backed property redistribution,...
. After he succeeded Prince Pedro Henrique as the claimant to the Brazilian throne by the Vassouras branch, many royalists started questioning the desirability of having as their de jure Emperor a person belonging to this organization.
At some point, the idea that Prince Luís should renounce his claim to the throne in favour of his brother Prince Antônio
Prince Antonio of Orléans-Braganza
Prince Antônio of Orléans-Braganza , whose baptismal name is Antônio João Maria José Jorge Miguel Gabriel Rafael Gonzaga de Orléans e Bragança e Wittelsbach, is a member of the Imperial House of Brazil...
(the second in line of succession, Prince Bertrand
Prince Bertrand of Orléans-Braganza
Prince Bertrand of Orléans-Braganza is a member of the Imperial House of Brazil. According to the disputed claims of the Vassouras branch of the family, he is first in the line of succession to the defunct Brazilian throne, and consequently the current Prince Imperial of Brazil.-Biography:The...
is also a member of the organization), gained momentum among royalists. Meetings were held between spokesmen for the two branches of the Brazilian Imperial Family, and Prince Antônio's name as claimant to the Brazilian throne was apparently accepted. Prince Antônio, however, chose not to ascend to his older brother's position by such means.
Titles and styles
He has been styled as Prince and as His Imperial and Royal Highness throughout his life. In Brazil, where the honorific "Dom
Don (honorific)
Don, from Latin dominus, is an honorific in Spanish , Portuguese , and Italian . The female equivalent is Doña , Dona , and Donna , abbreviated "Dª" or simply "D."-Usage:...
" has disappeared from everyday use, he is regularly called "Dom Luís".
External links
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