FAQ

Here are some questions and answers about the Portuguese monarchy (which was abolished in 1910). If you have any more questions, just add them on the The Franco-Iberian Royals Message Board.
If you find any examples of bad grammar or spelling, and I am sure you will, do not hesitate to tell me. I will appreciate it.
This page was last updated on 4 of March 2003.
 
1. What is the name of the Portuguese Royal House and how did this family gain the throne?
2. Could a woman become Queen Regnant in Portugal?
3. Have there been any Queen Regnants in Portugal?
4. Where can I find the part of the Constitution that regards the succession in English?
5. Who are in line of succession to the Portuguese throne?
6. Who was the last King to be crowned?
7. Which Monarch reigned for the longest period?
8. Which Monarch reigned for the shortest period?
9. Which are the Portuguese noble titles?
10. What was the Portuguese Royal Coat of Arms?
11. Which are the Royal Regalias?
12. Which are the Portuguese Orders?
13. How is the Duke of Bragança related to other European Monarchs?

1. What is the name of the Portuguese Royal House and how did this family gain the throne?
The name is Bragança. Joao IV liberated Portugal in 1640. The country had belonged to the Spanish Kings for 60 years.

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2. Could a woman become Queen Regnant in Portugal?
Yes.

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3. Have there been any Queen Regnants in Portugal?
Yes, Maria I and Maria II.

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4. Where can I find the part of the Constitution that regards the succession in English?
You can find it right here. (From the Constitution of 1826.)

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5. Who are in line of succession to the Portuguese throne?
This is the list:
1. H.R.H. Dom Duarte, Duke of Bragança
2. H.R.H. Dom Afonso, Prince of Beira, Infant of Portugal
3. H.R.H. Dom Dinis, Infant of Portugal
4. H.R.H. Dona Maria Francisca, Infanta of Portugal
5. H.R.H. Dom Miguel, Duke of Viseu, Infant of Portugal
6. H.R.H. Dom Henrique, Duke of Coimbra, Infant of Portugal

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6. Who was the last King to be crowned?
That was Filipe III. Ever since Joao IV the Portuguese crown belongs to Virgin Mary. He donated it to thank her for her help in getting rid of the Spaniards.

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7. Which Monarch reigned for the longest period?
That was Joao I, who reigned for 48 years in 1385-1433.

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8. Which Monarch reigned for the shortest period?
King Antonio I in 1580.

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9. Which are the Portuguese noble titles?
Duque, Marquês, Conde, Visconde and Barao.

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10. What was the Portuguese Royal Coat of Arms?
You find a picture here:

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11. Which are the Royal Regalias?
To be answered.

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12. Which are the Portuguese Orders?
To be answered.

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13. How is the Duke of Bragança related to other European Monarchs?
Denmark
Prince Duarte Pio and Queen Margrethe II are fifth cousins. They are descendants of Franz Friedrich, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. These are the lines: Franz Friedrich - Ferdinand - Victoria - Gaston - Pierre - Maria Francisca - Duarte Pio and Franz Friedrich - Ernst I - Albert - Arthur - Margaret - Ingrid - Margrethe II.
Sweden
Prince Duarte Pio and King Carl XVI Gustaf are fourth cousins once removed. They are descendants of Karl Ludwig, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. These are the lines: Karl Ludwig - Marie - Adelheid - Miguel - Duarte Nuno - Duarte Pio and Karl Ludwig - Ernst - Adelheid - Karoline Mathilde - Victoria Adelheid - Sibylla - Carl XVI Gustaf.
Norway
Prince Duarte Pio and King Harald V are fifth cousins. They are descendants of Franz Friedrich, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. These are the lines: Franz Friedrich - Ferdinand - Victoria - Gaston - Pierre - Maria Francisca - Duarte Pio and Franz Friedrich - Ernst I - Albert - Edward VII - Maud - Olav V - Harald V.
United Kingdom
Prince Duarte Pio and Queen Elizabeth II are fifth cousins. They are descendants of Franz Friedrich, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. These are the lines: Franz Friedrich - Ferdinand - Victoria - Gaston - Pierre - Maria Francisca - Duarte Pio and Franz Friedrich - Ernst - Albert - Edward VII - George V - George VI - Elizabeth II.
Belgium
Prince Duarte Pio and King Albert II are second cousins once removed. They are descendants of King Miguel I of Portugal. These are the lines: Miguel I - Miguel - Duarte Nuno - Duarte Pio and Miguel I - Marie José - Elisabeth - Leopold III - Albert II.
Luxembourg
Prince Duarte Pio and Grand Duke Henri are second cousins once removed. They are descendants of King Miguel I of Portugal. These are the lines: Miguel I - Miguel - Duarte Nuno - Duarte Pio and Miguel I - Maria Ana - Charlotte - Jean I - Henri.
The Netherlands
Prince Duarte Pio and Queen Beatrix are fourth cousins once removed. They are descendants of Karl Ludwig, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. These are the lines: Karl Ludwig - Marie - Adelheid - Miguel - Duarte Nuno - Duarte Pio and Karl Ludwig - Emelie - Adelheid - Ernst - Bernhard - Bernhard - Beatrix.
Liechtenstein
Prince Duarte Pio and Prince Hans Adam II are second cousins once removed. They are descendants of King Miguel I of Portugal. These are the lines: Miguel I - Miguel - Duarte Nuno - Duarte Pio and Miguel I - Maria Teresa - Elisabeth - Franz Josef II - Hans Adam II.
Monaco
Prince Duarte Pio and Prince Rainier II are seventh cousins once removed. They are descendants of Ludwig, Count of Nassau-Saarbrücken. These are the lines: Ludwig - Louise - Caroline - Karl Ludwig - Marie - Adelheid - Miguel I - Duarte Nuno - Duarte Pio and Ludwig - Karoline - Karoline - Amalie Friederike - Karl Ludwig - Marie Elisabeth - Mary Victoria Douglas-Hamilton - Louis II - Charlotte - Rainier III.
Spain
Prince Duarte Pio and King Juan Carlos I are fourth cousins. They are descendants of the French King Louis Philippe I. These are the lines: Louis Philippe I - Louis - Gaston - Pedro de Alcántara - Maria Francisca - Duarte Pio and Louis Philippe I - Ferdinand Philippe - Louis Philippe - Louise - Maria de las Mercedes - Juan Carlos I.

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