Descendants of John VI of Portugal

King John VI of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves.

The descendants of John VI of Portugal , from the main branch of the House of Braganza, are present in several royal families across Europe and Brazil. Through his second son, Miguel I, some of his descendants have become rulers in Belgium, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein, while others have been claimants to the thrones of Portugal, Austria-Hungary, and the former Duchy of Parma. Constitutional amendments regarding succession led to disputes following John VI's death. ^[1]

Background

The Family of John VI Embarking from Belém, Lisbon; 1810.

John Vl was born on May 13, 1767 in Lisbon, as the second son of Maria I and Pedro III. On May 8, 1785, John VI married Carlota Joaquina of Spain. They remained married until his death, having nine children during their union. ^[2]

Throne of Portugal

John VI became heir to the Portuguese throne in 1788 after his brother, José, Prince of Brazil, died of smallpox.

In 1799, John VI became prince regent for his mother, Maria I. Spain and France soon declared war and invaded Portugal under Napoleon Bonaparte, initiating the War of the Oranges. Although peace was attained, the Portuguese Empire suffered major territorial losses as a result. ^[3]

Court in Rio de Janeiro

In 1807, the French Army invaded Portugal during the War of the Fourth Coalition. To avoid conflict, John VI relocated the Portuguese court and capital to colonial Brazil. John VI then elevated Brazil to the status of a kingdom to form the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves.

In Rio de Janeiro, John VI established his court. When his mother, Maria I died in 1816, John VI was acclaimed king of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves. By this time, Napoleon had been defeated, and the European courts demanded the return of the Portuguese court to Europe. John VI returned to the court in Europe, leaving his son Pedro, later Pedro I of Brazil, as regent, since he refused to return to Europe. Pedro later declared the independence of Brazil.

Division of House of Braganza

John VI's death in 1826 triggered a succession crisis over the Portuguese throne, with succession disputed among John VI's eldest sons and his granddaughter. This resulted in a split of the House of Braganza into three branches: the Portuguese House of Braganza, the Brazilian House of Braganza, and the Miguelist House of Braganza.

Descendants

Maria Teresa of Braganza, Princess of Beira

Descendant	Image	Birth	Marriages	Death
Maria Teresa of Braganza, Princess of Beira 1793–1874		April 29, 1793 Palace of Ajuda Daughter of John VI and Carlota Joaquina of Spain	Infante Pedro Carlos of Spain and Portugal May 13, 1810 1 child Carlos V of Spain (Carlist) June 1838 No children	January 17, 1874 Trieste Aged 80
Infante Sebastian of Portugal and Spain 1811–1875		November 4, 1811 Rio de Janeiro Son of Maria Teresa, Princess of Beira and Infante Pedro Carlos of Spain and Portugal	Maria Amalia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies May 25, 1832 No children Maria Cristina of Spain November 19, 1860 5 children	January 13, 1875 Pau Aged 63
Francisco María, Duke of Marchena 1861–1923		August 20, 1861 Madrid Son of Infante Sebastian of Portugal and Spain and Maria Cristina of Spain	María del Pilar of Muguiro and Beruete January 7, 1886 3 children	November 17, 1923 Neuilly-sur-Seine Aged 62
María Cristina, Duchess of Marchena 1889–1981		July 27, 1889 Paris Daughter of Francisco María, Duke of Marchena and María del Pilar of Muguiro and Beruete	Leopold Walford November 11, 1911 2 children	October 3, 1981 London Aged 92
Juan Jorge, Duke of Ansola and Marchena 1912–1999		August 20, 1912 Paris Son of María Cristina, Duchess of Marchena and Leopold Walford	Emanuela Hawkins 1935 7 children	February 22, 1999 London Aged 87
Juan Jacobo, former Duke of Marchena 1941–present		July 27, 1941 London Son of Juan Jorge, Duke of Ansola and Marchena and Emanuela Hawkins	Not married

Francisco António of Braganza, Prince of Beira

Descendant	Image	Birth	Marriages	Death
Francisco António of Braganza, Prince of Beira 1795–1801		March 21, 1795 Queluz Palace Son of John VI and Carlota Joaquina of Spain	Never married	June 11, 1801 Queluz Palace Aged 6

Maria Isabel of Braganza

Descendant	Image	Birth	Marriages	Death
Maria Isabel of Braganza 1797–1818		May 19, 1797 Queluz Palace Daughter of John VI and Carlota Joaquina of Spain	Ferdinand VII of Spain September 29, 1816 1 child	December 26, 1818 Royal Palace of Madrid Aged 21

Pedro I & IV

As Pedro IV of Portugal (senior branch)

Descendant	Portrait	Birth	Marriages	Death
Pedro IV of Portugal 1826–1826		October 12, 1798 Queluz, Sintra son of John VI of Portugal and Charlotte of Spain	Maria Leopoldina of Austria 1817 7 children Amélie of Leuchtenberg 1829 1 child	September 24, 1834 Queluz, Sintra Aged 35
Maria II of Portugal 1826–1853		April 4, 1819 Rio de Janeiro daughter of Pedro I and IV of Brazil and Portugal and Maria Leopoldina of Austria	Auguste de Beauharnais, 2nd Duke of Leuchtenberg 1834 No children Fernando of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha 1837 11 children	November 15, 1853 Lisbon Aged 34
Pedro V of Portugal 1853–1861		September 16, 1837 Lisbon son of Maria II of Portugal and Fernando II of Portugal	Stephanie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen 1858 No children	November 11, 1861 Lisbon Aged 24
Luís I of Portugal 1861–1889		October 31, 1838 Lisbon son of Maria II of Portugal and Fernando II of Portugal brother of Pedro V of Portugal	Maria Pia of Savoy 1863 2 children	October 19, 1889 Lisbon Aged 50
Carlos I of Portugal 1889–1908		September 28, 1863 Lisbon son of Luís I of Portugal and Maria Pia of Savoy	Amélie of Orléans 1886 3 children	February 1, 1908 Lisbon Aged 44
Luís Filipe, Prince Royal of Portugal 1908–1908		March 21, 1887 Lisbon son of Carlos I of Portugal and Amélie of Orléans	Never married	February 1, 1908 Lisbon Aged 20
Manuel II of Portugal 1908–1910		March 19, 1889 Lisbon son of Carlos I of Portugal and Amélie of Orléans brother of Luís Filipe, Prince Royal of Portugal	Augusta Victoria of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen 1913 No children	July 2, 1932 Fulwell, London Aged 42

As Pedro I of Brazil (junior branch)

Descendant	Portrait	Birth	Marriages	Death
Pedro I of Brazil 1821–1831		October 12, 1798 Queluz, Sintra son of John VI of Portugal and Charlotte of Spain	Maria Leopoldina of Austria 1817 7 children Amélie of Leuchtenberg 1829 1 child	September 24, 1834 Queluz, Sintra Aged 35
Pedro II of Brazil 1831–1891		December 2, 1825 Rio de Janeiro son of Pedro I of Brazil and Maria Leopoldina of Austria	Teresa of the Two Sicilies September 17, 1842 4 children	December 5, 1891 Paris Aged 66
Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil 1891–1921		July 29, 1846 Rio de Janeiro daughter of Pedro II of Brazil and Teresa of the Two Sicilies	Gaston, Count of Eu October 15, 1864 3 children	November 14, 1921 Eu, Seine-Maritime Aged 75
Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza 1921–1981		September 13, 1909 Boulogne-Billancourt son of Prince Luís of Orléans-Braganza and Princess Maria di Grazia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies	Princess Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria August 19, 1937 12 children	July 5, 1981 Vassouras Aged 71
Prince Luiz of Orléans-Braganza 1981–2022		June 6, 1938 Mandelieu-la-Napoule son of Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza and Princess Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria	Never married	July 15, 2022 São Paulo Aged 84
Prince Bertrand of Orléans-Braganza 1941–present		February 2, 1941 Mandelieu-la-Napoule son of Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza and Princess Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria	Not married

Maria Francisca of Braganza

Descendant	Image	Birth	Marriages	Death
Maria Francisca of Braganza 1800–1834		April 22, 1800 Queluz Palace daughter of John VI and Carlota Joaquina of Spain	Infante Carlos, Count of Molina September 22, 1816 3 children	September 4, 1834 Alverstoke Aged 34
Infante Carlos, Count of Montemolin 1818–1861		January 31, 1818 Madrid son of Maria Francisca of Portugal and Infante Carlos, Count of Molina	Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies July 10, 1850 No children	January 13, 1861 Trieste Aged 43
Juan, Count of Montizón 1822–1887		May 15, 1822 Royal Palace of Aranjuez son of Maria Francisca of Portugal and Infante Carlos, Count of Molina	Maria Beatrix of Austria-Este February 6, 1847 2 children	November 18, 1887 Hove Aged 65
Carlos, Duke of Madrid 1848–1909		March 30, 1848 Ljubljana son of Juan, Count of Montizón and Maria Beatrix of Austria-Este	Margherita of Bourbon-Parma February 4, 1867 5 children Berthe de Rohan April 28, 1894 No children	July 18, 1909 Varese Aged 61
Jaime, Duke of Madrid 1870–1931		June 27, 1870 Vevey son of Carlos, Duke of Madrid and Margherita of Bourbon-Parma	Never married	October 2, 1931 Paris Aged 61
Infanta Blanca of Spain 1868–1949		September 7, 1868 Graz daughter of Carlos, Duke of Madrid and Margherita of Bourbon-Parma	Leopold Salvator, Prince of Tuscany October 24, 1889 10 children	October 25, 1949 Viareggio Aged 81
Anton, Prince of Tuscany 1901–1987		March 20, 1901 Vienna son of Blanca of Spain and Leopold Salvator, Prince of Tuscany	Ileana of Romania July 26, 1931 6 children	October 22, 1987 Salzburg Aged 86
Archduke Stefan of Austria 1932–1998		August 15, 1932 Mödling son of Anton, Prince of Tuscany and Ileana of Romania	Mary Jerrine Soper August 26, 1954 5 children	November 12, 1998 Brighton Aged 66
Christopher Habsburg-Lothringen 1957–present		January 26, 1957 Boston son of Archduke Stefan of Austria and Mary Jerrine Soper	Elizabeth Ann Blanchette May 2, 1987 2 children
Saygan Genevieve Habsburg-Lothringen 1987–present		October 31, 1987 Mill Valley son of Christopher Habsburg-Lothringen and Elizabeth Ann Blanchette	Not married

Isabel Maria of Braganza

Descendant	Image	Birth	Marriages	Death
Isabel Maria of Braganza 1801–1876		July 4, 1801 Queluz Palace daughter of John VI and Carlota Joaquina of Spain	Never married	April 22, 1876 Belém Aged 74

Miguel I of Portugal

Descendant	Image	Birth	Marriages	Death
Miguel I of Portugal 1802–1866		October 26, 1802 Queluz Palace son of John VI and Carlota Joaquina of Spain	Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg September 24, 1851 7 children	November 14, 1866 Esselbach Aged 64
Miguel, Duke of Braganza 1853–1927		September 19, 1853 Kleinheubach son of Miguel I and Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg	Elisabeth of Thurn and Taxis October 17, 1877 3 children Maria Theresa of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg November 8, 1893 8 children	October 11, 1927 Seebenstein Aged 74
Miguel, Duke of Viseu 1878–1923		September 22, 1878 Reichenau an der Rax son of Miguel, Duke of Braganza and Elisabeth of Thurn and Taxis	Anita Stewart Morris September 15, 1909 3 children (declared morganatic)	February 21, 1923 New York City Aged 44
Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza 1907–1976		September 23, 1907 Seebenstein son of Miguel, Duke of Braganza and Maria Theresa of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg	Francisca of Orléans-Braganza October 15, 1942 3 children	December 24, 1976 Seebenstein Aged 69
Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza 1945–present		May 15, 1945 Bern son of Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza and Francisca of Orléans-Braganza	Isabel Inês de Castro Curvelo de Herédia May 13, 1995 3 children
Afonso, Prince of Beira 1996–present		March 25, 1996 Lisbon son of Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza and Isabel Inês de Castro Curvelo de Herédia	Not married

Maria da Assunção of Braganza

Descendant	Image	Birth	Marriages	Death
Maria da Assunção of Braganza 1805–1834		June 25, 1805 Queluz Palace daughter of John VI and Carlota Joaquina of Spain	Never married	January 7, 1834 Santarém Aged 29

Ana de Jesus Maria of Braganza

Descendant	Image	Birth	Marriages	Death
Ana de Jesus Maria of Braganza 1806–1834		October 23, 1806 Mafra Palace daughter of John VI and Carlota Joaquina of Spain	Nuno de Mendoça Rolim de Moura Barreto, Duke of Loulé December 5, 1827 5 children	June 22, 1857 Rome Aged 50
Pedro de Mendoça Rolim de Moura Barreto, Duke of Loulé 1830–1909		October 7, 1830 Paris son of Ana de Jesus Maria of Portugal and Nuno de Mendoça Rolim de Moura Barreto, Duke of Loulé	Constança Maria de Figueiredo Cabral da Camara April 19, 1852 2 children	March 2, 1909 Belém Aged 79
Maria de Mendoça Rolim de Moura Barreto, Duchess of Loulé 1853–1928		March 3, 1853 Belém daughter of Pedro de Mendoça Rolim de Moura Barreto, Duke of Loulé and Constança Maria de Figueiredo Cabral da Camara	João Maria dos Enfermos da Camara Berquó June 18, 1887 1 child	September 12, 1928 Belém Aged 75
Constança de Mendoça Rolim de Moura Barreto, Duchess of Loulé 1889–1967		August 18, 1889 Belém daughter of Maria de Mendoça Rolim de Moura Barreto, Duchess of Loulé and João Maria dos Enfermos da Camara Berquó	José Pedro de Basto Feio Folque May 22, 1921 5 children	December 14, 1967 Belém Aged 79
Alberto de Mendoça Rolim de Moura Barreto, Duke of Loulé 1923–2003		July 10, 1923 Belém son of Constança de Mendoça Rolim de Moura Barreto, Duchess of Loulé and José Pedro de Basto Feio Folque	Maria Augusta Amélia de Morais Cardoso de Menezes July 8, 1953 8 children	September 24, 2003 Cascais Aged 80
Pedro de Mendoça Rolim de Moura Barreto, Duke of Loulé 1958–present		March 9, 1958 Lisbon son of Alberto de Mendoça Rolim de Moura Barreto, Duke of Loulé and Maria Augusta Amélia de Morais Cardoso de Menezes	Margarida Corrêa de Barros Vaz Pinto 1997 2 children
D. Henrique Nuno de Mendoça Rolim de Moura Barreto 1997–present		August 21, 1997 Lisbon son of Pedro de Mendoça Rolim de Moura Barreto, Duke of Loulé and Margarida Corrêa de Barros Vaz Pinto	Not married

See also

• Descendants of Manuel I of Portugal
• Descendants of Miguel I of Portugal

References

1. Carolina Galante Delmas, Ana (2020-09-01). "PRINCESS ISABEL MARIA DE BRAGANÇA: REGENT OF PORTUGAL BETWEEN D. PEDRO AND D. MIGUEL1" . Revista do Instituto Histórico e Geográfico Brasileiro. 484: 75–106. doi:10.23927/issn.2526-1347.RIHGB.2020(484):75-106.
2. "Carlota Joaquina: the 'spoilt' princess who became the 'shrew of Queluz'". www.parquesdesintra.pt. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
3. "House of Bragança | Monarchy, Dynasty, Portugal | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-11-08.