Miguel II, Duke of Braganza
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Miguel II of Bragança (pron. IPA: /mi.'ɣɛɫ/), (full name Miguel Maria Carlos Egídio Constantino Gabriel Rafael Gonzaga Francisco de Paula e de Assis Januário de Bragança) (September 19, 1853- October 11, 1927) was the Miguelist claimant to the throne of Portugal from 1866 to 1920. He used the title Duke of Braganza.
Miguel was born in Kleinheubach Castle near Miltenberg, Bavaria, during the exile in Germany of his father, former King Miguel I of Portugal. His mother was Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg.
By the Portuguese law of banishment of 1834 and the constitution of 1838 Miguel was forbidden to enter Portugal. Therefore, he was educated in Germany and Austria. He was a member of the staff of Emperor Franz Josef of Austria and took part in the occupation of Bosnia. It is said that the emperor liked Miguel immensely and granted him the privilege of extra-territoriality that allowed him to remain Portuguese, despite the rejection of Portugal.
Miguel held the rank of a colonel in the 7th Austrian Regiment of Hussars. During World War I, he held the rank of Lieutenant General (Feldmarschalleutnant) in the Austrian army. He resigned in 1917 when Portugal entered the conflict on the opposite side, and spent the rest of the war as a civilian in the Order of Malta. After the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Miguel and his family were thrown into relative poverty.
[edit] Miguel's descendants
- First marriage, with Princess Elisabeth of Thurn and Taxis (May 28, 1860 - February 7, 1881), on October 17, 1877 in Regensburg
- Miguel of Bragança (1878-1923)
- Francisco José of Bragança (1879-1919)
- Maria Teresa of Bragança (1881-1945)
- Second marriage, with Princess Maria Theresa of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenborg
- Isabel Maria of Bragança (1894-1970), married Prince Franz of Thurn and Taxis
- Maria Benedita of Bragança (1896-1971)
- Mafalda of Bragança (1898-1918)
- Maria Ana of Bragança (1899-1971), married Prince Karl of Thurn and Taxis
- Maria Antónia of Bragança (1903-1973), married Ashley Chandler
- Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza (1907-1976)
- Maria Adelaide of Bragança (born 1912), married Nicolau van Uden
In 1920, after some family quarrels with his older son, Miguel II abdicated his claims as king of Portugal in favour of his third son Duarte Nuno who was only 13 years old at the time.
Miguel died in Seebenstein, on October 11, 1927. He is buried at Kloster Maria Himmelfahrt in Bronnbach.
Miguel was a knight of the Bavarian Order of St. Hubert and of the Austrian Order of the Golden Fleece.
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[edit] External link
| House of Braganza Cadet Branch of the House of Aviz Born: 19 September 1853 Died: 11 October 1927 |
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| Titles in pretence | ||
| Preceded by King Miguel |
* NOT REIGNING * King of Portugal Miguelist line (1866–1920) |
Succeeded by Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza |
| Vacant Title last held by Luís Filipe, Duke of Braganza |
Duke of Braganza 1910–1920 |
Succeeded by Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza |
