Prince Antônio of Orléans-Braganza
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Prince Antônio of Orléans-Braganza (born June 24, 1950 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), 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, being third in line to the defunct Brazilian throne, according to monarchist claims. The prince is commonly addressed using the prefix Dom (Antônio), as are his brothers.
Under the monarchy, the title Prince of Grão-Pará would usually have been borne by a prince who stands in Antônio's position in Brazil's line of succession. But that title was constitutionally reserved for the eldest son of the heir to the throne, whereas Antônio is only the next (dynastically eligible) brother of the heir (see below).
Antônio's eldest brother is Prince Luiz of Orléans-Braganza, the current Head of the Brazilian Imperial Family and, from a monarchist perspective, de jure Emperor Luiz I of Brazil, born in 1938 and often referred to as the Prince of Brazil. After Dom Luiz in the succession order comes Prince Bertrand, born 1941, who, as heir presumptive to the throne would be the Prince Imperial if his eldest brother were actually reigning, and who is often accorded that style in royalist circles.
Although he is only the seventh son of the late Brazilian pretender Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza, Antônio follows Luís and Bertrand in the succession order because his other three older brothers renounced their claims to the throne in order to marry commoners.
In 1976, Prince Antônio earned a bachelor's degree in Engineering (with a specialization in Major Structural Projects) from the University of Barra do Piraí, in Rio de Janeiro. He is also an artist, usually painting water colors.
[edit] Marriage
In 1980, in Munich, Prince Antônio met his future wife for the first time, Princess Cristina de Ligne.
Born August 11, 1955 in Belœil, Belgium) Cristina is a daughter of Antoine, the late 13th Prince de Ligne, head of one of Belgium's foremost noble families, mediatized in 1803. Her mother is Princess Alix of Luxembourg (born 1929), a sister of Grand Duke Jean. On her mother's side, Princess Cristina is a descendant in the fifth generation of King John VI of Portugal, is a great-granddaughter of Miguel I of Portugal, and a great-great-niece of Brazil's first emperor, Pedro I. Alix is also titled, by birth, Princess of Bourbon-Parma and Princess of Nassau. Through her, Cristina is in the order of succession to the Luxembourgeois crown, as are her Orléans-Braganza children.
The couple were married in 1981 and their first son, Prince Pedro Luís of Orléans-Braganza, is currently thrird in line to the Brazilian throne, having been born in 1983. Prince Antônio's three other children, all in Brazil's line of succession with females following males, are Princess Amélia (born 1984, Prince Rafael (born 1986), and Princess Maria Gabriela Fernanda, (born 1989).
Prince Antônio lives with his family in Petropolis, in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
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Prince Antônio of Orléans-Braganza
Cadet branch of the House of Orléans
Born: June 24 1950 |
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| Brazilian royalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Prince Bertrand |
Line of succession to the Brazilian throne 2nd position |
Succeeded by Prince Pedro Luís |
| French royalty | ||
| Preceded by Prince Fernando Diniz of Orléans-Braganza |
Orléanist line of succession to the French throne 34th position |
Succeeded by Prince Pedro Luís of Orléans-Braganza |
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