|
Prince Miguel of Braganza
|
Prince Miguel of Braganza, Duke of Viseu (Miguel Maximiliano Sebastão Maria; 22 September 1878 - 21 February 1923) was an Infante of Portugal and member of the House of Braganza.
Early life
Miguel was born in Reichenau an der Rax, Austria-Hungary the eldest son and heir apparent of the Miguelist pretender to the Portuguese throne Miguel II, Duke of Braganza and his first wife Princess Elisabeth of Thurn und Taxis. Prince Miguel's father was the head of the non reigning branch of the Portuguese Royal House that had been exiled from Portugal. The exile was the result of the Portuguese law of banishment of 1834 and the constitution of 1838 which was brought about because his grandfather Miguel of Portugal had in 1828 usurped the throne of Portugal from Queen Maria II. His grandfather reigned as king until 1834 when Maria II was restored.
Like his father Miguel pursed a career in the Army and served in a Saxon cavalry regiment. On 16 September 1900 Miguel was riding back into town in a Phaeton after having attended a dinner at a country house, when he caught his wheels in the carriage of Prince Albert of Saxony the son of Prince George, and nephew of the reigning king Albert. The collision was so great the Prince Albert's carriage overturned into a ditch, with Prince Albert dying a few hours after. Because it could not be determined whether it was a accident or intentional Miguel escaped a court martial but he was forced to give up his commission in the Army and leave the country.[1]
Marriage and children
On 9 July 1909 Miguel's engagement to the American heiress, Anita Stewart (1886-1977) was announced in London. Anita Stewart was the daughter of William Rhinelander Stewart and Annie Armstrong. After her parents divorced in August 1906 her mother married the millionaire James Henry Smith.[2]
Miguel and Anita Stewart were married at Tulloch Castle near Dingwall in Scotland on 15 September 1909. Shortly before the wedding Anita was created Princess of Braganza by the Austrian Emperor Francis Joseph.[3] Upon his marriage Miguel was able to keep his place in the line of succession as morganatic marriages did not exist in Portuguese law.[4]
From their marriage Miguel and his wife had three children.[5]
| Name |
Birth |
Death |
Notes |
| Nadejda de Bragança |
28 June 1910 |
13 June 1946 |
She was married firstly in 1930 to Wlodzimierz Dorozynski with whom she had one son before divorcing in 1932. She was married for a second time in London on 29 January 1942 to René Millet. She died after fall which was later ruled to be suicide. |
| John de Bragança |
7 September 1912 |
12 March 1991 |
A Harvard graduate he served in the US Navy during World War II, later becoming vice president and treasurer of the Rhinelander Real Estate Company and an investment banker.[6] He was married firstly in New York on 21 May 1948 to Winifred Dodge Seyburn with whom he had one son before divorcing in 1953. He was married secondly on 15 May 1971 to Katherine King. |
| Miguel de Bragança |
February 8, 1915 |
February 7, 1996 |
He worked as a civil airlines pilot and was married in Miami on 18 November 1946 to Anne Hughson with whom he had two daughters. |
Later life
After his marriage Miguel was granted the title Duke of Viseu by his father, through the reigning Portuguese King Manuel II did not recognise this and claimed the title for himself.[7] Shortly after his marriage, Miguel faced legal action from a syndicate who had lent him money some years previous when he was in financial difficulties. After promising to pay the syndicate one-fifth of any dowry he received as a result of contracting a rich marriage he later tried to pay back only what he had originally borrowed.[8] Although he paid off the majority of his creditors after his wedding some were unhappy and seized his furniture and other items and took them to an Auction house.[9]
Miguel later found work in London where he was employed as a Broker's clerk for the city firm Basil Montgomery, Fitzgerald and co.[7] After originally being forced to resign from the Army, he returned to serve in the German automobile corps during the First World War reaching the rank of Captain.[10]
After the war on 21 July 1920 Miguel renounced for himself and his descendants, his rights of succession to the Portuguese throne.[5] His father also renounced his rights ten days later which resulted in the Miguelist claim passing to his younger half brother Duarte Nuno.
Prince Miguel later moved to New York where he sold life insurance before dying of pneumonia following an influenza attack.[11][12]
Ancestry
|
Ancestors of Prince Miguel of Braganza |
|
|
References
- ^ A Veteran Diplomat (1909-07-18). "Where Americans Lose Caste", New York Times, p. SM2.
- ^ "Anita Stewart Will Wed Prince Miguel", New York Times (1909-09-07), p. 1.
- ^ "Miss Stewart A Princess", New York Times (1909-07-10), p. 1.
- ^ "Miss Stewart Weds; Holds To Her Faith", New York Times (1909-09-16), p. 1.
- ^ a b Pike, Charlotte (1998). Almanach de Gotha, 182nd, Almanach de Gotha, 186. ISBN 0953214206.
- ^ "John de Braganca, Investment Banker, 79", New York Times (1991-03-15). Retrieved on 2008-07-07.
- ^ a b "Braganza A Broker's Clerk", New York Times (1911-01-17), p. 1.
- ^ "Braganza Sued For Million", New York Times (1909-12-07), p. 1.
- ^ "Braganza's Effects Seized", New York Times (1910-02-09), p. 1.
- ^ "Prince Miguel Promoted", New York Times (1917-05-20), p. 11.
- ^ "Royal Prince Sells Life Insurance Here", New York Times (1923-01-03), p. 1.
- ^ "Prince Miguel Dies From Pneumonia", New York Times (1923-02-22), p. 15.
|
