Afonso, Prince Imperial of Brazil

19th century Brazilian heir to throne

Afonso

Prince Imperial of Brazil

Afonso at age 2 wearing the blue band of the Order of the Southern Cross, 1846

Born| (1845-02-23)23 February 1845
Palace of São Cristóvão, Rio de Janeiro, Empire of Brazil
Died| (1847-06-11)11 June 1847
(2 years, 108 days)
Palace of São Cristóvão, Rio de Janeiro, Empire of Brazil
Burial|

Convento de Santo Antônio (Convent of Saint Anthony), Rio de Janeiro

| Names

Afonso Pedro de Alcântara Cristiano Leopoldo Filipe Eugênio Miguel Gabriel Rafael Gonzaga
House| Braganza
Father| Pedro II of Brazil
Mother| Teresa Cristina of the Two Sicilies
Religion| Roman Catholicism

Dom Afonso (23 February 1845 – 11 June 1847) was the Prince Imperial and heir apparent to the throne of the Empire of Brazil. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he was the eldest child of Emperor Dom Pedro II and Dona Teresa Cristina of the Two Sicilies, and thus a member of the Brazilian branch of the House of Braganza.

Afonso died from epilepsy at the age of two, devastating the emperor. The following year, Pedro and Teresa Cristina had another son, Pedro Afonso, but he too died in infancy. After the loss of his second son, doubts grew in Pedro II's mind that the imperial system could be viable. He still had an heir in his daughter Isabel, but he was unconvinced that a female would prove to be a suitable successor. He showed less concern about the effects his policies had on the monarchy, provided his daughter Isabel with no training for her role as potential empress, and failed to cultivate her acceptance within the country's political class. Pedro II's lack of interest in protecting the imperial system ultimately led to its downfall.

## Birth

[edit]

A painting of Prince Afonso, c. 1845

Afonso was born at 13:35 on 23 February 1845 in the Palace of São Cristóvão, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[1][2] He was named after his ancestor Afonso, Duke of Braganza, son of King João I of Portugal and founder of the House of Braganza (Portuguese: Bragança).[3] His full name was Afonso Pedro de Alcântara Cristiano Leopoldo Filipe Eugênio Miguel Gabriel Rafael Gonzaga.[1] Through his father, Emperor Pedro II, he was a member of the Brazilian branch of the House of Braganza (Portuguese: Bragança) and was referred to using the honorific "Dom" (Lord) from birth.[4] Afonso was the grandson of Emperor Pedro I of Brazil and nephew of Queen Maria II of Portugal.[5] Through his mother, Teresa Cristina, he was a grandson of Francis I and nephew to Ferdinand II, who ruled as kings of the Two Sicilies in turn.[6]

The U.S. minister in Brazil reported that his birth was heralded "by rockets and artillery, and was followed by a grand fête day at court... and by illuminations and displays of various sorts and public rejoicings".[7] As was customary within the House of Braganza, Afonso's birth was a formal event attended by the imperial court.[8] Pedro II immediately presented the newborn baby to the throng gathered in the palace, announcing "Gentlemen, it is a prince whom God ..."—here he was overcome with emotion and was unable to continue.[9][10] The birth of a much needed male heir—thus regarded by contemporaries—was met with joy throughout the empire.[11] Luís Alves de Lima e Silva (then Baron and later Duke of Caxias) wrote to his father: "No one was happier than I with the news [of the prince's birth]".[12]

## Life and impact

[edit]

The birth of an heir produced changes in Pedro II's character. Previously isolated and shy, he became more outgoing and confident as monarch.[13] His strained relationship with his wife, the product of a disappointing arranged marriage, also improved, and with children came shared domestic interests that developed into an affectionate friendship.[14]

A sketch of an unbreeched Prince Afonso, 1845

Afonso was healthy, and as the eldest son of Pedro II, was heir to the throne and styled "Prince Imperial".[9][10] The young prince resembled his father, particularly in his face, hair and eyes.[15] Because of his gender and position as heir apparent, he became the center of attention, particularly for Pedro II.[16] A letter written by Pedro II to his elder sister Maria II a few months after the birth of his second child—a daughter named Isabel—displayed his happiness: "No news here save the good state of health of myself, of the empress, and of the little ones, who are becoming increasingly cute, principally little Afonso, who is already walking and who says many words, still half incomprehensible, the which increases their charm."[17]

## Death

[edit]

On 11 June 1847, the young prince was playing in the library of the palace when he experienced a series of strong convulsions and died, not quite two and a half years old.[18][19] His death revealed that Afonso had epilepsy, as did his father.[20] The grief of Pedro II and his wife was enormous. It was feared that the shock might affect Teresa Cristina's health, as she was pregnant at the time with her third child. She later gave birth without complications on 13 July to a girl, who was christened Leopoldina.[16] The devastated emperor wrote a letter to his stepmother, the Empress Amélia, dated 11 July 1847, telling her of Afonso's death: "With the most piercing grief I tell you that my little Afonso, your godson, unfortunately died of convulsions, which he suffered during five hours on the 4th of last month;[A] and a few days ago little Isabel was put at risk by a strong attack of convulsions that greatly frightened me."[16]

A grand state funeral—not seen since the death of Pedro II's sister Paula in 1833—was held for the Prince Imperial at 7 p.m. three days after his death.[18] He was buried in the Convento da Ajuda (Convent of Aid) in Rio de Janeiro.[19] When the convent was demolished in 1911 his remains were moved to the mausoleum of the Convento de Santo Antônio (Convent of Saint Anthony) in Rio de Janeiro, where other members of the Brazilian House of Braganza (including his younger brother Pedro, his uncle João and his aunt Paula) are also located.[18]

## Legacy

[edit]

The Palace of São Cristóvão where Afonso lived. Photograph taken about 15 years after his death.

The prince's early death (and the later demise of his younger brother) had an enormous impact on Pedro II: on a personal level, on his future conduct as monarch, and on the empire. In his eyes, the deaths of his only sons seemed to presage the end of the imperial system. Although the emperor still had a legal successor in his daughter Isabel, in the male-dominated society of the time he had little confidence that a woman could rule Brazil. He was fond and respectful of the women in his life, but he did not consider it feasible that Isabel could survive as monarch. He did nothing to prepare Isabel for the responsibilities of ascending the throne, nor did he attempt to encourage acceptance of a female ruler among the political class.[21]

The grave of princes Afonso, João Carlos, and Pedro Afonso in the Convent of St. Anthony in Rio de Janeiro.

Pedro II began his rule as a figurehead who held together a realm on the verge of disintegration. He quickly matured and successfully navigated the empire through repeated and serious crises. By the time of Afonso's death, the nation was entering an unprecedented era of prosperity, development and tranquility. Even as the emperor's political successes and policies began to bear fruit, the lack of a male heir caused him to lose motivation to promote the imperial office as a position to be carried on by his descendants. The emperor turned away from personal and family ties, and focused on upholding the constitution while directing Brazil toward policies that furthered modernization and social advancement. The future of the monarchy as an institution no longer mattered to him, and in 1889, he was deposed in a coup, marking the end of the Empire of Brazil.[22]

## Titles, styles and honors

[edit]

Styles of
Afonso, Prince Imperial

Reference style| His Imperial Highness
Spoken style| Your Imperial Highness

### Titles and styles

[edit]

* 23 February 1845 – 11 June 1847: His Imperial Highness The Prince Imperial

The prince's full style and title was "His Imperial Highness Dom Afonso, Prince Imperial of Brazil".[23]

### Appointments

[edit]

* Honorary President of the Brazilian Historic and Geographic Institute.[24]

### Honors

[edit]

Prince Afonso was a recipient of the following Brazilian Orders:

* Major Commander of the Order of Christ[25]
* Major Commander of the Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz[25]
* Major Commander of the Order of Saint James of the Sword[25]
* Grand Cross of the Order of Pedro I[26]
* Grand Cross and Grand Major Dignitary of the Order of the Rose[26]

## Ancestry

[edit]

Ancestors of Afonso, Prince Imperial of Brazil[27]

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8\. John VI of Portugal and Brazil

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

| 4\. Pedro I of Brazil and IV of Portugal|

|  |  |
| 9\. Carlota Joaquina of Spain

| 2\. Pedro II of Brazil|

|  |  |  |  |
| 10\. Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor

| 5\. Maria Leopoldina of Austria|

|  |  |
| 11\. Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily

| 1\. Afonso, Prince Imperial of Brazil|
|  |  |  |  |  |  |
| 12\. Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies

| 6\. Francis I of the Two Sicilies|

|  |  |
| 13\. Maria Carolina of Austria

| 3\. Teresa Cristina of the Two Sicilies|

|  |  |  |  |
| 14\. Charles IV of Spain

| 7\. Maria Isabella of Spain|

|  |  |
| 15\. Maria Luisa of Parma

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

## Endnotes

[edit]

1. ^ Pedro II was mistaken about the date of his son's death. It did in fact occur on 11 June (Barman 2002, p. 252).

## Footnotes

[edit]

1. ^ a b Laemmert 1847, p. 35.
2. ^ Schiavo 1953, p. 144.
3. ^ Schiavo 1953, p. 145.
4. ^ Barman 1999, p. 424.
5. ^ Schwarcz 1998, p. 47.
6. ^ Calmon 1975, p. 210.
7. ^ Kraay 2013, p. 129.
8. ^ Barman 1999, p. 110.
9. ^ a b Calmon 1975, p. 274.
10. ^ a b Lira 1977, Vol 1, p. 139.
11. ^ Calmon 1975, pp. 274–276.
12. ^ Calmon 1975, p. 276.
13. ^ Barman 1999, pp. 109, 111.
14. ^ Barman 1999, p. 126.
15. ^ Diener & Costa 2002, p. 79.
16. ^ a b c Barman 2002, p. 24.
17. ^ Barman 2002, pp. 23–24.
18. ^ a b c Calmon 1975, p. 317.
19. ^ a b Schiavo 1953, p. 181.
20. ^ Barman 1999, p. 48.
21. ^ Barman 1999, pp. 129–130.
22. ^ Barman 1999, p. 130.
23. ^ Rodrigues 1863, p. 95.
24. ^ Santo Ângelo 1848, p. 5.
25. ^ a b c Laemmert 1849, p. 26.
26. ^ a b Laemmert 1849, p. 24.
27. ^ Barman 1999, p. 8.

## References

[edit]

* Barman, Roderick J. (1999). Citizen Emperor: Pedro II and the Making of Brazil, 1825–1891. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8047-3510-0.
* Barman, Roderick J. (2002). Princess Isabel of Brazil: gender and power in the nineteenth century. Wilmington, Delaware: Scholarly Resources. ISBN 978-0-8420-2846-2.
* Calmon, Pedro (1975). História de D. Pedro II (in Portuguese). Vol. 5\. Rio de Janeiro: J. Olympio.
* Diener, Pablo; Costa, Maria de Fátima (2002). Rugendas e o Brasil (in Portuguese). São Paulo: Capivara. ISBN 978-85-89063-08-1.
* Kraay, Hendrik (2013). Days of National Festivity in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1823–1889. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8047-8610-2.
* Lira, Heitor (1977). História de Dom Pedro II (1825–1891): Ascenção (1825–1870) (in Portuguese). Vol. 1\. Belo Horizonte: Itatiaia.
* Laemmert, Eduardo (1847). Almanak Administrativo, Mercantil e Industrial (Almanaque Laemmert) (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro: Eduardo e Henrique Laemmert & C.
* Laemmert, Eduardo (1849). Almanak Administrativo, Mercantil e Industrial (Almanaque Laemmert) (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro: Eduardo e Henrique Laemmert & C.
* Rodrigues, José Carlos (1863). Constituição política do Império do Brasil (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro: Typographia Universal de Laemmert.
* Santo Ângelo, Manuel de Araújo Porto Alegre, Baron of (1848). "Oblação do Instituto Historico e Geographico Brazileiro á memoria de seu presidente honorario o senhor Dom Affonso, augusto primogenito de SS. MM. II". Revista do Instituto Histórico e Geográfico Brasileiro (in Portuguese). XI. Rio de Janeiro: Imprensa Nacional: 5–7.`{{cite journal}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
* Schiavo, José (1953). "A família Imperial do Brasil". Anuário do Museu Imperial (in Portuguese). XIV. Rio de Janeiro: Ministério da Educação e Saúde: 111–247.
* Schwarcz, Lilia Moritz (1998). As barbas do Imperador: D. Pedro II, um monarca nos trópicos (in Portuguese) (2 ed.). São Paulo: Companhia das Letras. ISBN 978-85-7164-837-1.

## External links

[edit]

Media related to Afonso, Prince Imperial of Brazil at Wikimedia Commons

Afonso, Prince Imperial of Brazil

House of Bragança

Cadet branch of the House of Aviz

Born: 23 February 1845 Died: 11 June 1847

Brazilian royalty
Preceded by

Princess Januária Maria

|  Prince Imperial of Brazil
23 February 1845 – 11 June 1847  | Succeeded by

Princess Isabel

* v
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* e

Empire of Brazil

General topics|

* History (Independence of Brazil, First Reign, Regency, Second Reign)
* Economy
* Nobility
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Monarchy|

* Emperor of Brazil
* Pedro I
* Pedro II
* Brazilian imperial family
* Prince Imperial of Brazil
* Prince of Grão-Pará
* Prince of Brazil

Politics|

| Political instances|

* Prime Minister
* General Assembly
* Moderating Power

|

Others|

* Constitution of 1824
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Military|

| Armed Forces|

* Imperial Brazilian Army
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|

Wars|

* Independence War (1822–1824)
* Confederation of the Equator (1824)
* Cisplatine War (1825–1828)
* Ragamuffin War (1835–1845)
* Cabanagem (1835–1840)
* Platine War (1851–1852)
* Uruguayan War (1864–1865)
* Paraguayan War (1864–1870)

Slavery|

| Abolitionists|

* Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil
* André Rebouças
* Joaquim Nabuco
* José do Patrocínio
* Luís Gama
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|

Others|

* Abolitionism in Brazil
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* v
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House of Braganza

Members of the Ducal House

Generations indicate descent from Afonso, Duke of Braganza, founder of the House of Braganza, until João II, Duke of Braganza, the first Braganza monarch of Portugal; italics indicate a head of the House

1st generation|

* Afonso, 1st Marquis of Valença
* Isabel, Lady of Reguengos de Monsaraz
* Fernando I

2nd generation|

* Ferdinand II
* João, 1st Marquis of Montemor-o-Novo
* Afonso, Count of Faro do Alentejo
* Álvaro, 4th Lord of Cadaval
* António
* Isabel
* Beatriz, Marquise of Vila Real
* Guiomar, Countess of Viana do Alentejo
* Catarina

3rd generation|

* Roderigo, 1st Marquis of Ferreira
* Jorge Alberto, 1st Count of Gelves
* Beatriz, Duchess of Coimbra
* Joana, Countess of Vimioso
* Maria, Countess of Portalegre
* Filipe
* Jaime I
* Dinis, Count of Lemos
* Margarida

4th generation|

* Fernando, 7th Count of Lemos
* Afonso
* Isabel
* Maria
* Isabel, Duchess of Guimarães
* Teodósio I
* Joana, Marquise of Elche
* Jaime
* Eugénia, Marquise of Ferreira
* Maria
* Constantino, Viceroy of India
* Fulgêncio
* Teotónio, Archbishop of Évora

5th generation|

* John I
* Jaime
* Isabel, Duchess of Caminha

6th generation|

* Maria
* Serefina
* Teodósio II
* Duarte, 1st Marquise of Frechilla
* Alexandre, Archbishop of Évora
* Querubina
* Angélica
* Maria
* Isabel
* Filipe

7th generation|

* John II
* Duarte, 1st Lord of Vila do Conde
* Catarina
* Alexandre

Members of the Royal House

Generations indicate descent from John IV, King of Portugal, formerly John II, Duke of Braganza, the first Braganza monarch of Portugal, until Manuel II, King of Portugal, the last monarch of Portugal, excluding the Miguelist line; italics indicate a head of the House

1st generation|

* Teodósio, Prince of Brazil
* Ana
* Joana, Princess of Beira
* Catarina, Queen Consort of the England
* Manuel
* Afonso VI
* Peter II
* Maria

2nd generation|

* Isabel Luísa, Princess of Beira
* João, Prince of Brazil
* John V
* Francisco, Duke of Beja
* António
* Francisca Xaviera
* Teresa Maria
* Manuel, Count of Ourém
* Francisca Josefa
* Luísa, Duchess of Cadaval
* Miguel
* José, Archbishop of Braga

3rd generation|

* António
* Gaspar, Archbishop of Braga
* José, High Inquisitor of Portugal
* Maria Rita of Braganza
* Barbara, Queen Consort of Spain
* Pedro, Prince of Brazil
* Joseph I
* Carlos
* Peter III
* Alexandre
* João da Bemposta
* Joana Francisca, Marquise of Cascais
* Pedro Henrique, 1st Duke of Lafões
* João Carlos, 2nd Duke of Lafões
* Francisca

4th generation|

* Maria I
* Mariana Francisca
* Maria Doroteia
* Maria Benedita, Princess of Brazil
* José João, Duke of Miranda do Corvo
* Carlota
* Ana Maria, 3rd Duchess of Lafões
* Maria Domingas, Duchess of Cadaval

5th generation|

* José, Prince of Brazil
* João Carlos
* João Francisco
* John VI
* Maria Ana Vitória
* Maria Clementina
* Maria Isabel

6th generation|

* Maria Teresa, Princess of Beira
* Francisco António, Prince of Beira
* Maria Isabel, Queen Consort of Spain
* Pedro IV
* Maria Francisca, Countess of Molina
* Isabel Maria, Regent of Portugal
* Miguel I
* Maria da Assunção
* Ana de Jesus Maria, Marquise of Loulé

7th generation|

* Maria II
* Miguel, Prince of Beira
* João Carlos, Prince of Beira
* Januária Maria, Princess Imperial of Brazil

8th generation|

* Pedro V
* Luís I
* Maria
* João, Duke of Beja
* Maria Anna, Princess of Saxony
* Antónia, Princess of Hohenzollern
* Fernando
* Augusto, Duke of Coimbra
* Leopoldo
* Maria da Glória
* Eugénio

9th generation|

* Carlos I
* Afonso, Duke of Porto

10th generation|

* Luís Filipe, Prince Royal of Portugal
* Maria Ana
* Manuel II

Members of the Imperial house

Generations indicate descent from Pedro I, Emperor of Brazil, also Pedro IV, King of Portugal, founder of the Empire of Brazil, until Pedro II, Emperor of Brazil, the last monarch of Brazil; italics indicates a head of the House

1st generation|

* Maria II, Queen of Portugal
* Januária, Countess of Aquila
* Paula
* Francisca, Princess of Joinville
* Pedro II
* Maria Amélia

2nd generation|

* Afonso, Prince Imperial of Brazil
* Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil
* Leopoldina
* Pedro Afonso, Prince Imperial of Brazil

3rd generation|

* Pedro Augusto
* Augusto Leopoldo
* José Fernando
* Luís Gastão
* Luís Maria
* Pedro de Alcântara, Prince of Grão-Pará
* Antônio Gastão

Members of the Miguelist House

Generations indicate descent from Miguel I, King of Portugal, founder of the Miguelist House, until Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza, the current head of the House of Braganza; italics indicates a head of the House

1st generation|

* Maria das Neves, Duchess of San Jaime
* Miguel, Duke of Braganza
* Maria Teresa, Archduchess of Austria
* Maria José, Duchess in Bavaria
* Aldegundes, Duchess of Guimarães
* Maria Ana, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
* Maria Antónia, Duchess of Parma

2nd generation|

* Miguel, Duke of Viseu
* Francisco José
* Maria Teresa, Princess of Thurn and Taxis
* Isabel Maria, Princess of Thurn and Taxis
* Maria Benedita
* Mafalda
* Maria Ana, Princess of Thurn and Taxis
* Maria Antónia
* Filipa
* Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza
* Maria Adelaide

3rd generation|

* Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza
* Miguel, Duke of Viseu

4th generation|

* Afonso, Prince of Beira
* Maria Francisca
* Dinis, Duke of Porto

Titles

| Regnal|

* King of Portugal and the Algarves
* Emperor of Brazil
* King of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves

|

Royal|

* Prince of Portugal
* Prince of Brazil
* Prince Royal of United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves
* Prince Royal of Portugal and the Algarves
* Prince of Beira
* Prince Imperial of Brazil
* Prince of Grão-Pará
* Prince of Brazil
* Infante of Portugal

Noble|

* Duke of Braganza
* Duke of Guimarães
* Duke of Barcelos
* Duke of Porto
* Duke of Beja
* Duke of Viseu
* Duke of Coimbra
* Marquis of Vila Viçosa
* Marquis of Valença
* Marquis of Montemor-o-Novo
* Count of Guimarães
* Count of Barcelos
* Count of Arraiolos
* Count of Ourém
* Count of Neiva
* Count of Faro
* Count of Faria

Patrimony

| Portugal|

* Ajuda Palace
* Belém Palace
* Buçaco Palace
* Carrancas Palace
* Castle of Vila Viçosa
* Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa
* Mafra Palace
* Necessidades Palace
* Palace of the Counts of Barcelos
* Palace of the Dukes of Braganza
* Pena Palace
* Queluz Palace
* Ramalhão Palace
* Ribeira Palace

|

Brazil|

* Grão-Pará Palace
* Petrópolis Palace
* Quinta da Boa Vista
* Rio de Janeiro Palace
* São Cristóvão Palace
* Santa Cruz Estate

Cadet houses

| Agnatic|

* House of Valença
* House of Lafões
* House of Cadaval

|

Non-agnatic|

* House of Braganza-Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
* House of Bourbon-Braganza
* House of Orléans-Braganza

Miscellaneous

| Topics|

* Duchy of Braganza
* Dukedom of Braganza
* List of Dukes of Braganza
* Duchess of Braganza
* Pantheon of the House of Braganza

|

* v
* t
* e

Brazilian imperial family

Forefathers|

* Queen Maria I*
* King-Emperor John VI*
* Queen-Empress Carlota*

Brazilian Imperial coat of arms

1st generation|

* Emperor Pedro I*
* Empress Leopoldina*
* Empress Amélie

2nd generation|

* Emperor Pedro II
* Empress Teresa Cristina
* Maria II of Portugal*
* Januária, Princess Imperial and Countess of Aquila*
* Princess Paula
* Francisca, Princess of Joinville
* Princess Maria

3rd generation|

* Afonso, Prince Imperial
* Isabel, Princess Imperial
* Prince Gaston of Orléans, Count of Eu
* Leopoldina, Princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
* Pedro, Prince Imperial

4th generation|

* Pedro de Alcântara, Prince of Grão-Pará
* Prince Luís
* Princess Maria Pia
* Prince Antônio Gastão
* Prince Pedro Augusto
* Prince Augusto Leopoldo
* Prince José Fernando
* Prince Luís Gastão

Consorts are in italics \- * member of the Portuguese royal family

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Vatican

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