The New Student's Reference Work/Braganza, House of

Bragan′za, House of, the name of the ruling dynasty of Portugal and of the recent imperial family of Brazil. The family takes its name from the town of Braganza, and came to the throne of Portugal in 1640, through John IV, Duke of Braganza, who threw off the yoke of Spain. The first emperor of Brazil was Dom Pedro I, the eldest son of King John VI. He was crowned in 1822. His son, Dom Pedro II, was driven from the country and a republic formed in 1889. The reigning king of Portugal to-day, Manuel II, is of the house of Braganza-Coburg.