House of Braganza for a lifetime." He accepted the leadership of the rebellion, which was successful, and was acclaimed João IV of Portugal on 1 December 1640. After the accession of the Braganzas to the throne, the duchy was linked to the Crown. "Duke of Braganza" became the traditional title of the heir to the throne, together with Prince of Brazil and, later, Prince Royal of Portugal, much as Prince of Wales is in the United Kingdom or Prince of Asturias in Spain. Under D. João's sons D. Afonso VI and D. Pedro II, the Portuguese colonial empire, part of which was lost
Pedro Carlos of Orléans-Braganza of their son. On 16 July 1981, at Fazenda São Geraldo, Pedro Carlos married Patricia Alexandra Branscombe (22 November 1964 – 21 November 2009). The couple had one son: His second wife died at the Palácio do Grão-Pará in Petrópolis. Pedro Carlos of Orléans-Braganza Pedro Carlos of Orléans-Braganza (born 31 October 1945) is one of two claimants to the defunct Brazilian throne, and head of the Petrópolis branch of the Imperial House of Brazil. Prince Pedro Carlos was born in Petrópolis, the eldest son of six children of Prince Pedro Gastão of Orléans-Braganza and his wife, Princess Maria de la