House of Braganza Braganza has allegedly suffered from the Curse of the Braganzas (Portuguese: "Maldição dos Braganças"). For supposedly mistreating a Franciscan friar, a curse was purportedly placed on King João IV of Portugal, stating that never again would a first-born male of the Braganza Dynasty would live long enough to succeed to the throne. Since the reign of King João IV, all first-born Braganza males, with only three exceptions, have died before they had the opportunity to reign as monarch, either in Portugal or Brazil. Supposed victims of the Curse of the Braganzas: Genealogical tree of the House of Braganza, during its
House of Braganza in 1921. She was succeeded by her grandson, Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza, as Head of the Imperial House of Brazil, and he by his son and current Head, Prince Luiz of Orléans-Braganza. With the end of the banishment of the Imperial Family in 1920, some princes returned to live in Brazil, while another remained in Europe. After the end of World War II, Prince Pedro Henrique, then Head of the Imperial House and married to Princess Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria, returned to Brazil with his family. The Imperial House of Brazil divided into rival branches because of the renunciation