Prince João Maria of Orléans-Braganza

Prince João Maria of Orléans-Braganza
Born (1916-10-15)15 October 1916
Boulogne-Billancourt, France
Died 26 June 2005(2005-06-26) (aged 88)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Spouse Fatima Sherifa Chirine (-1971)
Terez Leite (1990-2005 his death)
Issue João Henrique of Orléans-Braganza
Full name
João Maria Felipe Miguel Gabriel Rafael Gonzaga de Orléans e Bragança e Dobrzensky de Dobrzenicz
House Orléans-Braganza
Father Pedro de Alcântara, Prince of Grão-Pará
Mother Countess Elisabeth Dobržensky de Dobrženicz
Religion Roman Catholic

Prince João Maria of Orléans-Braganza (15 October 1916 – 26 June 2005) was a French-born Brazilian soldier, pilot and airline executive. He was also a Prince of Orléans-Braganza and member of the Brazilian Imperial Family.

Early and personal life

João was born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France to Pedro de Alcântara, Prince of Grão-Pará and Countess Elisabeth Dobržensky de Dobrženicz. His father was a member of the Brazilian Imperial Family which was exiled after the abolition of the monarchy. João first travelled to Brazil in 1925 and when he was 19, he emigrated to the country, living in the Grão-Pará Palace in Petrópolis.[1]

As a young man he was a member of Ação Integralista Brasileira (AIB), a Fascist group led by writer Plínio Salgado. In 1938 he was injured in the Levante integralista, an attempt to storm the Palácio Guanabara, the residence of President Getúlio Vargas.[2][3]

He married twice. Firstly, on 29 April 1949, in Sintra, Portugal, to the Egyptian lady Fatima Sherifa Chirine, widow of Prince Toussoun of Egypt and first cousin of Ismail Chirine. The couple had a son, Prince João "Joazinho" Henrique of Orléans-Braganza.[4] His first marriage ended in divorce in 1971. He married again, in 1990, to Tereza Leite.[1][5]

War and working life

Prince João wanted to join the Brazilian navy, but he failed in the tests of admission without reason, however, he was able to join naval aviation thanks to the aid of Admiral Castro e Silva. He graduated second lieutenant and went on to work in national air mail. He underwent military training courses in the United States. During World War II, João served in the Brazilian Air Force, flying Catalina flying boats. After the War, he was vice president of Pan-Air do Brasil.[1]

Later life and legacy

João retired to Paraty on the west coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro. He died at the age of 88 in Rio de Janeiro.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gunson, Phil (9 July 2005). "Joao Maria de Orleans e Braganca". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "D. João Maria de Orleans e Bragança e Dobrzenicz" (in Portuguese). Colégio Brasileiro de Genealogia. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "Brazilians nip revolt - Rio Fascists routed after sharp battle". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. 12 May 1938. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  4. ↑ Ross, Lillian (18 September 2006). "Family tree". The New Yorker. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  5. ↑ "Joao Maria de Orleans e Braganca, great-grandson of Brazilian emperor, dies at 88". Associated Press Newswires. 28 June 2005.
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