The magnificence of Brazil, her history, people and politics,  through the eyes of a prince... 

It was a rare and unexpected privilege to meet His Royal and Imperial Highness Prince Joao de Orleans e Bragnaza, on a private visit to Sri Lanka, following the birth of his granddaughter in Singapore, at the gracious invitation of Her Excellency Sophie Elisabeth Balsa, The Honorary Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil. During HRH’s visit he travelled over a thousand kilometers visiting, Galle, Kandy and Anuradhapura amoung others. As an avid and published photographer over fourteen books, the landscapes of our beautiful island and its historical sights were of much interest as was the Portuguese influence on Sri Lankan life. 

The most serene house of Braganza is an important imperial, royal, and noble dynasty of Portuguese origin, a branch of the House of Aviz, and thus a descendant house of the Portuguese House of Burgandy. The House evolved from being powerful dukes of Portuguese nobility, to ruling as the monarchs of Portugal and the Algarves from 1640 to 1910, and the monarchs of Brazil from 1815 to 1889. 

His Royal and Imperial Highness Prince Joao de Orleans e Bragnaza 

Though no longer a ruling Monarchy HRH Joao de Orleans e Bragnaza, plays and active and very vocal role in the affairs of his magnificent and very ethnically diverse country, in particular freedom of the press. Latin America’s largest country, the world’s fifth-most populous and one of the largest exporters of soya and grain, Brazil is scheduled to open its arms to people from all over the world for the 2016 Summer Olympics. 

Brazil however is at this moment a country facing one of the darkest times in its history and amidst its worst economic crisis and corruption scandal in decades. The New York Times recently reported that “Rousseff is something of a rarity among Brazil’s major political figures: she has not been accused of stealing for herself”. Unlike the scandal plagued members of congress who on the 12th of May, after an all-night debate voted  to suspend President Dilma Rouseff and begin an impeachment trial against her in Brazil's senate. 

At the time of our meeting the suspension was in process and had not been effected, HRH spoke of the “true democracy of Brazil”, a multi cultural society maintained by a separation of powers, a strong judiciary and  well-informed, involved and organized citizens, exercising their inalienable rights directly, and through term-limited elected representatives. In a true democracy common people are considered the primary source of political voice and power and these people, who numbered over a million, in one of the largest demonstrations ever seen in the country took to the streets to protest against Rousseff. 

His Royal Highness also took me on a fascinating journey of his family history when during the 18th century the Portuguese royal family established their dynasty in Brazil. The Portuguese royal family left Lisbon and moved their court to Brazil, the crown's most prized possession fearing Napoleon's onslaught. Dom Joao of Braganza, Regent of Portugal, his family and his mother, Queen Maria I, and headed for the beautiful coasts of Brazil. Along with the royal family came an entourage estimated to include almost fifteen thousand people. Dom Joao believed that moving to Brazil would save his family from becoming Napoleon's puppets and was resolute in his decision. 

The Portuguese royal contingent arrived on the coasts of Brazil on January 21, 1808. It was at Rio that Dom Joao decided to settle his court in exile, and it was from there that he vigorously rebuild the fortunes of his shattered kingdom. Dom Joao opened Brazilian ports to foreign trade and basically constituted the colony into an independent, self-reliant kingdom under the rule of the House of Braganza. 

The fall of Napoleon in 1814 restored the Portuguese royal family to their throne in Lisbon. Pressure to return to Portugal was caused by the death of Queen Maria I in 1816. Dom Joao had acted in steed as regent for his mother for almost two decades. Now he had finally ascended to he throne as Joao VI of Portugal, Joao I of Brazil. His coronation took place in Brazil amid magnificent pomp and ceremony. 

Dom Joao after his coronation sent envoys to various European courts in search for a bride for his heir. Leopoldina, the Austrian Archduchess was one of the daughters of Emperor Franz I and a sister of Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon's second wife. 

Soon after the birth of his grandson, Joao VI finally returned to Portugal. Along with him went most members of the Braganza family, Pedro remained in Brazil to act as regent for his father. It was this decision that made it possible for Brazil to remain a single country. Despite its huge size, Brazil survives today as a stable, independent state while the multifarious republics of Latin America and Central America reveal, by contrast, the fragmentation of the former Spanish empire. 

In late 1822, Prince Regent Pedro of Braganza decided to stage a coup d'etat to emancipate Brazil from the Portuguese crown. Joao VI himself had insisted on this course of action as a means of guaranteeing the Brazilian crown would remain under the Braganzas. At the age of twenty-four, the Prince Regent became Emperor Pedro I of Brazil. 

Old King Joao VI died in early 1826. Faced with the quandary concerning the succession to his two thrones, Pedro I abdicated the Portuguese crown on his daughter Maria da Gloria. Maria II was fifteen when her father died and a ruling monarch in her own right. 

In Brazil the child emperor Pedro was placed under a regency until he reached the age required by law to begin his reign without supervision. After the loss of their second son, Pedro II the emperor had his daughter Isabel created Princess Imperial of Brazil, the official heiress of the empire. At the time of his enthronement a large majority of Brazilians were slaves and considered the property of their owners which repulsed Pedro II. 

Pedro II was traveling in Europe when Princess Isabel, acting as regent in her father's stead, passed a law abolishing slavery in Brazil on May 13, 1888. This law, commonly known as the Golden Law, not only brought international praise to the Brazilian imperial family, but also condemned the Crown. The landowners quickly organized and built opposition to the monarchy. Princess Imperial Isabel's decree eventually led to the proclamation of the Brazilian republic on November 16, 1889. 

The fascinating history of this country amidst it’s current issues with the eyes of the world on it, the summer Olympics only months away makes for compelling interest. 

His Royal and Imperial highness Prince Joao de Orleans e Bragnaza spoke fervently about his ethos  that “the soul of a prince is to serve the country, have respect for the nation and follow all the movements of politics and Brazilian society. My family has always been simple, our education values humility.” 

Text by Minoli Ratnayake 
Photographs by Nisal Baduge