Prince Imperial of Brazil

Prince Imperial of Brazil is the title created after the independence of Brazil, in 1822, to designate an heir apparent, or heir presumptive, to the Brazilian imperial throne. Even after the republic military coup against Emperor Pedro II in 1889, the title was kept in use by the Brazilian imperial family.

Claimants
Isabel, the last Princess Imperial, never ascended the throne because it was overthrown by coup d'état in 1889. After the 1891 death of her father, the last Brazilian emperor de facto, she became the Head of the Imperial House of Brazil, and gave the title of Prince Imperial to her eldest son, Prince Pedro de Alcântara of Orléans-Braganza. The title was not recognized by the Brazilian government, which had adopted a republican constitution.

Pedro de Alcântara died in 1940, the last member of the Brazilian Imperial House who had lived at the time of the Empire. His son, Prince Pedro Gastão, challenged Pedro Henrique's right to the succession in 1946, on the basis that his father's renunciation had no legal force. As a result, the Brazilian imperial family was split between a branch living at Petrópolis, led by Pedro Gastão and descended from Pedro de Alcântara, and another at Vassouras, led by Pedro Henrique and descended from Luiz.


 * Claimants descended from Prince Luís


 * Claimants descended from Prince Pedro de Alcântara