Brazilian imperial family

The Brazilian Imperial Family is a Brazilian dynasty of Portuguese origin that ruled Brazil, and currently, the House of Orléans-Braganza is the current heir of the country, with Bertrand, Prince of Brazil, great-grandson of the last emperor, Pedro II, as its head. The imperial family ruled the Empire of Brazil from 1822 to 1889, following the proclamation of independence by Prince Pedro of Braganza, who was later hailed as Pedro I of Brazil, Constitutional Emperor and Perpetual Defender of Brazil. Family members are dynastic descendants of Emperor Pedro I of Brazil.

Claimants to the head of the post-monarchical Brazilian imperial legacy descend from Emperor Pedro II, including the senior agnates of two branches of the House of Orléans-Braganza; the so-called Petrópolis and Vassouras lines. Pedro Carlos, Prince of Brazil (born 1945) heads the Petrópolis branch line, while the Vassouras branch is led by his second cousin, Bertrand, Prince of Brazil.