Descendants of John VI of Portugal

When John was born, his brother, José, Prince of Brazil, was the heir to their mother, Maria I of Portugal. It was only after José's death by smallpox, in 1788, that John became the heir to the Portuguese throne. By this time, John was already 21 years old and he had not been groomed to become monarch, as his brother was so famously, and rigorously, done. He was said to have been uncultured, stupid, and ill-mannered, which worried the kingdom.

In 1799, John became Prince regent for his mother, who had been declared unable to reign, owing to her mental illness. At the same time, Napoleon Bonaparte had taken control of France through his coup-d'etat, the 18 Brumaire. Spain and France would soon sign a treaty and declare war and attempt to invade Portugal, starting the War of the Oranges. While peace was eventually attained, Portugal and its empire suffered territorial losses.

Portugal was the last country on the continent to not have joined the Continental System, John having tried to push his answer as long as he could. In 1807, France grew restless and finally sent troops on their way to Portugal, to force submission. To safeguard the House of Braganza and its rule over the Portuguese Empire, John moved the Portuguese court and capital to a safer location in the empire, Colonial Brazil. To satisfy the ettiquete required by European society, John raised Brazil to a kingdom, forming the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves.

In Rio de Janeiro, John established his court. In 1816, Maria I died and John was acclaimed King John VI of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves. By this time, Napoleon had been defeated and European courts demanded the return of the Portuguese court to Europe, which John eventually did, but leaving Pedro, Prince Royal as regent of Brazil. Refusing to return to Europe, Pedro declared Brazilian Independence.

When John died, a crisis of succession would occur over the Portuguese throne, a crisis fueled by John's children. It is John's eldest sons and granddaughter that would split the House of Braganza into three branches, the original House of Braganza, the Brazilian House of Braganza, and the Miguelist House of Braganza.