Pedro V of Portugal
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Pedro V (pronounced [ˈpedɾu]; English: Peter; Pedro de Alcântara Maria Fernando Miguel Rafael Gonzaga Xavier João António Leopoldo Vítor Francisco de Assis Júlio Amélio de Saxe-Coburgo-Gotha e Bragança), the Hopeful (Port. o Esperançoso) (September 16, 1837 in Lisbon – November 11, 1861 in Lisbon) was the 31st (or 32nd according to some historians) King of Portugal and the Algarves from 1853 to 1861.
He was the eldest son of Queen Maria II and her King-Consort Ferdinand II and was born after his mother's accession. As heir apparent to the throne he was styled as the 19th Duke of Braganza.
Pedro was a conscientious and hard-working monarch who, under the guidance of his father, sought radical modernisation of the Portuguese state and infrastructure. Under Pedro's reign, roads, telegraphs, and railways were constructed and improvements in public health advanced. For this he was greatly loved and his popularity further increased when, during the great cholera outbreak he visited hospitals handing out gifts and talking and comforting the sick.
However, this was unable to save the life of the young king who died (along with his brother Ferdinand and other royal family members) of cholera in 1861. He was much loved and his death, along with other relatives, was deemed so unnatural that there were actually revolts when he died. He was married to Princess Stephanie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, but they had no children and therefore the Portuguese throne passed to his younger brother, Luis I.
[edit] Ancestors
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Pedro V of Portugal
Cadet branch of the Houses of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
Born: 16 September 1837 Died: 11 November 1861 |
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| Preceded by Maria II |
King of Portugal and the Algarves 1853 – 1861 |
Succeeded by Luís I |
