Miguel de Bragança, Duke of Lafões

Miguel de Bragança, Duke of Lafões, was born on October 15, 1699, in Lisbon, Portugal. He was the illegitimate son of King Pedro II of Portugal and Anne Armande Pastre de Verger, a French noblewoman. Despite the circumstances of his birth, Miguel was later legitimized by his half-brother, King John V of Portugal, who insisted that he be recognized as a brother within the royal family.

Throughout his short life, Miguel navigated the complexities of royal lineage and societal expectations. His status as an infante afforded him certain privileges, yet it also came with the challenges of being born outside the traditional bounds of marriage. His life was marked by the intricacies of court politics and the weight of his heritage.

Tragically, Miguel's life was cut short when he drowned in the Tagus River on January 13, 1724. His untimely death at the age of twenty-four left a significant mark on the Portuguese royal family and the history of the nation.