Quick Facts
Biography
Eleanora, Princess of Ligne (born Eleonora Maria Josefa Rosa Filipa Miguela Gabriela Rafaela Gonzaga de Orléans e Bragança e Wittelsbach, as princess of Brazil, de jure, and princess of Orléans-Braganza on 20 May 1953) is the wife of Michel, 14th Prince of Ligne, the head of the House of Ligne since 2005. She is a daughter of Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza and his wife Princess Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria. Her father was the titular Emperor of Brazil, a claim now held by Eleanora's brother Prince Luiz.
Family and education
By her father she is member of the Brazilian Imperial Family, great-great-granddaughter of Emperor Pedro II of Brazil and descendant of many european royal houses. By her mother, she is great-granddaughter of King Ludwig III of Bavaria. Her older brother Prince Antônio of Orléans-Braganza is married to Princess Christine of Ligne, a sister of her husband.
Eleanora has a degree in history from Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro.
Marriage
On 10 March 1981, Eleanora married Michel, Hereditary Prince of Ligne in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Michel is the eldest son of Antoine, 13th Prince of Ligne and Princess Alix Marie of Luxembourg (herself a daughter of Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg).
They have two children together:
- Princess Alix Marie Isabelle Adelgonde Eléonore de Ligne (b. 3 July 1984), married on 18 June 2016 Count Guillaume Aymar Emmanuel de Dampierre (b. 4 May 1985)
- Prince Henri Antoine Gabriël Wauthier Marie Lamoral of Ligne (b. 3 March 1989)
Succession
Michel succeeded as 14th Prince of Ligne on 21 August 2005, making Eleanora Princess of Ligne. The couple have an important social role in Belgium among charitable organizations, where they live with their children.
Titles and honours
- 1953-1981: Her Royal Highness Princess Eleonora of Orléans-Braganza
- 1981-2005: Her Royal Highness The Hereditary Princess of Ligne
- 2005-present: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Ligne
Dynastical orders
House of Braganza : Dame of the Order of Saint Isabel
- Noblesse et Royautes, Order of Saint Isabel awarded to several Gotha personalities
Ancestry
Eleanora's ancestors in three generations
| 16. Prince Louis, Duke of Nemours | ||||||||||||||||
| 8. Prince Gaston, Count of Eu | ||||||||||||||||
| 17. Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha | ||||||||||||||||
| 4. Prince Luiz of Orléans-Braganza | ||||||||||||||||
| 18. Pedro II of Brazil | ||||||||||||||||
| 9. Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil | ||||||||||||||||
| 19. Princess Theresa Christina of the Two Sicilies | ||||||||||||||||
| 2. Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza | ||||||||||||||||
| 20. Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies | ||||||||||||||||
| 10. Prince Alfonso, Count of Caserta | ||||||||||||||||
| 21. Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria (1816–1867) | ||||||||||||||||
| 5. Princess Maria di Grazia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies | ||||||||||||||||
| 22. Prince Francis, Count of Trapani | ||||||||||||||||
| 11. Princess Antonietta of Bourbon-Two Sicilies | ||||||||||||||||
| 23. Archduchess Maria Isabella of Austria | ||||||||||||||||
| 1. Eleanora, Princess of Ligne | ||||||||||||||||
| 24. Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria | ||||||||||||||||
| 12. Ludwig III of Bavaria | ||||||||||||||||
| 25. Archduchess Auguste Ferdinande of Austria | ||||||||||||||||
| 6. Prince Franz of Bavaria | ||||||||||||||||
| 26. Archduke Ferdinand Karl Viktor of Austria-Este | ||||||||||||||||
| 13. Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria-Este | ||||||||||||||||
| 27. Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austria | ||||||||||||||||
| 3. Princess Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria | ||||||||||||||||
| 28. Rudolf Maximilian Konstantin, 11th Duke of Croÿ | ||||||||||||||||
| 14. Karl Alfred, 12th Duke of Croÿ | ||||||||||||||||
| 29. Princess Natalie of Ligne | ||||||||||||||||
| 7. Princess Isabella Antonie of Croÿ | ||||||||||||||||
| 30. Engelbert, 8th Duke of Arenberg | ||||||||||||||||
| 15. Princess Ludmilla of Arenberg | ||||||||||||||||
| 31. Princess Éléonore of Arenberg | ||||||||||||||||