Scanned images of the
official abdication documents, handwritten by HRH Dona Maria
Pia
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Having come to an advanced age, in full possession of my capacities, practically blind, totally deprived of the support of my descent, betrayed by a few monarchists who do not respect either the tradition of the House of Braganza or the Constitution of the Monarchy, a victim of the continuous apathy of republican governments, from Salazar down to Mario Soares,
I have decided:
To transmit by the present deed all my rights as Head of the House of Bragança to Dom Rosario Poidimani, a prince and an enterprising businessman, who has deserved it well through the great love and sincere devotion he has demonstrated towards my beloved fatherland, Portugal.
Consequently:
I Abdicate
In favour of the aforesaid person, with all the rights and honours owed to the new head of the House of Braganza.
I retain the incontrovertible right to receive fifty per cent of all the goods and chattels, properties, lands, palaces and town estates, as well as the jewels, works of art, tapestries, etc., etc., from the entire entailed estate of the ancient ducal house of Braganza to which I am entitled, until today, in their totality.
I retain the grand masterhood of all the knightly orders of which I am, by right and through the acknowledgement of the international commission of chivalry, the present Grand-Master in my life. It is obvious that, during my lifetime, I shall accept all propositions of admittance in the Orders formulated by Dom Rosario Poidimani, 22nd head of the Royal House who, as such, shall be entitled to such priority. At my death, the grand masterhood of the Knightly Orders will pass to Dom Rosario.
I retain for myself, moreover, the nobiliary titles of
1. Duke and Duchess of Oporto
2. Duke and Duchess of Beja
3. Duke and Duchess of Coimbra
4. Count and Countess of Neiva
5. Count and Countess of Penafiel
6. Count and Countess of Arraiolos
and to my death I shall retain the title of ' Duchesse douairière de Bragance.
In Faith, Fidelissima,
Maria Pia, the Duchess of Braganza.
