Curse of the Braganzas
The Curse of the Braganzas (in Portuguese a Maldição dos Braganças) is a myth, referred to in several historical chronicles, concerning the House of Braganza, that ruled the Kingdom of Portugal (1640–1910), the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves (1815–1822) and the Empire of Brazil (1822–1889) and, therefore, all the Portuguese Overseas Empire. This "curse" began in the reign of king John IV of Portugal, in the 17th century, when the monarch allegedly kicked a Franciscan friar who was begging for alms.