Meetings at the National Palaces
At the Royal Estate of Queluz with Cláudia Thomé Witte: The Death and the Construction of the Memory of King Pedro IV
Discover how King Pedro IV shaped his own legacy through the symbols, art and architecture of the Royal Estate of Queluz. In this meeting, Cláudia Thomé Witte unveils new perspectives on the monarch’s legacy and presents three recently integrated pieces at the National Palace of Queluz, inviting visitors to see this historic space from a new perspective.
The Symbols of King Pedro IV’s Memory
Those who visit the former Royal Estate of Queluz today encounter gardens, settings and works of art that, beyond their beauty, preserve often-forgotten stories. This talk reveals the codes and symbols chosen by Pedro I of Brazil and Pedro IV of Portugal to preserve and shape his memory.
At a time when fame was not considered fleeting, a leader’s memory was meant to express ideals and leave a lasting legacy. Mythology provided this symbolic language. At Queluz, Pedro IV created this narrative: he returned to die in the room where he was born, associated himself with Greco-Roman myths, bequeathed his heart to Porto, distributed reliquaries and even planted a tree that could be seen from his final bed.
In this way, the palace moved beyond its association with the Ancien Régime and became a symbol of liberalism. It is within this context that three new pieces are presented at the National Palace of Queluz, bearing witness to the way the sovereign wished to be remembered. By understanding these symbols, visitors are invited to experience the Royal Estate of Queluz from a new perspective.
About the Speaker
Cláudia Thomé Witte is a Portuguese-Brazilian researcher who, since 2003, has focused on the period of the First Reign in Brazil and the Constitutional Monarchy in Portugal. She has published several articles, delivered lectures and presented papers at conferences in Brazil, Portugal and Germany. She is a member of the Historical Institute of Petrópolis and the Freundeskreis Leuchtenberg.
In 2019, she published the biography Maria da Glória, uma princesa brasileira no trono de Portugal with the Fundação da Casa de Bragança. In 2023, she published the biography D. Amélia, a história não contada with Leya Brasil. In 2024, the book was expanded and republished in Portugal by By the Book under the title Amélia de Leuchtenberg, Imperatriz do Brasil, Duquesa de Leuchtenberg. The work was awarded the Dr. João Lobo de História Prize by the Portuguese Academy of History, granted by the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Braga, in December 2024.
The researcher has been living in Lisbon since 2018.
More information
- Location: National Palace of Queluz
- Date: September 24, 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM
- Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Audience: Youth and adults
- Meeting Point: Main entrance of the Palace
- Accessibility: Route not accessible
- Additional Information: The activity concludes with a cocktail for socializing and informal discussion of ideas and experiences, lasting 30–45 minutes.