He was born on 3 August 1697 in Lisbon and died unmarried and without legitimate issue at the Quinta de Belas in the same city on the same day in 1766. He is buried at the Royal Pantheon of the Braganza Dynasty in Lisbon.
Manuel led an adventurous life. At the age of 18, he embarked in secret on an English ship to the Netherlands. Ordered by his brother King John V of Portugal to return home, he disobeyed and went to Paris and then to Germany.
On 1 August 1716 he offered his services to Prince Eugene of Savoy, to fight the Turks in Hungary. There he fought 4 days later in the Battle of Petrovaradin where he was slightly wounded. He also participated in the pursuit of the fleeing Turks and the siege and capture of Timișoara.
In 1717, now officially in the Austrian army, he again fought under Prince Eugene and participated in the conquest of Belgrade.
After the Treaty of Passarowitz, he obtained the title of Maréchal de camp. After the war he traveled from court to court, living a life of pleasure, inspiring several contemporary writers. In 1721 he received the Order of the Golden Fleece.
The next year he returned to Portugal, where he spent the last years of his life in the Quinta de Belas, leading a socially active life, surrounded by writers and artists. He died on his 69th birthday more than three decades later.
^Paweł Sieradzki (2006). Obecność rodziny książąt Czartoryskich na ziemi jarosławskiej (The presence of the Czartoryski dukes in the land of Jarosław). Teka Komisji Historycznej OL PAN (99–123). p. 106.
* also an infante of Castile and León, Aragon, Sicily and Naples,§ also an infante of Spain and an archduke of Austria,# also an infante of Spain,‡ also an imperial prince of Brazil,¶ also a prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duke in Saxony,◙ also a prince of Braganza,¤ title removed in 1920 as their parents' marriage was deemed undynastic,ƒ claimant infante
Generations indicate descent from Afonso, Duke of Braganza, founder of the House of Braganza, until João II, Duke of Braganza, the first Braganza monarch of Portugal; italics indicate a head of the House
Generations indicate descent from John IV, King of Portugal, formerly John II, Duke of Braganza, the first Braganza monarch of Portugal, until Manuel II, King of Portugal, the last monarch of Portugal, excluding the Miguelist line; italics indicate a head of the House
