Paula was born on 17 February 1823 at the Paço de São Cristóvão in Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian capital; one week later, the princess was baptized Paula Mariana Joana Carlota Faustina Matias Francisca Xavier de Paula Micaela Gabriela Rafaela Gonzaga by Bishop José Caetano da Silva Coutinho, at the Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro.
The last four names were always bestowed on members of the royal family and the name Paula honored São Paulo, where the independence (see below) had been signed.

She was the third daughter of Emperor Dom Pedro I and his first wife Archduchess Leopoldina of Austria.
Through her father, she was a member of the Brazilian branch of the House of Braganza, which was an illegitimate branch of the Capetian dynasty.
She was thus a granddaughter of João VI.
Through her mother, she was a niece of Napoleon and a first cousin of Franz Joseph I of Austria.
As the daughter of a member of the ruling Portuguese royal house, Paula was referred to by the honorific Dona (Lady) from birth.

The year before Paula's birth, the independence of Brazil had been declared in September 1822; as Pedro only had daughters, Paula was supposed to have been fourth in the line of succession to the Portuguese throne.
However, under Portuguese law, Paula was a foreigner having been born after the independence and was thus excluded from the line of succession.
However, her elder sister Maria da Glória was not excluded from the succession having been born in 1819; she ascended the Portuguese throne after the death of João VI and the abdication of Pedro on 28 May 1826.
Instead of her mother, Paula was suckled by the same wet nurse who would later suckle the Prince Imperial.
Paula was born on 17 February 1823 at the Paço de São Cristóvão in Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian capital; one week later, the princess was baptized Paula Mariana Joana Carlota Faustina Matias Francisca Xavier de Paula Micaela Gabriela Rafaela Gonzaga by Bishop José Caetano da Silva Coutinho, at the Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro. The last four names were always bestowed on members of the royal family and the name Paula honored São Paulo, where the independence (see below) had been signed.
She was the third daughter of Emperor Dom Pedro I and his first wife Archduchess Leopoldina of Austria. Through her father, she was a member of the Brazilian branch of the House of Braganza, which was an illegitimate branch of the Capetian dynasty. She was thus a granddaughter of João VI. Through her mother, she was a niece of Napoleon and a first cousin of Franz Joseph I of Austria. As the daughter of a member of the ruling Portuguese royal house, Paula was referred to by the honorific Dona (Lady) from birth.
The year before Paula's birth, the independence of Brazil had been declared in September 1822; as Pedro only had daughters, Paula was supposed to have been fourth in the line of succession to the Portuguese throne. However, under Portuguese law, Paula was a foreigner having been born after the independence and was thus excluded from the line of succession. However, her elder sister Maria da Glória was not excluded from the succession having been born in 1819; she ascended the Portuguese throne after the death of João VI and the abdication of Pedro on 28 May 1826. Instead of her mother, Paula was suckled by the same wet nurse who would later suckle the Prince Imperial.
Princess Paula of Brazil