The Most Serene House of Braganza was the dynasty which ruled Portugal from 1640 to 1853 or until 1910 (as House of Braganza-Saxe-Coburg and Gotha), and the Empire of Brazil from 1822 to 1889. It is a collateral line of the House of Aviz, which ruled Portugal from 1385 until 1580. Therefore, it is also a branch of the French House of Burgundy, and of the French House of Capet. In 1853, due to the marriage of Queen Maria II to Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the House of Braganza became the House of Braganza-Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, a branch of the German House of Wettin. The use of the designation Braganza-Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, or just Braganza-Coburg, however, is prevalent mainly in the writings of non-Portuguese historians and genealogists, or in writings that are not contemporary to the rule of the Braganza-Saxe-Coburg and Gotha monarchs in Portugal, since they still continued to style themselves as members of the House of Braganza, as opposed to Braganza-Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.