Francis, Duke of Cádiz

Francisco de Asís
King of Spain
Photograph by Herbert, c 1860
King of Spain
Tenure 10 October 1846 – 30 September 1868
Born (1822-05-13)13 May 1822
Royal Palace of Aranjuez, Aranjuez, Spain
Died 17 April 1902(1902-04-17) (aged 79)
Épinay-sur-Seine, Paris, France
Burial El Escorial
Spouse Isabella II of Spain
Issue
Full name
Francisco de Asís María Fernando de Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias
House Bourbon
Father Francisco de Paula of Spain
Mother Luisa Carlotta of the Two Sicilies
Religion Roman Catholicism
Coat of arms of King Francis of Spain

Francisco de Asís María Fernando de Borbón, sometimes anglicised Francis of Assisi (13 May 1822 – 17 April 1902), was the husband of Queen Isabella II of Spain and king consort from 1846 to 1868. He is commonly styled Duke of Cádiz, the title he held before his marriage. Francis was the son of Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain, the youngest uncle of Isabella II, and Princess Luisa Carlotta of Naples and Sicily, making him a first cousin to Isabella.

Family

Francis was born at Aranjuez, Spain, the second son (first to survive infancy) of Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain, and of his wife (and niece), Princess Luisa Carlotta of Naples and Sicily. He was named after Saint Francis of Assisi.

Francis' paternal grandparents were Charles IV of Spain and Maria Luisa of Parma. Their daughter, María Isabella of Spain, and Francis I of the Two Sicilies were his maternal grandparents.

Marriage and children

Francis married Isabella, his double first cousin, on 10 October 1846. There is evidence that Isabella would rather have married his younger brother, Infante Enrique, Duke of Seville, and complained bitterly about her husband's effeminate habits after their first night together.

Twelve children were born during the marriage, of whom five reached adulthood:

There has been considerable speculation that some or all of Isabella's children were not fathered by Francis; this has been bolstered by rumours that Francis was either homosexual or physically unable to complete the sex act.

Later life

Starting in 1864, Francis acted as president of the Spanish Privy Council (Consejo del Reino). In 1868 he went into exile with his wife in France and adopted the incognito title of Count of Moratalla. In 1870 Francis and Isabella were amicably separated and, with time, became good friends, which they had certainly not been while she was Queen regnant. The 1874 restoration placed his son Alfonso XII on the throne.

In 1881 Francis took up residence at the château of Épinay-sur-Seine (currently the city hall). He died there in 1902. His wife Isabella and two of his daughters, Isabella and Eulalia, were present at his deathbed.[1]

Titles and styles

  • 13 May 1822 – 10 October 1846: His Royal Highness The Duke of Cádiz
  • 10 October 1846 – 25 June 1870: His Majesty The King of Spain
  • 25 June 1870 – 17 April 1902: His Majesty King Francis of Spain

Honours

Foreign

Ancestry

References

  1. ↑ "Don Francisco d'Assisi", The Times (18 April 1902): 9.
  2. ↑ Journal de Monaco

Bibliography

Bergamini, John D. The Spanish Bourbons: The History of a Tenacious Dynasty. New York: Putnam, 1974. ISBN 0-399-11365-7

Francis, Duke of Cádiz
Cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty
Born: 13 May 1822 Died: 17 April 1902
Spanish royalty
Vacant
Title last held by
Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies
as queen consort		 King consort of Spain
10 October 1846 – 30 September 1868		 Vacant
Title next held by
Maria Vittoria dal Pozzo
as queen consort
Titles in pretence
Loss of title
 — TITULAR —
King consort of Spain
30 September 1868 – 25 June 1870		 Vacant
Title next held by
Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg
as queen consort
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