Infanta Luisa Fernanda, Duchess of Montpensier
Encyclopedia
Infanta María Luisa Fernanda of Spain (30 January 1832 – 2 February 1897) was Infanta of Spain and Duchess of Montpensier. She was the youngest daughter of king Ferdinand VII of Spain and his fourth wife Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies
, the queen-regent, who was also his niece.
succeeded to the throne, Infanta Luisa Fernanda was heiress-presumptive to the crown between 1833 and 1851, when Isabella's oldest surviving daughter was born.
(1824–90), the youngest son of king Louis Philippe, who also was Luisa's mother's first cousin.
Luisa Fernanda, only 14 years old, and Duke Antoine, 22, had their nuptials on 10 October 1846 as a double wedding with Isabella and Francis', and young Antoine was elevated to the rank of an Infante of Spain. The couple moved to Paris and later to Sevilla.
The relationship between Isabella and her sister was tense, due to Antoine's conspiracies against the queen.
Antoine's father was deposed in 1848. The same year, the then 16-year-old Luisa Fernanda gave birth to their first child, Maria Isabel.
After Isabella was deposed, the family went to exile. Luisa returned to Sevilla years later, already widowed, where she died. She is buried at Escorial.
Through Marie Isabelle, she became great-grandmother of king Manuel II of Portugal
, Luís Filipe, Duke of Braganza
, Dukes Amedeo II of Aosta and Aimone of Spoleto, Princess Dolores Czartoryski, Princess Esperanza of Orleans-Braganza, Countess Mercedes of Barcelona (king Juan Carlos' mother), and Henri, comte de Paris
.
The Duchess's complete style, after her marriage, was: Su Alteza Real la Serenísma y Egregia Señora Infanta Doña Luisa Fernanda de Borbón y Borbón, Duquesa de Montpensier (in English
: Her Royal Highness the Most Serene and Egregius Lady Infanta Doña Luisa Feranada de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier).
Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies
Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies was Queen consort of Spain and Regent of Spain .-Early years and first marriage:...
, the queen-regent, who was also his niece.
Biography
Heiress-presumptive
When her elder sister Isabella II of SpainIsabella II of Spain
Isabella II was the only female monarch of Spain in modern times. She came to the throne as an infant, but her succession was disputed by the Carlists, who refused to recognise a female sovereign, leading to the Carlist Wars. After a troubled reign, she was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of...
succeeded to the throne, Infanta Luisa Fernanda was heiress-presumptive to the crown between 1833 and 1851, when Isabella's oldest surviving daughter was born.
Marriage
Isabella had been engaged to their first cousin Francis, Duke of Cádiz, who was known to be homosexual and rumored impotent. Their kinsman, king Louis Philippe of France calculated that no children would be born from Isabella's marriage, and planned the crown of Spain to eventually devolve to his own grandchildren. For this purpose, Luisa Fernanda was engaged to Antoine, Duke of MontpensierAntoine, Duke of Montpensier
- Titles and styles:/*13 July 182421 September 1824: His Serene Highness Prince Antoine d'Orléans*21 September 18249 August 1830: His Royal Highness Prince Antoine d'Orléans...
(1824–90), the youngest son of king Louis Philippe, who also was Luisa's mother's first cousin.
Luisa Fernanda, only 14 years old, and Duke Antoine, 22, had their nuptials on 10 October 1846 as a double wedding with Isabella and Francis', and young Antoine was elevated to the rank of an Infante of Spain. The couple moved to Paris and later to Sevilla.
The relationship between Isabella and her sister was tense, due to Antoine's conspiracies against the queen.
Antoine's father was deposed in 1848. The same year, the then 16-year-old Luisa Fernanda gave birth to their first child, Maria Isabel.
After Isabella was deposed, the family went to exile. Luisa returned to Sevilla years later, already widowed, where she died. She is buried at Escorial.
Issue
Luisa Fernanda and Antoine had nine children, but only five reached adulthood.- Infanta Maria IsabelPrincess Marie Isabelle of OrléansMarie Isabelle of Orléans was born an infanta of Spain and Princess of Orléans and was a Princess of Orléans and Countess of Paris by marriage.-Biography:She was born in Seville to Antoine d'Orléans and Infanta...
(1848–1919), who married her first cousin Philippe, comte de ParisPhilippe, Comte de ParisPhilippe d'Orléans, Count of Paris was the grandson of Louis Philippe I, King of the French. He was a claimant to the French throne from 1848 until his death.-Early life:...
(1838–94), the French claimant, and became known as Marie Isabelle, comtesse de ParisCount of ParisCount of Paris was a title for the local magnate of the district around Paris in Carolingian times. Eventually, the count of Paris was elected to the French throne...
. She had several children. - Infanta Maria Amelia (1851–70).
- Infanta Maria Cristina (1852–79). After her younger sister Mercedes died, she was engaged to Alfonso XII, five years her junior, but she died before the wedding.
- infanta Maria de la Regla (1856–61).
- Infante Fernando (1859–73).
- Infanta Maria de las Mercedes (1860–78), otherwise Princess Marie des Graces d'Orleans-Montpensier, who married her first cousin Alfonso XIIAlfonso XII of SpainAlfonso XII was king of Spain, reigning from 1874 to 1885, after a coup d'état restored the monarchy and ended the ephemeral First Spanish Republic.-Early life and paternity:Alfonso was the son of Queen Isabella II of Spain, and...
and is historically known as Mercedes of OrleansMercedes of OrléansMaria de la Mercedes of Orléans was Queen Consort of Spain, the first wife of Alfonso XII. She was born in Madrid, Spain, the daughter of Antoine of Orléans, Duke of Montpensier and of Infanta Luisa Fernanda of Spain....
, queen of Spain. No children. - Infante Felipe Raimundo Maria (1862–64)
- Infante AntonioInfante Antonio, Duke of GallieraAntonio Maria Luis Felipe Juan Florencio de Orléans y Borbon was an Infante of Spain and the fourth Duke of Galliera in the Kingdom of Italy...
(1866–1930), became Duke of GallieraDuke of GallieraThe Duke of Galliera was an Italian noble title created in 1812 by Emperor Napoleon I of France for Josephine of Leuchtenberg, daughter of Eugène de Beauharnais, on the occasion of her marriage with Oscar, Crown Prince of Sweden...
in Italy. He married his first cousin Infanta Eulalia of SpainInfanta Eulalia of SpainInfanta Eulalia of Spain was a Spanish infanta known for her controversial books.-Early life:Eulalia was born in the Royal Palace of Madrid, the youngest child of Queen Isabella II of Spain and of her husband, Francis of Spain...
(1864–1958), daughter of Isabella II, and had two sons:
-
- Infante Alfonso (1886–1975), 5th Duke of Galliera (1930–37), who married Princess Beatrice of Edinburgh, daughter of Prince AlfredAlfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and GothaAlfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was the third Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and reigned from 1893 to 1900. He was also a member of the British Royal Family, the second son and fourth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha...
, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and had three sons, though only the oldest one left issue. General of the Spanish Air Force. - Infante LuísLuís Fernando de Orleans y BorbónLuís Fernando de Orleans y Borbón, Infante of Spain was a Spanish prince who lost his title.-Early life and education:...
(1888–1945), who married Marie Charlotte Say (1857–1943). No issue.
- Infante Alfonso (1886–1975), 5th Duke of Galliera (1930–37), who married Princess Beatrice of Edinburgh, daughter of Prince Alfred
- Infante Luis Maria Felipe Antonio (1867–74)
Descendants
Of all her children, just Marie Isabelle de Paris and Antonio di Galliera left issue. Through Antonio, the now non-royal line of dukes of Galliera continues. Alfonso's grandchildren lost royal status because of non-dynastic marriages. The current Duke of Galliera is Alfonso's great-grandson, Don Alfonso Francesco de Orléans-Borbón y Ferarra-Pignatelli.Through Marie Isabelle, she became great-grandmother of king Manuel II of Portugal
Manuel II of Portugal
Manuel II , named Manuel Maria Filipe Carlos Amélio Luís Miguel Rafael Gabriel Gonzaga Francisco de Assis Eugénio de Bragança Orleães Sabóia e Saxe-Coburgo-Gotha — , was the last King of Portugal from 1908 to 1910, ascending the throne after the assassination of his father and elder brother Manuel...
, Luís Filipe, Duke of Braganza
Luís Filipe, Duke of Braganza
-Titles and Styles:*21 March 1887-19 October 1889 - His Royal Highness The Prince of Beira, Duke of Barcelos*19 October 1889-1 February 1908 - His Royal Highness The Prince Royal of Portugal, Duke of Braganza-Arms:...
, Dukes Amedeo II of Aosta and Aimone of Spoleto, Princess Dolores Czartoryski, Princess Esperanza of Orleans-Braganza, Countess Mercedes of Barcelona (king Juan Carlos' mother), and Henri, comte de Paris
Henri, comte de Paris
Henri of Orléans, Count of Paris , was the Orléanist claimant to the throne of France from 1940 until his death.-Early life:...
.
Titles, styles, honours and arms
- 30 January 183210 October 1846: Her Royal Highness Infanta Luisa Fernanda of Spain
- 10 October 18464 February 1890: Her Royal Highness Infanta Luisa Fernanda, Duchess of Montpensier
- 4 February 18902 February 1897: Her Royal Highness Infanta Luisa Fernanda, Dowager Duchess of Montpensier
The Duchess's complete style, after her marriage, was: Su Alteza Real la Serenísma y Egregia Señora Infanta Doña Luisa Fernanda de Borbón y Borbón, Duquesa de Montpensier (in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: Her Royal Highness the Most Serene and Egregius Lady Infanta Doña Luisa Feranada de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier).