Felix of Bourbon-Parma
Encyclopedia
Prince Félix of Bourbon-Parma (given names: Félix Marie Vincent; born: Schwarzau am Steinfeld
, 28 September/28 October 1893 – Schloss Fischbach, 8 April 1970), later Prince Félix of Luxembourg, was the husband of Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
and the father of her six children, including Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
.
, being the duke's sixth child and third son by his second wife, Maria Antonia of Portugal. His maternal grandparents were Miguel of Portugal
and Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg
.
He was also the younger brother (by sixteen months) of Empress Zita of Austria
. Of the twelve children of Duke Robert's first marriage to Maria-Pia of the Two Sicilies, three died as infants, six had learning difficulties, and only three married. Despite loss of his throne, Duke Robert and his family enjoyed considerable wealth, traveling in a private train of more than a dozen cars among his castles at Schwarzau am Steinfeld
near Vienna
, Villa
Pianore in northwest Italy, and the magnificent Château de Chambord
in France.
Less than four months after Robert's death in 1907 the Grand Marshal
of the Austrian Court declared six of the children of his first marriage legally incompetent, at the behest of Duchess Maria Antonia. Nonetheless, Robert's primary heir was Elias, Duke of Parma
, (1880–1959), the youngest son of the first marriage and the only one to father children of his own. Duke Elias also became the legal guardian of his six elder siblings. Although Félix's elder brothers, Prince Sixte and Prince Xavier, eventually sued their half-brother Duke Elias to obtain a greater share of the ducal
fortune, they lost in the French courts, leaving Prince Félix with modest prospects.
, the prince married his first cousin Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg, having become also Prince of Luxembourg by Grand Ducal decree the day before. Unlike some European consorts, Félix neither adopted his wife's dynastic surname (of Nassau
), nor relinquished his own title and name "Prince of Bourbon-Parma". His traditional style
as a Bourbon
prince of the Parmesan branch is the reason that cadet
members of the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg
enjoy the style of Royal Highness
(but that style belongs to the Luxembourg
monarch and heir apparent
by right, as the historical prerogative of grand ducal dynasties
).
Félix served in the Austrian Dragoons as lieutenant and captain, but resigned his commission in November 1918. He was President of the Luxembourg Red Cross between 1923 and 1932 and again between 1947 and 1969. He was also Colonel of the Luxembourg Volunteers Company since 1920 and Inspector-General of the Luxembourg Army between 1945 and 1967.
Urban legend
has it that Félix lost the Grünewald
, a forest owned by the Grand Duchess, at a casino in 1934, but this is false; part of the property was sold, along with Berg Castle
, to the Luxembourgian government, with the revenue paying for the upkeep of the grand-ducal household, and was not spent on personal consumption, let alone gambling losses.
, he married Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
, and they had six children:
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Schwarzau am Steinfeld
Schwarzau am Steinfeld is a town in the district of Neunkirchen in the Austrian state of Lower Austria....
, 28 September/28 October 1893 – Schloss Fischbach, 8 April 1970), later Prince Félix of Luxembourg, was the husband of Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg was the reigning Grand Duchess of Luxembourg from 1919 to 1964.-Early life and life as Grand Duchess:...
and the father of her six children, including Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg ruled Luxembourg from 1964 to 2000. He is the father of the current ruler, Grand Duke Henri, and the son of Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma...
.
Early life
Prince Félix was one of the twenty-four children of the deposed Robert I, Duke of ParmaRobert I, Duke of Parma
Robert I was the last sovereign Duke of Parma and Piacenza from 1854 to 1859, when the duchy was annexed to Sardinia-Piedmont during the unification of Italy...
, being the duke's sixth child and third son by his second wife, Maria Antonia of Portugal. His maternal grandparents were Miguel of Portugal
Miguel of Portugal
Dom Miguel I, sometimes Michael , was the King of Portugal between 1828 and 1834, the seventh child and second son of King John VI and his queen, Charlotte of Spain....
and Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg
Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg
Princess Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg was the wife of King Miguel of Portugal but only following his deposition. As a widow, she secured advantageous marriages for their six daughters.-Family:...
.
He was also the younger brother (by sixteen months) of Empress Zita of Austria
Zita of Bourbon-Parma
Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma was the wife of Emperor Charles of Austria...
. Of the twelve children of Duke Robert's first marriage to Maria-Pia of the Two Sicilies, three died as infants, six had learning difficulties, and only three married. Despite loss of his throne, Duke Robert and his family enjoyed considerable wealth, traveling in a private train of more than a dozen cars among his castles at Schwarzau am Steinfeld
Schwarzau am Steinfeld
Schwarzau am Steinfeld is a town in the district of Neunkirchen in the Austrian state of Lower Austria....
near Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Villa
Villa
A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity,...
Pianore in northwest Italy, and the magnificent Château de Chambord
Château de Chambord
The royal Château de Chambord at Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, France is one of the most recognizable châteaux in the world because of its very distinct French Renaissance architecture which blends traditional French medieval forms with classical Renaissance structures.The building, which was never...
in France.
Less than four months after Robert's death in 1907 the Grand Marshal
Grand Marshal
Grand Marshal is a ceremonial, military, or political office of very high rank. The term has its origins with the word "Marshal" with the first usage of the term "Grand Marshal" as a ceremonial title for certain religious orders...
of the Austrian Court declared six of the children of his first marriage legally incompetent, at the behest of Duchess Maria Antonia. Nonetheless, Robert's primary heir was Elias, Duke of Parma
Duchy of Parma
The Duchy of Parma was created in 1545 from that part of the Duchy of Milan south of the Po River, as a fief for Pope Paul III's illegitimate son, Pier Luigi Farnese, centered on the city of Parma....
, (1880–1959), the youngest son of the first marriage and the only one to father children of his own. Duke Elias also became the legal guardian of his six elder siblings. Although Félix's elder brothers, Prince Sixte and Prince Xavier, eventually sued their half-brother Duke Elias to obtain a greater share of the ducal
Duchy of Parma
The Duchy of Parma was created in 1545 from that part of the Duchy of Milan south of the Po River, as a fief for Pope Paul III's illegitimate son, Pier Luigi Farnese, centered on the city of Parma....
fortune, they lost in the French courts, leaving Prince Félix with modest prospects.
Marriage to Grand Duchess Charlotte
On 6 November 1919 in LuxembourgLuxembourg (city)
The city of Luxembourg , also known as Luxembourg City , is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg...
, the prince married his first cousin Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg, having become also Prince of Luxembourg by Grand Ducal decree the day before. Unlike some European consorts, Félix neither adopted his wife's dynastic surname (of Nassau
House of Nassau
The House of Nassau is a diversified aristocratic dynasty in Europe. It is named after the lordship associated with Nassau Castle, located in present-day Nassau, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The lords of Nassau were originally titled Count of Nassau, then elevated to the princely class as...
), nor relinquished his own title and name "Prince of Bourbon-Parma". His traditional style
Style (manner of address)
A style of office, or honorific, is a legal, official, or recognized title. A style, by tradition or law, precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or political office, and is sometimes used to refer to the office itself. An honorific can also be awarded to an individual in a personal...
as a Bourbon
House of Bourbon
The House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...
prince of the Parmesan branch is the reason that cadet
Cadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
members of the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg
Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg
The Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg consists of the extended family of the sovereign Grand Duke....
enjoy the style of Royal Highness
Royal Highness
Royal Highness is a style ; plural Royal Highnesses...
(but that style belongs to the Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
monarch and heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
by right, as the historical prerogative of grand ducal dynasties
Dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers considered members of the same family. Historians traditionally consider many sovereign states' history within a framework of successive dynasties, e.g., China, Ancient Egypt and the Persian Empire...
).
Félix served in the Austrian Dragoons as lieutenant and captain, but resigned his commission in November 1918. He was President of the Luxembourg Red Cross between 1923 and 1932 and again between 1947 and 1969. He was also Colonel of the Luxembourg Volunteers Company since 1920 and Inspector-General of the Luxembourg Army between 1945 and 1967.
Urban legend
Urban legend
An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true...
has it that Félix lost the Grünewald
Grunewald (Luxembourg)
The Grünewald is a forest in central Luxembourg, most of which is owned by the national government. Grünewald stretches through the communes of Niederanven, Steinsel, and Walferdange; the centre of the forest is situated north-east of central Luxembourg City. As a result of its proximity to...
, a forest owned by the Grand Duchess, at a casino in 1934, but this is false; part of the property was sold, along with Berg Castle
Berg Castle
Berg Castle , also called Colmar-Berg, is the principal residence of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. It is situated in the town of Colmar-Berg, in central Luxembourg, near the confluence of the Alzette and the Attert, two of Luxembourg's most important rivers.-History:The estate at Colmar-Berg first...
, to the Luxembourgian government, with the revenue paying for the upkeep of the grand-ducal household, and was not spent on personal consumption, let alone gambling losses.
Marriage and children
On 6 November 1919 in LuxembourgLuxembourg (city)
The city of Luxembourg , also known as Luxembourg City , is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg...
, he married Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg was the reigning Grand Duchess of Luxembourg from 1919 to 1964.-Early life and life as Grand Duchess:...
, and they had six children:
- Jean, Grand Duke of LuxembourgJean, Grand Duke of LuxembourgGrand Duke Jean of Luxembourg ruled Luxembourg from 1964 to 2000. He is the father of the current ruler, Grand Duke Henri, and the son of Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma...
(born 1921), who married HRH Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of BelgiumPrincess Joséphine-Charlotte of BelgiumPrincess Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium was Grand Duchess of Luxembourg as spouse of Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg...
(1927–2005). Has issue. - Princess Elizabeth of Luxembourg (1922–2011), who married HSH Franz, Duke of HohenbergFranz, Duke of HohenbergFranz Ferdinand, Duke of Hohenberg . He was the eldest son of Maximilian, Duke of Hohenberg and Countess Maria of Waldburg at Wolfegg and Waldsee...
(1927–1977). Has issue. - Princess Marie Adelaide of LuxembourgPrincess Marie Adelaide of LuxembourgPrincess Marie-Adélaïde of Luxembourg was a Luxembourgian princess, the third child and the second daughter of Grand Duchess Charlotte and Felix of Bourbon-Parma ....
(1924–2007), who married Karl Josef Graf Henckel von Donnersmarck (1928–2008). Had issue. - Princess Marie Gabriele of LuxembourgPrincess Marie Gabriele of LuxembourgMarie Gabrielle Aldegunde Wilhelmine Louise , is a Luxembourgian princess, a daughter of Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma....
(born 1925), who married Knud, Count of Holstein-Ledreborg (1919–2001). Has issue. - Prince Charles of LuxembourgPrince Charles of LuxembourgCharles Frédéric Louis Guillaume Marie , was a Luxembourgian prince, a son of Grand Duchess Charlotte and Felix of Bourbon-Parma....
(1927–1977), who married Joan Douglas Dillon (born 1935), the former wife of James Brady Moseley. Had issue. - Princess Alix of LuxembourgAlix, Princess of LigneAlix Marie Anne Antoinette Charlotte Gabrielle, Dowager Princess of Ligne, Princess of Luxembourg, Princess of Nassau, Princess of Bourbon-Parma is the daughter of Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg and Felix of Bourbon-Parma-Marriage and issue:On 17 August 1950 in Luxembourg Princess Alix...
(born 1929), who married Antoine, 13th Prince of LigneAntoine, 13th Prince of LigneAntoine Maria Joachim Lamoral, Prince of Ligne, Prince of Épinoy, Prince of Amblise, Grandee of Spain was born on 8 March 1925 in Brussels, Belgium. He was the son of Eugène, 11th Prince of Ligne and Philippine de Noailles...
(1925–2005). Has issue.
Ancestry
External links
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