Francis of Spain
Encyclopedia
Francis of Spain was King consort
of Spain as spouse of Isabella II of Spain
. He is commonly styled the Duke of Cádiz
, the title he held before his marriage.
, Spain
, the second son 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
. His maternal grandparents were Francis I of the Two Sicilies
and María Isabella of Spain
. Maria Isabella was a daughter of Charles IV and Maria Luisa.
, 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.
As Francis and Isabella were double first cousins (their fathers were brothers and their mothers were sisters—and both nieces of their respective husbands) nuclear DNA typing
is problematic, as Francis and Isabella shared a significant number of genes, but it does not make it impossible; the main impediment is that nuclear DNA typing for this purpose is most accurate when DNA from both parents is compared with that of their children and not with that of more distant descendants (who also carry the genes of other family lines). In addition, testing would require exhumation of Francis, Isabella, and one or all of their children.
Y chromosome testing would show whether a putative male-line descendant (such as Louis Alphonse, Duke of Anjou
or Juan Carlos of Spain) was descended from the same male line as Francis, but would not prove that Francisco himself (as opposed to Enrique or another male-line family member) was the father of Isabella's children.
Mitochondrial DNA
testing, a common form of testing used in forensic identification, would not be useful in this case, as mitochondrial DNA is only passed on from the mother.
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.
Foreign Knight of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation
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King consort
King consort is an alternative title to the more usual "prince consort" - which is a position given in some monarchies to the husband of a reigning queen. It is a symbolic title only, the sole constitutional function of the holder being similar to a prince consort, which is the male equivalent of a...
of Spain as spouse of Isabella II of Spain
Isabella 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...
. He is commonly styled the Duke of Cádiz
Duke of Cádiz
The Duchy of Cádiz is Spanish nobility title. Its name refers to the Andalusian city of Cádiz.-History:After the death of the 1st Duke, the Catholic Monarchs negotiated with Francisca Ponce de León y de la Fuente, the abolition of the Marquisate and Duchy of Cádiz, reinstating the city and the...
, the title he held before his marriage.
Family
Francis was born at AranjuezAranjuez
Aranjuez is a town lying 48 km south of Madrid, in the southern part of the Community of Madrid. It is located at the confluence of the Tagus and Jarama rivers, 48 km from Toledo. As of 2009, it has a population of 54,055.-History:...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, the second son of Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain
Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain
Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain was the youngest son of Charles IV of Spain and Maria Luisa of Parma.-Marriage and children:...
, and of his wife (and niece), Princess Luisa Carlotta of Naples and Sicily. He was named after Saint Francis of Assisi
Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis. St...
.
Francis' paternal grandparents were Charles IV of Spain
Charles IV of Spain
Charles IV was King of Spain from 14 December 1788 until his abdication on 19 March 1808.-Early life:...
and Maria Luisa of Parma
Maria Luisa of Parma
Maria Luisa of Parma was Queen consort of Spain from 1788 to 1808 as the wife of King Charles IV of Spain. She was the youngest daughter of Duke Philip of Parma and his wife, Louise-Élisabeth of France, the eldest daughter of King Louis XV.She was christened Luisa Maria Teresa Ana, but was known...
. His maternal grandparents were Francis I of the Two Sicilies
Francis I of the Two Sicilies
-Biography:Francis was born in Naples, the son of Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies and his wife Archduchess Maria Carolina of Austria. He was also the nephew of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI the last King and Queen of France before the first French Republic....
and María Isabella of Spain
Maria Isabella of Spain
María Isabella of Spain was an Infanta of Spain and the Queen of the Two Sicilies. She was the second wife of Francis I and the youngest surviving daughter of the Spanish king Charles IV and his consort Maria Luisa of Parma...
. Maria Isabella was a daughter of Charles IV and Maria Luisa.
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 SevilleInfante Enrique, Duke of Seville
Infante Enrique, Duke of Seville was a member of the House of Bourbon, Spanish Infante and Duke of Seville, grandson of Charles IV of Spain. He was known for his progressive, even revolutionary ideas during the reign of his cousin and sister-in-law, Isabella II of Spain.-Early life:Infante Enrique...
, 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:
- Isabella, Princess of Asturias (1851–1931): married her mother's and father's first cousin Prince Gaetan, Count of GirgentiPrince Gaetan, Count of GirgentiPrince Gaetano Maria Federico of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Count of Girgenti was the seventh child of Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies and his wife Maria Theresa of Austria...
. - Alfonso XII of SpainAlfonso 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...
(1857–1885). - Maria de Pilar (1861–1879).
- Infanta María de la Paz (1862–1946): married her paternal first cousin Prince Louis Ferdinand of BavariaPrince Louis Ferdinand of BavariaPrince Ludwig Ferdinand of Bavaria , was a member of the Bavarian Royal House of Wittelsbach and a General of Cavalry. Following his marriage to Infanta Maria da Paz of Spain, he also became Spanish infante.-General information:...
. - Infanta EulaliaInfanta 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): married her maternal first cousin Don Antonio de Orléans y Borbón, Infante of Spain, Duke of MontpensierInfante 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...
.
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.
As Francis and Isabella were double first cousins (their fathers were brothers and their mothers were sisters—and both nieces of their respective husbands) nuclear DNA typing
Genetic fingerprinting
DNA profiling is a technique employed by forensic scientists to assist in the identification of individuals by their respective DNA profiles. DNA profiles are encrypted sets of numbers that reflect a person's DNA makeup, which can also be used as the person's identifier...
is problematic, as Francis and Isabella shared a significant number of genes, but it does not make it impossible; the main impediment is that nuclear DNA typing for this purpose is most accurate when DNA from both parents is compared with that of their children and not with that of more distant descendants (who also carry the genes of other family lines). In addition, testing would require exhumation of Francis, Isabella, and one or all of their children.
Y chromosome testing would show whether a putative male-line descendant (such as Louis Alphonse, Duke of Anjou
Louis Alphonse, Duke of Anjou
Prince Louis Alphonse of Bourbon, Duke of Anjou was not originally among his given names ; born 25 April 1974, Madrid) is a member of the historically royal dynasty of the House of Bourbon, and one of the current pretenders to the defunct crown of France...
or Juan Carlos of Spain) was descended from the same male line as Francis, but would not prove that Francisco himself (as opposed to Enrique or another male-line family member) was the father of Isabella's children.
Mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA is the DNA located in organelles called mitochondria, structures within eukaryotic cells that convert the chemical energy from food into a form that cells can use, adenosine triphosphate...
testing, a common form of testing used in forensic identification, would not be useful in this case, as mitochondrial DNA is only passed on from the mother.
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 XIIAlfonso XII of Spain
Alfonso 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...
on the throne.
In 1881 Francis took up residence at the château of Épinay-sur-Seine
Épinay-sur-Seine
-Transport:Épinay-sur-Seine is served by Épinay-sur-Seine station on Paris RER line C.It is also served by Épinay – Villetaneuse station on the Transilien Paris – Nord suburban rail line....
(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.
Titles and styles
- 13 May 1822 – 10 October 1846: His Royal Highness Infante Francis of Spain, Duke of Cádiz
- 10 October 1846 – 30 September 1868: His Majesty The King of Spain, Duke of Cádiz
- 30 September 1868 – 17 April 1902: His Majesty King Francis of Spain, Duke of Cádiz
Honours
- Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece
- Knight of the Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III
- Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
Foreign Knight of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation
Order of the Most Holy Annunciation
The Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation is an order of chivalry, or knighthood, originating in mediæval Italy. It eventually was the pinnacle of the honours system in the Kingdom of Italy, which ceased to be a national order when the kingdom became a republic in 1946...
Ancestry
See also
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