Carlos, Duke of Madrid

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Infante Carlos María de los Dolores Juan Isidro José Francisco Quirin Antonio Miguel Gabriel Rafael de Borbón y Austria-Este, Duke of Madrid (March 30, 1848 - July 18, 1909) was the senior member of the House of Bourbon from 1887 until his death. He was the Carlist claimant to the throne of Spain under the name Carlos VII since 1868 (his father's Spanish abdication), and the Legitimist claimant to the throne of France under the name Charles XI since the death of his father in 1887.

Carlos was born at Ljubljana in what is now Slovenia, the elder son of Juan, Count of Montizón and of his wife Archduchess Maria Beatrice of Austria-Este. As an infant the family lived briefly in London where Carlos' younger brother Alfonso was born. After their father, known too liberal for Carlist tastes, left their mother, the boys lived with their mother in Modena. Their mother's brother Duke Francis V of Modena was largely responsible for the education of the boys and was the chief influence in their early lives. Carlos was known for his traditionalist views, much different from those of his father.

He married Princess Margarita de Borbón Parma and, after her death, Princess Berta de Rohan. He organized and lead the Third Carlist War. Between 1872 and 1876 he effectively ruled much of Peninsular Spain.

He died in Varese in 1909, and his remains are buried in the Basilica di San Giusto. He was succeeded by his son Jaime de Borbón y Borbón Parma.

From 1943 to 1953, his grandson Archduke Karl Pius, Prince of Tuscany, also claimed the Headship of the House, and was supported by some of General Franco's officials from the Movimiento Nacional.

House of Bourbon Born: 30 March 1848 Died: 18 July 1909
Preceded by Juan III/Jean III	* NOT REIGNING * King of Spain Carlist claimants to the throne of Spain (1868-1909)	Succeeded by Jaime III/Jacques I
	* NOT REIGNING * King of France Legitimist claimants to the throne of France (1887-1909)