Prince Alfonso, Count of Caserta

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Prince or Infante Alfonso, Count of Caserta (28 March 1841, Caserta - 26 May 1934, Cannes) was the third son of Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies and Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria.

He was Duke of Calabria in succession of his older half-brother, Francis II of the Two Sicilies. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Ferdinando Pius.

[edit] Heir to the throne

Alfonso was the fourth-in-line heir to the throne of Two Sicilies since the time of his birth. Ahead of him in line were his older half-brother Francis and older brothers Lodovico, Count of Trani and Alberto, Count of Castrogiovanni.

On 12 July 1844, Alberto died. He was two months short of his fifth birthday and naturally childless. Alfonso became the third-in-line heir.

On 22 May 1859, Ferdinand II died. Francis became King but had no children yet from his wife Maria Sophie of Bavaria. Lodovico became his Heir Presumptive and Alfonso the second-in-line heir to their half-brother.

However the Two Sicilies were conquered by the Expedition of the Thousand under Giuseppe Garibaldi in 1861. Garibaldi served the Kingdom of Sardinia which was in the process of Italian unification. The deposed Royal House survived with Francis still at its head.

On 8 June 1886, Lodovico died. His only daughter Mathilde Ludovika, Duchess in Bavaria was not in line for the throne since their House succession was determined by Agnatic seniority. Alfonso became the Heir Presumptive to Francis who had survived his own daughter.

On 27 December 1894, Francis II died. Alfonso became the new Head of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies.

[edit] Marriage and Children

Alfonso was married to his cousin, Princess Antonietta (16 March 1851-12 September 1938) on 8 June 1868. She was a daughter of Francesco, Count of Trapani and his wife Princess Isabella of Tuscany.

Her paternal grandparents were Francis I of the Two Sicilies and his second wife Maria Isabella of Spain. Her maternal grandparents were Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany and his second wife Maria Antonietta of the Two Sicilies.

Maria Isabella was a daughter of Charles IV of Spain and Maria Luisa of Parma. Maria Antonietta was another daughter of Francis I of the Two Sicilies and Maria Isabella of Spain.

They had 12 issue [1].

Preceded by
Francis II		 Head of the Royal House of the Two Sicilies
1894-1934		 Succeeded by
Ferdinando Pius
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