Luís Filipe, Prince Royal of Portugal

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Infante Luís Filipe of Portugal
Born	March 21, 1887(1887-03-21) Lisbon
Died	February 1, 1908 (aged 20) Lisbon
Title	Prince Royal of Portugal, Duke of Braganza

Infante Luís Filipe, Prince Royal of Portugal and Duke of Braganza KG (pronounced [luˈiʃ fɨˈlip(ɨ)]; Luís Filipe Maria Carlos Amélio Francisco Vítor Manuel António Lourenço Miguel Rafael Gabriel Gonzaga Xavier Francisco de Assis Bento de Saxe-Coburgo e Gotha de Braganza; March 21, 1887 – February 1, 1908) was the eldest son of King Carlos I of Portugal and the 21st Duke of Braganza.

[edit] Early life

Luís Filipe was born in Lisbon, the elder son of Carlos, Duke of Braganza (later King Carlos I of Portugal) and of his wife Princess Amélie of Orléans. Luís Filipe was granted the titles of Prince of Beira and Duke of Barcelos, traditionally held by the heir apparent of the Prince Royal (Príncipe Real) and Duke of Braganza – the heir apparent to the Portuguese throne.

Two years later, Luís Filipe's father ascended the throne, and Luís Filipe became Prince Royal and the 21st Duke of Braganza, as the heir apparent of the King. In English, he is sometimes, but inaccurately, called Crown Prince of Portugal.

In 1907 Luís Filipe acted as regent while his father was outside the country. The same year Luís Filipe made a visit to the Portuguese colonies in Africa.

[edit] Assassination

On February 1, 1908 Luís Filipe and his family were returning to Lisbon from their country estate at Vila Viçosa. Alfredo Costa and Manuel Buiça, two members a revolutionary society called the Carbonária, shot at the family, hitting Luís Filipe, his father Carlos I, and his younger brother Infante Manuel, Duke of Beja. Carlos I died immediately, while Luís Filipe lived for another twenty minutes. Manuel survived the attack, having only been shot in the arm, while his mother Amelia was unharmed. Manuel would succeed Carlos as Manuel II.

Although he survived his father for twenty minutes, Luís Filipe could not be considered as having been King because the Portuguese monarchy lacked the rule of automatic succession. He is buried next to his father in the Dynasty of Braganza Royal Pantheon, Monastery of São Vicente de Fora, Lisbon. His younger brother and mother are buried opposite. On October 5, 1910, the monarchy under the rule of his surviving younger brother, Manuel II, was overthrown in a military coup and a republic was established.