Infanta Luisa Fernanda | |
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Duchess of Montpensier | |
Infanta Luisa Fernanda | |
Spouse | Prince Antoine d'Orléans, Duke of Montpnesier |
Issue | |
Infanta María Isabel, Countess of Paris María de las Mercedes, Queen of Spain Infante Antonio, Duke of Galliera |
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House | House of Bourbon |
Father | Ferdinand VII of Spain |
Mother | Princess Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies |
Born | 30 January 1832 Royal Palace of Madrid, Spain |
Died | 2 February 1897 San Telmo Palace, Seville, Spain |
(aged 65)
Burial | 7 February 1897 Infantes Pantheon, Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain |
Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Infanta María Luisa Fernanda of Spain (30 January 1832 – 2 February 1897) was Infanta of Spain and Duchess of Montpensier. She was the youngest daughter of king Ferdinand VII of Spain and his fourth wife Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies, the queen-regent, who was also his niece.
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When her elder sister Isabella II of Spain succeeded to the throne, Infanta Luisa Fernanda was heiress-presumptive to the crown between 1833 and 1851, when Isabella's oldest surviving daughter was born.
Isabella had been engaged to their first cousin Francis, Duke of Cádiz, who was known to be homosexual and rumored impotent. Their kinsman, king Louis Philippe of France calculated that no children would be born from Isabella's marriage, and planned the crown of Spain to eventually devolve to his own grandchildren. For this purpose, Luisa Fernanda was engaged to Antoine, Duke of Montpensier (1824–90), the youngest son of king Louis Philippe, who also was Luisa's mother's first cousin.
Luisa Fernanda, only 14 years old, and Duke Antoine, 22, had their nuptials on 10 October 1846 as a double wedding with Isabella and Francis', and young Antoine was elevated to the rank of an Infante of Spain. The couple moved to Paris and later to Sevilla.
The relationship between Isabella and her sister was tense, due to Antoine's conspiracies against the queen.[1]
Antoine's father was deposed in 1848. The same year, the then 16-year-old Luisa Fernanda gave birth to their first child, Maria Isabel. After Isabella was deposed, the family went to exile. Luisa returned to Sevilla years later, already widowed, where she died.[1] She is buried at Escorial.
Luisa Fernanda and Antoine had nine children, but only five reached adulthood.[2]
Royal styles of HRH Infanta Luisa Fernanda |
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Reference style | Her Royal Highness |
Spoken style | Your Royal Highness |
Alternative style | Ma'am |
Of all her children, just Marie Isabelle de Paris and Antonio di Galliera left issue. Through Antonio, the now non-royal line of dukes of Galliera continues. Alfonso's grandchildren lost royal status because of non-dynastic marriages. The current Duke of Galliera is Alfonso's great-grandson, Don Alfonso Francesco de Orléans-Borbón y Ferarra-Pignatelli.[2]
Through Marie Isabelle, she became great-grandmother of king Manuel II of Portugal, Luís Filipe, Duke of Braganza, Dukes Amedeo II of Aosta and Aimone of Spoleto, Princess Dolores Czartoryski, Princess Esperanza of Orleans-Braganza, Countess Mercedes of Barcelona (king Juan Carlos' mother), and Henri, comte de Paris.
The Duchess's complete style, after her marriage, was: Su Alteza Real la Serenísma y Egregia Señora Infanta Doña Luisa Fernanda de Borbón y Borbón, Duquesa de Montpensier (in English: Her Royal Highness the Most Serene and Egregius Lady Infanta Doña Luisa Feranada de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier).
Infanta Luisa Fernanda, Duchess of Montpensier
Cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty
Born: 30 January 1832 Died: 2 February 1897 |
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Spanish royalty | ||
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Preceded by Isabella, Princess of Asturias later became Queen Isabella II |
Heir to the Throne as heiress presumptive 29 September 1833 –20 December 1851 |
Succeeded by Isabella, Princess of Asturias |
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