, title = Duke of Castro , image = Raniero.jpg , image_size = , caption = Portrayed with a cavalry uniform of the

Spanish Army The Spanish Army ( es, Ejército de Tierra, lit=Land Army) is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest active armies — dating back to the late 15th century. The ...

and the Order of Alcántara, c. 1914 , succession = Head of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (disputed) , reign-type = Tenure , reign = 7 January 1960 – 13 January 1973 , predecessor = Prince Ferdinand Pius , successor = Prince Ferdinand , spouse = , issue = Princess Maria del Carmen
Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Castro , house =

Bourbon-Two Sicilies The House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies is a cadet branch of the Spanish royal family, Spanish Bourbons that ruled Southern Italy and Sicily for more than a century in the 18th and 19th centuries. It descends from the Capetian dynasty in legitimate ma ...

, father =

Prince Alfonso, Count of Caserta Prince Alfonso, Count of Caserta (28 March 1841 – 26 May 1934) was the third son of Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies and Maria Theresa of Austria (1816-1867), Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria. He was pretender to the Kingdom of the Two Sicil ...

, mother =

Princess Maria Antonietta of Bourbon-Two Sicilies , title =Countess of Caserta , image =Princess Maria Antonietta of Bourbon-Two Sicilies.jpg , caption = , reign = , coronation = , predecessor = , successor = , succession = , spouse ...

, birth_date = , birth_place =

Cannes Cannes ( , , ; oc, Canas) is a city located on the French Riviera. It is a communes of France, commune located in the Alpes-Maritimes departments of France, department, and host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and Cannes Lions I ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

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Roquebrune-sur-Argens Roquebrune-sur-Argens (; oc, Ròcabruna d'Argenç) is a Communes of France, commune in the Var (department), Var Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region, Southeastern France. In 2019, it had ...

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Cimetière du Grand Jas The Cimetière du Grand Jas (Grand Jas Cemetery) is located at 205 avenue de Grasse in Cannes on the French Riviera. The nine hectare terraced cemetery began operations in 1866 and is known for its landscaped architecture with rich floral decora ...

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Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

Prince Ranieri Maria Gaetano, Duke of Castro (3 December 1883 – 13 January 1973) was a claimant to the headship of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies.

Biography

He was born in

, the ninth child but fifth son of

and

(1851–1938). Ranieri for a time served in the Royal

. Following the death of his brother

Prince Ferdinand Pius, Duke of Calabria Prince Ferdinand Pius (''Ferdinando Pio Maria''), Duke of Castro (25 July 1869, Rome – 7 January 1960, Lindau), was head of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and pretender to the throne of the extinct Kingdom of the Two Sicilies from 1934 to 1960 ...

on 7 January 1960 Prince Ranieri was declared Head of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies by all relatives except for

Infante Alfonso, Duke of Calabria , title =Duke of Calabria, Count of Caserta , image =Infante Alfonso de Calabria.jpg , caption = Portrayed wearing the uniform of the Regimiento de Húsares de la Princesa, c. 1915 , succession = Head of the House ...

and his children, because the Infante's senior branch of the family abdicated their claims in order to be in line for the

Spanish throne , coatofarms = File:Coat_of_Arms_of_Spanish_Monarch.svg , coatofarms_article = Coat of arms of the King of Spain , image = Felipe_VI_in_2020_(cropped).jpg , incumbent = Felipe VI , incumbentsince = 19 Ju ...

. He remained head of the house until his death on 13 January 1973 in Lacombe. He handed over the functions associated with the headship of the house to his son in 1966.The Dynasty to Present Date

Marriage and children

Ranieri married his first cousin Countess Maria Carolina Zamoyska (1896–1968) on 12 September 1923 in

Vyšné Ružbachy Vyšné Ružbachy (german: Oberrauschenbach; hu, Felsőzúgó) is a spa village and municipality in Stará Ľubovňa District in the Prešov Region of northern Slovakia. History In historical records the village was first mentioned in 1329. ...

Slovakia Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the s ...

, from the marriage he had two children: *Princess ''Maria del Carmen'' Carolina Antonia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (1924–2018). * Prince ''Ferdinando'' Maria Andrea Alfonso Marcus, Duke of Castro (1926–2008).

Honours

* Grand Master of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George * Grand Master of the Order of Saint Januarius * Grand Master of the Order of Saint Ferdinand and of Merit * Grand Master of the Royal Order of Francis I * Grand Master of the Order of Saint George and Reunion * Knight of the Spanish Order of the Golden Fleece * Knight of the Order of Saint Hubert of Bavaria * Knight of the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation * Bailiff Grand Cross of Honor and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta * Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III * Knight of the Order of Alcántara

Arms

File:Coat of Arms of Princes of the Two Sicilies (c.1840).svg, Prince Rainieri's arms
Until 1960 File:Coat of Arms of Prince Ranieri of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro.svg, Prince Rainieri's arms
used in Spain File:Great Royal Coat of Arms of the Two Sicilies.svg, Prince Ranieri's arms as head of the Royal House
1960-1973

Ancestry

References

External links

Royal House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ranieri Of Castro, Duke, Prince 1883 births 1973 deaths People from Cannes Princes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies Pretenders to the throne of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies Dukes of Castro Knights of the Golden Fleece of Spain Bailiffs Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta Knights of the Order of Alcántara Burials at the Cimetière du Grand Jas French Roman Catholics