Francisco de Asís (Francisco de Asís María Fernando de Borbón; 13 May 1822 – 17 April 1902) was

King of Spain The monarchy of Spain or Spanish monarchy () is the constitutional form of government of Spain. It consists of a Hereditary monarchy, hereditary monarch who reigns as the head of state, being the highest office of the country. The Spanish ...

as the husband of Queen Isabella II from their marriage in 1846 until Isabella's deposition in 1868. Francisco and his wife were double first cousins, as their fathers were brothers and their mothers were sisters. Isabella was deposed in the

Glorious Revolution The Glorious Revolution, also known as the Revolution of 1688, was the deposition of James II and VII, James II and VII in November 1688. He was replaced by his daughter Mary II, Mary II and her Dutch husband, William III of Orange ...

of 1868, but the monarchy was restored under their son

Alfonso XII Alfonso XII (Alfonso Francisco de Asís Fernando Pío Juan María de la Concepción Gregorio Pelayo de Borbón y Borbón; 28 November 185725 November 1885), also known as ''El Pacificador'' (Spanish: the Peacemaker), was King of Spain from 29 D ...

in 1874.

Family

Francisco de Asís was born at

Aranjuez Aranjuez () is a city and municipality of Spain, part of the Community of Madrid. Located in the southern end of the region, the main urban nucleus lies on the left bank of the Tagus, a bit upstream of the discharge of the Jarama. , the munici ...

, Spain, the second son (first to survive infancy) of Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain, and of his wife (and niece), Princess Luisa Carlotta of the Two Sicilies. He was named after Saint

Francis of Assisi Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone ( 1181 – 3 October 1226), known as Francis of Assisi, was an Italians, Italian Mysticism, mystic, poet and Friar, Catholic friar who founded the religious order of the Franciscans. Inspired to lead a Chris ...

Marriage and children

Francisco married Queen

Isabella II of Spain Isabella II (, María Isabel Luisa de Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias; 10 October 1830 – 9 April 1904) was Queen of Spain from 1833 until her deposition in 1868. She is the only queen regnant in the history of unified Spain. Isabella wa ...

, his double first cousin, on 10 October 1846. There is evidence that Isabella would rather have married his younger brother,

Infante Enrique, Duke of Seville Infante Enrique, Duke of Seville (17 April 182312 March 1870), was an Infante of Spain and a member of the Spanish branch of the House of Bourbon. He was a grandson of Charles IV of Spain and became the first Duke of Seville in 1823. He was k ...

, and complained bitterly about her husband's effeminate habits after their first night together. Twelve children were born during the marriage: * Infante Luis Fernando (20 May 1849), stillbirth. * Infante Fernando Francisco (12 July 1850), died five minutes after birth. * Infanta María Isabel (1851–1931): married her mother's and father's first cousin Prince Gaetan, Count of Girgenti. * Infanta Maria Cristina (5 January 1854 - 7 January). * Infanta Margarita (23 September 1855 - 24 September 1855), born prematurely. * Infante Francisco de Asis Fernando (21 December 1856), stillbirth. * Alfonso XII of Spain (1857–1885) Future King of

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

. * Infanta Maria de la Conception (1859 - 21 October 1861). * Infanta María del Pilar (1861–1879). * Infanta María de la Paz (1862–1946); married her paternal first cousin Prince Louis Ferdinand of Bavaria. * Infanta María Eulalia (1864–1958); married her maternal first cousin Infante Antonio d'Orléans, Duke of Galliera. * Infante Francisco de Asis Leopoldo Maria Enrique (24 January 1866 - 14 February 1866). There has been considerable speculation that some or all of Isabella's children were not fathered by Francisco de Asís; this has been bolstered by rumours that Francisco de Asís was either

homosexual Homosexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior between people of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality is "an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions" exc ...

or impotent. Francisco de Asís recognised all of them: he played the offended, proceeding to blackmail the queen to receive money in exchange for keeping his mouth shut. The extortion by her husband would continue and intensify during Isabella's exile.

Later life

Francis of Assisi of Bourbon king consort of Spain

Starting in 1864, Francisco de Asís acted as president of the Spanish Privy Council (''Consejo del Reino''). In 1868 Francisco went into exile with his wife in France and adopted the incognito title of ''Count of Moratalla''. On 25 June 1870, Isabella abdicated in favour of their son

—whom the 1874 restoration placed on the throne. By then, Francisco de Asís and Isabella had amicably separated and, with time, became good friends. In 1881 Francisco de Asís took up residence at the Château of Épinay-sur-Seine (currently the town hall). He died there in 1902. His wife Isabella and two of his daughters, Isabel and Eulalia, were present at his deathbed."Don Francisco d'Assisi", ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...

'' (18 April 1902): 9.

Honours

Ancestry

References

Bibliography

Bergamini, John D. ''The Spanish Bourbons: The History of a Tenacious Dynasty''. New York: Putnam, 1974. , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Francis, Duke Of Cadiz House of Bourbon (Spain) 1822 births 1902 deaths Kings consort Spanish royal consorts Dukes of Cádiz Spanish captain generals Knights of the Golden Fleece of Spain Collars of the Order of Isabella the Catholic Grand Crosses of the Order of Saint-Charles Grand Crosses of the Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus Burials in the Pantheon of Kings at El Escorial