Francis of Spain | |||||
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Duke of Cádiz | |||||
Photograph by Herbert, c 1860
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King consort of Spain | |||||
Tenure | 10 October 1846 – 30 September 1868 | ||||
Born |
Aranjuez, Spain |
13 May 1822||||
Died | 17 April 1902 Épinay-sur-Seine, France |
(aged 79)||||
Burial | El Escorial | ||||
Spouse | Isabella II of Spain | ||||
Issue |
Isabella, Princess of Asturias Alfonso XII of Spain Infanta Maria de la Paz Infanta Eulalia, Duchess of Galliera |
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House | Bourbon | ||||
Father | Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain | ||||
Mother | Princess Luisa Carlotta of Naples and Sicily | ||||
Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Full name | |
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Francisco de Asís María Fernando de Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias |
Francisco de Asís María Fernando de Borbón, sometimes anglicised Francis of Assisi (13 May 1822 – 17 April 1902), was the husband of Queen Isabella II of Spain and king consort from 1846 to 1868. He is commonly styled Duke of Cádiz, the title he held before his marriage. Francis was the son of Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain and Princess Luisa Carlotta of Naples and Sicily
Francis was born at Aranjuez, 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 Naples and Sicily. He was named after Saint Francis of Assisi.
Francis' paternal grandparents were Charles IV of Spain and Maria Luisa of Parma. Their daughter, María Isabella of Spain, and Francis I of the Two Sicilies were his maternal grandparents.
Francis married Isabella, 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, and complained bitterly about her husband's effeminate habits after their first night together.
Twelve children were born during the marriage, of whom five reached adulthood:
There has been considerable speculation that some or all of Isabella's children were not fathered by Francis; this has been bolstered by rumours that Francis was either homosexual or physically unable to complete the sex act.