Francisco de Borbón y de la Torre

Francisco de Borbón y de la Torre (Spanish: Francisco de Paula de Borbón y La Torre; 16 January 1882 – 6 December 1952) was a Spanish aristocrat, military officer (Captaincy General) and member of parliament in Spain. He was a cousin of King Alfonso XIII of Spain and was styled as Duke of Seville (jure uxoris) by virtue of his marriage in 1907 to the 4th Duchess of Seville. In 1935, he was authorised by his cousin King Alfonso XIII to accept the appointment as Grand Master of the Order of Saint Lazarus.

Francisco de Borbón y de la Torre
Duke of Seville (jure uxoris)
Born(1882-01-16)16 January 1882
Madrid, Spain
Died6 December 1952(1952-12-06) (aged 70)
Madrid, Spain
FamilyBorbón-Anjou
Spouse(s)Enriqueta de Borbón y Parade, 4th Duchess of Seville
Issue
Isabella de Borbón y Borbón
Enrique de Borbón y Borbón
Francisco de Borbón y Borbón
FatherFrancisco de Paula de Borbón y Castellví
MotherMaria Luisa de la Torre

Military career

Francisco de Borbón y de la Torre graduated from the Spanish Infantry Academy in 1896 and served as an officer in Spanish Morocco. Despite swearing loyalty to the new Spanish Republic, he was removed from the military in June 1931. He took part in the Spanish Civil War on the Nationalist side, loyal to Francisco Franco.

After the rising of July 18, 1936, he entered the Nationalist Army as an Infantry Colonel, commanding the 7th "Pavia" Infantry Regiment. On May 14, 1938, he was promoted to Brigadier General. He ended the war as commander of the Army Corps of Cordoba. He was subsequently promoted to Division General in 1941 and Lieutenant General in February 1946.[1]

Order of Saint Lazarus
Arms as Grand Master of the Order of Saint Lazarus

Francisco de Borbón y de la Torre was appointed Lieutenant-General of the Order of Saint Lazarus in 1930. Subsequently, on 12 December 1935, he was authorised by his cousin King Alfonso XIII to accept the appointment as Grand Master (1935-1952) of the Order of Saint Lazarus, hence resurrecting the office that had been vacant since 1814 after the 43rd Grand Master, Louis Stanislas Xavier de France, became King Louis XVIII after the Bourbon Restoration.

The symbolic value of this appointment was limited, however, by the fact that the Spanish Republic itself dissolved the royal orders in 1933.[2][3][4] The Order of Saint Lazarus in Spain was subsequently officially accepted by the Spanish Republican Government by decree dated 9 May 1940.[5]

Personal life

He was the elder son of Francisco de Paula de Borbón y Castellví (1853-1942) and his morganatic wife, Maria Luisa de la Torre (1856-1887). On 21 August 1907, he married his cousin Enriqueta de Borbón y Parade, 4th Duchess of Seville (1885-1967), the youngest daughter of Enrique de Borbón y Castellví, 2nd Duke of Seville (1848-1894). From this marriage, three children were born:[6]

  • Isabella de Borbón y Borbón (1908-1974), married Rinaldo Barucci (1900-1956), with issue
  • Enrique de Borbón y Borbón (1909-1915)
  • Francisco de Borbón y Borbón (1912-1995), married (1) Enriqueta Escasany y Miguel (1925-1962), and (2) María de Lóbez y Salvador (1928-2002), with issue from both marriages

The Duke of Seville died in Madrid on 6 December 1952.[6]

Orders, decorations and medals

References
  1. http://dbe.rah.es/biografias/26629/francisco-maria-de-borbon-y-de-la-torre
  2. Peter Bander van Duren: Orders of Knighthood and Merit. The Pontifical, Religious and Secularised Catholic-founded Orders and their relationship to the Apostolic See
  3. Guy Coutant de Saisseval: Les Chevaliers et Hospitaliers de Saint Lazare de Jérusalem de 1789 à 1930
  4. Erich Feigl: Der militärische und hospitalische Orden des hl. Lazarus von Jerusalem. Memento. Wien: Kanzleramt des Grosspriorates von Österreich des Ordre Militaire et Hospitalier de Saint-Lazare de Jerusalem 1974
  5. Boletin oficial del Estado num. 131 de fecha 10 de mayo de 1940, pg. 3177-3178.
  6. "DUKE OF SEVILLE 70, IS DEAD IN MADRID; Franco General in Civil War Was Descendant of Ancient, Spanish and French Kings". The New York Times. 7 December 1952. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  7. BOE Nr. 244 (30. Juli 1940)
  8. Nr. 274 (1. Oktober 1943)
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