Infante Luis of Spain
Luis Antonio Jaime of Spain (25 July 1727 – 7 August 1785), Infante of Spain, Cardinal Deacon of the titular church of Santa Maria della Scala in Rome, Archbishop of Toledo and Primate of Spain, 13th Count of Chinchón, Grandee of Spain First Class, known as the Cardinal Infante, was the last child of Philip V of Spain and his wife Elisabeth Farnese. He is famous for being the youngest Cardinal in history. He also had close ties with several famous Spanish painters of his day including Francisco de Goya.
| Infante Luis | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count of Chinchón | |||||
_by_Anton_Raphael_Mengs.jpg) Luis of Spain by Mengs. | |||||
| 13th Count of Chinchón | |||||
| Tenure | 1761-1785 | ||||
| Predecessor | Philip of Spain | ||||
| Successor | Cardinal Luis María | ||||
| Born | 25 July 1727 Seville, Spain | ||||
| Died | 7 August 1785 (aged 58) Palacio de la Mosquera, Arenas de San Pedro, Ávila | ||||
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| House | Bourbon | ||||
| Father | Philip V of Spain | ||||
| Mother | Elisabeth Farnese | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism | ||||
Brief biography
changeLuis was born in the city of Seville in Spain. He was the youngest child of the king King and queen of Spain. He was given the name Luis in honour of his French great-grandfather Louis XIV. From a young age his father showered various religious titles upon his youngest son, even creating him a Primate of Spain. Giving him the rank of an Archbishop while barely eight years old. He was also an Infante of Spain by birth being the child of a reigning Spanish monarch giving him the use of Royal Highness from birth. Despite his parents decisions the young Luis abandoned his religious rank due to a lack of interest in his charges on 18 December 1754. He was given the title of Count of Chinchón by which he is known. The title was eventually inherited by his daughter Maria Teresa and was given to him by his older brother The Infante Felipe.
Following the death of his childless elder half-brother King Fernando VI in 1759 he claimed the throne and his brother Carlos (the future Charles III of Spain claimed the throne for himself exiling his younger brother from the royal court in Madrid.
Marriage
changeIn his exile Luis contracted a marriage with María Teresa de Vallabriga herself an aristocrat but not royalty.
- Luis María de Borbón y Vallabriga, 14th Count of Chinchón (22 May 1777 – 19 March 1823) later a cardinal but died childless.
- María Teresa de Borbón, Countess of Chinchón 6 March 1779 – 23 November 1828) married Manuel Godoy, Prince of the Peace and had children.
- María Luisa de Borbón y Vallabriga, Farnesio y Rozas (21 March 1780 – 1 December 1846) married Joaquín José de Melgarejo y Saurín, de Rojas y Ruíz-Dávalos Duke of San Fernando de Quiroga but died childless.
As he now had children he could also claim the throne of the Two Sicilies but his brother Charles III barred his right and made sure he and his family were never allowed at court. He died aged 58 having never reconciled with his elder brother. His title was inherited by his eldest daughter whose children then inherited the title too.
Titles and styles
change- 25 July 1727 - 18 December 1754: His Royal Highness The Infante Don Luis of Spain.
- 18 December 1754 - 7 August 1785: His Royal Highness The Count of Chinchón, Infante of Spain.
Other websites
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Media related to Infante Luis, Count of Chinchón at Wikimedia Commons