Francis, Duke of Cádiz


Francisco de Asís María Fernando de Borbón, sometimes anglicised Francis of Assisi, 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.

Family

Francis was born at Aranjuez, Spain, the second son of Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain, and of his wife, Princess Luisa Carlotta of Naples and Sicily. He was named after Saint Francis of Assisi.

Marriage and children

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 impotent.

Later life

Starting in 1864, Francis acted as president of the Spanish Privy Council.
In 1868 he 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, Alfonso XII—whom the 1874 restoration placed on the throne. By then, Francis and Isabella had amicably separated and, with time, became good friends.
In 1881 Francis took up residence at the château of Épinay-sur-Seine. He died there in 1902. His wife Isabella and two of his daughters, Isabella and Eulalia, were present at his deathbed.

Titles, styles and honours

Titles and styles

Ancestry