Francisco de Borbón y Escasany, 5th Duke of Seville

The Most Excellent The Duke of Seville
Francisco de Borbón in September 2015, Souvigny (Allier, France)
Born	16 November 1943 Madrid, Spain
Title	Duke of Seville Grandee of Spain
Tenure	1968–present
Predecessor	Enriqueta de Borbón y Parade, 4th Duchess of Seville
Spouse(s)	Countess Beatrice von Hardenberg Isabelle Karanitsch María de los Angeles de Vargas-Zuñiga
Parents	Francisco de Borbón y Borbón Enriqueta Escasany y Miguel

Francisco de Paula Enrique de Borbón y Escasany, 5th Duke of Seville, Grandee of Spain (born 16 November 1943), is the current Duke of Seville and a distant relative of the Spanish Royal Family.^[1] He is a businessman and has been involved in banking, real estate and other commercial activities.^[2][3]

Early life

Francisco was born in Madrid and is the eldest child of Francisco de Borbón y Borbón (1912–1995), who was the son of Francisco de Borbón y de la Torre and Enriqueta de Borbón y Parade, 4th Duchess of Seville.^[1] Francisco's mother was Enriqueta Escasany y Miguel (1925–1962), the daughter of Ignacio Escasany y Ancell and Enriqueta de Miguel y Mas, the 2nd Marquesa de Pobla de Claramunt.^[1]

His paternal grandparents were first cousins, both being grandchildren of Infante Enrique, Duke of Seville.^[1] Francisco is a member of the Spanish branch of the House of Bourbon and is a relative of King Juan Carlos I of Spain, since both of them are male-line descendants of King Charles IV of Spain.

Duke of Seville

After the death of his grandmother, Enriqueta de Borbón y Parade, Francisco inherited the title of Duke of Seville. His father had renounced his own rights to succeed to the title in 1968.^[1]

Marriages and children

Francisco was married on 7 July 1973 at Baden-Baden to Countess Beatrice von Hardenberg (born 1947), daughter of Count Günther von Hardenberg and his wife Princess Maria Josepha of Fürstenberg.^[4] The couple had three children and divorced in 1989.^[1]

They have two daughters and one son:^[1]

• Olivia de Borbón y Hardenberg (born 6 April 1974), entrepreneur and PR for jewelry brands
• Cristina de Borbón y Hardenberg (born 2 September 1975), chef and catering service operator
• Francisco de Borbón y Hardenberg (born 21 January 1979), entrepreneur and also appeared on the first season of TLC's reality television series, Secret Princes.^[5]

Francisco married for the second time on 19 October 1991 at Vienna to Isabelle Karanitsch (born 1959). They had no children and divorced in 1993. He married for the third time on 2 September 2000 at Marbella to María de los Angeles de Vargas-Zuñiga (born 1958). They have no children.

The Order of Saint Lazarus

Coat of arms as Grand Master of the Order of Saint Lazarus (statuted 1910)

Francisco was elected as the 48th Grand Master of the Order of Saint Lazarus (statuted 1910) (Malta Obedience) on 5 October 1996 in Santa Maria della Passione, Milan, Italy. He succeeded his father, who had been Grand Master of the Order since 1959. Francisco retired from his position of Grand Master in 2008 and was succeeded by his cousin, Don Carlos Gereda y de Borbón, Marqués de Almazán. Francisco was then given the title of Grand Master Emeritus.

French succession

Since Francisco is a direct male-line descendant of King Louis XIV of France, he is in the legitimist line of succession to the French throne.

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

• 16 November 1943 – 1968: Don Francisco de Borbón y Escasany
• 1968 – present: The Most Excellent The Duke of Seville

Honours

• Grand Master [1996-2008] and Grand Master Emeritus [2008 et sec] of the Order of Saint Lazarus
• Consejero Magistral (President) of the Corps of the Asturian Nobility
• Knight of the Order of the Eagle of Georgia and the Seamless Tunic of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Ancestry

Ancestors of Francisco de Borbón y Escasany, 5th Duke of Seville

16. Infante Enrique, Duke of Seville               8. Francisco de Paula de Borbón y Castellví                       17. Elena María de Castellví y Shelly               4. Francisco de Borbón y de la Torre                             18. José María de la Torre y Armenteros               9. María Luisa de la Torre y Bassave                       19. MarÍa de los Dolores de Bassave y Ziburu               2. Francisco de Borbón y Borbón                                   20. Infante Enrique, Duke of Seville (= 16)               10. Enrique de Borbón y Castellví, 2nd Duke of Seville                       21. Elena María de Castellví y Shelly (= 17)               5. Enriqueta de Borbón y Parade, 4th Duchess of Seville                             22. Jean Parade               11. Joséphine Parade                       23. Geneviève Sibié               1. Francisco de Borbón y Escasany, 5th Duke of Seville                                         6. Ignacio Escasany y Ancell                             3. Enriqueta Escasany y Miguel                                   14. Antonio de Miguel y Costas, Marqués de Pobla de Claramunt                       7. Enriqueta de Miguel, Marquesa de Pobla de Claramunt                             15. Balbina Mas y Santacana

Patrilineal descent

Ancestors of Francisco de Borbón y Escasany, 5th Duke of Seville

Francisco' patriline is the line from which he is descended father to son. Patrilineal descent is the principle behind membership in royal houses, as it can be traced back through the generations, which means that Francisco is a member of the House of Bourbon. House of Bourbon Robert of Hesbaye, c. 765–807 Robert III of Worms, 800–834 Robert the Strong, 820–866 Robert I of France, 866–923 Hugh the Great, 898–956 Hugh Capet, c. 939–996 Robert II of France, 972–1031 Henry I of France, 1008–1060 Philip I of France, 1052–1108 Louis VI of France, 1081–1137 Philip II of France, 1165–1223 Louis VIII of France, 1187–1226 Louis IX of France, 1214–1270 Robert, Count of Clermont, 1256–1317 Louis I, Duke of Bourbon, 1279–1342 James I, Count of La Marche, 1319–1362 John I, Count of La Marche, 1344–1393 Louis, Count of Vendôme, 1376–1446 John VIII, Count of Vendôme, 1426–1478 Francis, Count of Vendôme, 1470–1495 Charles, Duke of Vendôme, 1489–1537 Antoine of Navarre, Duke of Vendôme, 1518–1562 Henry IV of France, 1553–1610 Louis XIII of France, 1601–1643 Louis XIV of France, 1638–1715 Louis, Grand Dauphin of France, 1661–1711 Philip V of Spain, 1683–1746 Charles III of Spain, 1716–1788 Charles IV of Spain, 1748–1819 Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain, 1794–1865 Infante Enrique, Duke of Seville, 1823–1870 Francisco de Paula de Borbón y Castellví, 1853–1942 Francisco de Borbón y de la Torre, 1882–1952 Francisco de Borbón y Borbón, 1912–1995 Francisco de Borbón y Escasany, 5th Duke of Seville, b. 1943

Notes and sources

• Profile, Genealogics.org; accessed 18 February 2015.
• Profile, thePeerage.com; accessed 18 February 2015.
• The Royal House of Stuart, London, 1969, 1971, 1976, Addington, A. C., Reference: II 97

References

1. Enache, Nicolas. La Descendance de Marie-Therese de Habsburg. ICC, Paris, 1996. pp. 550-554. (French). ISBN 2-908003-04-X
2. Bloomberg profile
3. Official website of Crédit des Alpes
4. Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Gräfliche Häuser, Band V. "Hardenberg". C.A. Starke Verlag, 1967, pp. 175-176.
5. TLC television show info