Prince Gaetan of the Two Sicilies, Count of Girgenti (Italian : Gaetano Maria Federico, Principe di Borbone delle Due Sicilie, Conte di Girgenti ) (12 January 1846, Naples , Two Sicilies – 26 November 1871, Lucerne , Switzerland ) was the seventh child of Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies and his wife Maria Theresa of Austria .[ 1] [ 2] Gaetan was a member of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and consort to Isabella, Princess of Asturias , twice the recognized heir presumptive to the throne of Spain . Through this union, Gaetan was created an Infante of Spain.
Marriage and later life [ edit ]
Gaetan married Isabella, Princess of Asturias , eldest surviving child of Francis, Duke of Cádiz and his wife Isabella II of Spain , on 13 May 1868 in Madrid .[ 1] [ 2] Gaetan was a first cousin to both of Isabella's parents. Their union was intended to end a feud between the Neapolitan Bourbons and the Spanish Bourbons following Spain's recognition of the Kingdom of Italy unified under the House of Savoy . The ceremony took place shortly before Spain's Glorious Revolution which brought an end to Isabella II's reign.
Gaetan and Isabella's marriage proved unhappy. For two years, Gaetan traveled throughout Europe visiting relatives in major cities including Vienna . A troubled and depressed man, Gaetan suffered from weak health and epilepsy . He had unsuccessfully attempted suicide at least once before shooting himself in the head in his hotel room in Lucerne , Switzerland . Isabella returned to Spain in 1874 and did not remarry. Their brief union produced no issue.[ 1] [ 2]
Titles, styles, honours and arms [ edit ]
Titles and styles [ edit ]
12 January 1846 – 13 May 1868 : His Royal Highness Prince Gaetano, The Count of Girgenti, Prince of Two Sicilies
13 May 1868 – 26 November 1871 : His Royal Highness Prince Gaetano, The Count of Girgenti, Infante of Spain, Prince of Two Sicilies
Arms of Prince Gaetan, Count of Girgenti
Prince Gaetan's arms
Ancestry [ edit ]
Ancestors of Prince Gaetan, Count of Girgenti
16. Charles III of Spain
8. Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies
17. Maria Amalia of Saxony
4. Francis I of the Two Sicilies
18. Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
9. Maria Carolina of Austria
19. Maria Theresa of Austria
2. Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies
20. Charles III of Spain (= 16)
10. Charles IV of Spain
21. Maria Amalia of Saxony (= 17)
5. Maria Isabella of Spain
22. Philip, Duke of Parma
11. Maria Luisa of Parma
23. Princess Louise-Élisabeth of France
1. Prince Gaetan, Count of Girgenti
24. Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor (= 18)
12. Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
25. Maria Theresa of Austria (= 19)
6. Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen
26. Charles III of Spain (= 16)
13. Maria Louisa of Spain
27. Maria Amalia of Saxony (= 17)
3. Maria Theresa of Austria
28. Charles Christian, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg
14. Frederick William, Duke of Nassau
29. Princess Carolina of Orange-Nassau
7. Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg
30. Georg, Landgrave of Kirchberg, Count of Sayn-Hachenburg
15. Burgravine Louise Isabelle of Kirchberg
31. Countess Elisabeth Augusta Reuss of Greiz
References [ edit ]
1st Generation
2nd Generation
3rd Generation
4th Generation
5th Generation
6th Generation
7th Generation
The generations indicate descent from
Carlos I , under whom the crowns of Castile and Aragon were united, forming the Kingdom of Spain. Previously, the title Infante had been largely used in the different realms.
1st generation
Felipe II
Infante Fernando
Infante Juan (1537–1538)
Infante Juan (1539)
2nd generation
3rd generation
4th generation
5th generation
6th generation
7th generation
8th generation
9th generation
10th generation
11th generation
12th generation
13th generation
14th generation
15th generation
16th generation
1 title granted by Royal Decree
2 consort to an Infanta naturalized as a Spanish Infante