Luis María de Borbón y Vallabriga, 14th Count of Chinchón
Don Luis María Cardinal de Borbón y Vallabriga, Farnesio y Rozas (Cadalso de los Vidrios, 22 May 1777 – Madrid, 19 March 1823), son of a morganatic marriage of Luis de Borbón y Farnesio, Infante of Spain and 13th Count of Chinchón, and wife María Teresa de Vallabriga y Rozas, Español y Drummond, was the 14th Count of Chinchón (1785–1803), Grandee of Spain First Class (4 August 1799), with a coat of arms of Bourbon, and 1st Marqués de San Martín de la Vega.
Life and career
Until King Charles III of Spain died in 1788, this Borbón offspring was compelled not to use the family name and since 1785 when his father Luis, the king's brother, died, they had to move to the city of Toledo to be educated under the protection of the Archbishop of Toledo Francisco Antonio de Lorenzana y Butrón (León, 22 September 1722 – Rome, 17 April 1804, aged 82), notorious cardinal, historian and "illustrated" Spaniard.
He was Cavaliere dell'insigne Reale ordini di San-Gennaro in 1793, Knight of the order of Carlos III in 1793, Archbishop of Seville (26 May 1799 – 19 May 1814), Archbishop of Toledo (22 December 1799 – 18 March 1823), and Primate of Spain in 1800 and Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria della Scala (pro hace vice to title) on October 20, 1800. He was not present in Rome at the time and the red hat, biretta and ring were sent to him.
Between 1820 and 1823, he played an important role in Spanish liberal politics, abolishing the Inquisition, although the Inquisition was restored again after the invasion of Spain by European troops (England, France, Austria, Russia) in 1823 to restore absolutist policies.
He was made a Knight of the Golden Fleece on 9 July 1820. He died aged 45, a few weeks before the absolutist European consortium of troops invaded Spain again, and some fifteen years after Napoleon's invasion in May 1808.
The Bishop, Archbishop and Cardinal officiating the ceremonies related to his Roman Church promotion was Cardinal Antonio Sentmanat y Castellá, (Barcelona, 21 April 1734 - Bishop of Avila, (February 1783 – June 1784) - Patriarch of the West Indies, Antilles, (June 1784 - ), Cardinal of Santa Maria della Scala, Rome, 30 March 1789 - 14 April 1806, aged 72).
His two sisters were:
- María Teresa de Borbón y Vallabriga, 15th Countess of Chinchón since 1803, painted several times by Francisco Goya who was married in 1797 to Manuel Godoy, and had a daughter, Carlota Manuela de Godoy y Borbón;
- María Luisa de Borbón y Vallabriga, later First Consort Duchess of San Fernando, a title dating back from 1815, without issue.
Gallery
- Don Luis María at age 6, as painted by Francisco Goya.
- Cardinal Luis Maria de Borbón y Vallabriga, portrait by Francisco Goya, c. 1798-1800
External links
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