Infante Alfonso, Duke of Galliera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Infante Alfonso of Spain |
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Photographed by Franzen in rayadillo uniform of the Spanish Army, c. 1910
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| Duke of Galliera | |||||
| Predecessor | Infante Antonio | ||||
| Successor | Infante Alvaro | ||||
| Born | 12 November 1886 Madrid, Spain |
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| Died | 6 August 1975 (aged 88) Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain |
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| Spouse |
Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
(m. 1909; died 1966) |
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| Issue | Infante Álvaro, Duke of Galliera Prince Alonso Prince Ataúlfo |
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| House | Orléans-Galliera | ||||
| Father | Infante Antonio, Duke of Galliera | ||||
| Mother | Infanta Eulalia of Spain | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholic | ||||
Alfonso de Orleans y Borbón (born November 12, 1886 – died August 6, 1975) was a Spanish prince and a skilled military pilot. He was known as an Infante of Spain, which is a title given to the children of the King and Queen of Spain, except for the heir to the throne. Alfonso was also the Duke of Galliera and a first cousin to King Alfonso XIII of Spain.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Alfonso was born in Madrid, Spain. He was the older son of Infante Antonio, Duke of Galliera and Infanta Eulalia of Spain. His grandmother on his mother's side was Queen Isabella II of Spain.
Just before he was born, his aunt, Queen Maria Cristina, who was ruling Spain at the time, gave him the special title of Infante of Spain. This meant he had the same rights and honors as other Spanish princes.
In 1899, Alfonso and his younger brother, Luis Fernando, went to England. They studied at Beaumont College, a school run by the Jesuits, until 1904.
Aviation Career and Military Service
In 1906, Alfonso finished his studies at the Military Academy of Toledo. He then went to France in 1910 to train as a pilot. When he came back to Spain, he became one of the first and best aviators in the Spanish military.
He led air operations during an important military landing in Al Hoceima, Morocco, in 1925. This showed his leadership skills in the air force.
In May 1930, Alfonso flew as a passenger on the famous airship Graf Zeppelin. He traveled from Seville to Brazil, then continued to New York City. He even visited President Herbert Hoover in Washington, D.C., before returning home.
In February 1931, his cousin King Alfonso XIII of Spain made him the Chief of Staff of the Spanish Air Force. This meant he was in charge of the entire air force.
Political Changes and Exile
When the Second Spanish Republic was formed in April 1931, Alfonso had to leave Spain and went to London. He returned to Spain in 1932 but was put in prison. However, on January 1, 1933, he and about 30 other prisoners escaped by boat. They traveled a long distance to Lisbon, Portugal.
In 1937, during the Spanish Civil War, Alfonso returned to Spain. He led the air forces for General Francisco Franco. After the war, he was promoted to general. He became the head of the Second Division Air Force in 1940 and was promoted again in 1943.
For many years, Alfonso was an unofficial helper for the Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona. Juan was the son of King Alfonso XIII and the next in line to the throne. In 1941, Alfonso was even the godfather for Juan's younger son, also named Alfonso.
In 1945, Alfonso decided to leave his job in the Spanish Air Force. He did this to show his support for the Lausanne Manifesto. This was a statement from the Count of Barcelona asking for the monarchy (rule by a king) to be brought back to Spain. This decision ended his military career, but he still loved flying and continued to pilot planes as a civilian.
Marriage and Family Life
On July 15, 1909, Alfonso married Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. She was also known as "Princess Bee." Beatrice was the daughter of Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, who was the second son of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
They had three wedding ceremonies: a civil ceremony, a Catholic religious ceremony, and a Protestant religious ceremony.
At first, King Alfonso XIII of Spain did not officially approve of the marriage. This was because Princess Beatrice was Protestant and did not convert to Catholicism right away. Because of this, Alfonso lost his Spanish titles and honors for a short time. He was even removed from his military position.
However, King Alfonso XIII personally supported the marriage. He helped arrange for a special permission for the Catholic ceremony. In 1911, Alfonso was given back his rank in the army. In 1912, King Alfonso XIII officially restored his title of Infante of Spain and all his honors. In August 1913, Beatrice became Catholic.
Alfonso and Beatrice had three sons:
- Infante Alvaro, Duke of Galliera (born 1910 – died 1997)
- Alfonso de Orleans (born 1912 – died 1936)
- Ataúlfo de Orleans (born 1913 – died 1974)
Travels to North America
In 1928, Alfonso visited North America with his wife and oldest son. This trip was meant to prepare for a visit by King Alfonso XIII, which never happened. They visited many cities, including New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Boston, Montreal, Detroit, and Niagara Falls. They met important people like Vice President Charles G. Dawes. They returned to Spain in December 1928.
Later Years and Legacy
When his father passed away in 1930, Infante Alfonso inherited the title of Duke of Galliera. However, in 1937, he gave this title to his son Álvaro. From then on, he was known as Infante Alfonso of Orleans and Bourbon until his death.
Alfonso passed away from a heart attack in 1975 at his palace in Sanlúcar de Barrameda.
The Fundación Infante de Orleans is a special group founded in 1989. It is named in his honor and works to preserve old historical aircraft in Spain.
See also
In Spanish: Alfonso de Orleans y Borbón para niños
