Infante Luis of Spain Facts for Kids

Luis Antonio Jaime of Spain (born July 25, 1727 – died August 7, 1785) was a Spanish prince, known as the Cardinal Infante. He was a son of King Philip V of Spain and his second wife, Elisabeth Farnese.

Luis was once a very young Cardinal in the Catholic Church. He is even listed in the Guinness World Records as the youngest person ever to become a cardinal.

Life of Luis Antonio Jaime
Marriage and Family Life
- Luis's Children
Images for kids
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Life of Luis Antonio Jaime

Early Years and Church Role

Luis Antonio Jaime de Borbón y Farnesio was the youngest son of King Philip V and Queen Elisabeth Farnese. When he was just eight years old, in 1735, Luis became a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

He was also made the Archbishop of Toledo and Primate of Spain in 1735. This meant he was a very important leader in the Spanish Catholic Church. He also became a Cardinal in Rome.

However, in 1754, Luis decided to leave his church roles. He felt he didn't have a calling for religious life. After this, his brother, Infante Philip, gave him the title of the 13th Count of Chinchón.

Claim to the Throne

In 1759, Luis's older half-brother, King Ferdinand VI, died without any children. This meant there was no direct heir to the Spanish throne.

Luis believed he should be the next king. He was the only surviving son of King Philip V who was still living in Spain. His older brothers, Charles and Philip, Duke of Parma, were ruling in Italy.

Even though Luis had a strong claim, his oldest brother Charles became the new King of Spain. Charles's third son then became King of Naples and Sicily.

Patron of the Arts

Infante Luis loved and supported the arts and culture. He was a big fan of many talented people. These included the musician Luigi Boccherini, the architect Ventura Rodríguez, and famous painters like Francisco de Goya, Luis Paret y Alcázar, and Charles Joseph Flipart.

Family of Luis Antonio in 1743
"The Family of Philip V of Spain 1743"; This painting shows King Philip V and his family. Luis, the Count of Chinchón, is also in the picture.

Marriage and Family Life

Infante Don Luis of Spain, Archbishop of Toledo and Primate of Spain, by Louis Michel van Loo

King Charles III was worried about his brother Luis. So, he sent Luis away from the royal court in Madrid. In 1776, Luis married María Teresa de Vallabriga in a special kind of marriage called a morganatic marriage.

This type of marriage meant that Luis's wife and any children they had would not have royal titles. King Charles liked this, as it meant Luis's children could not claim the throne.

Luis's Children

Because of the morganatic marriage, Luis's children could not receive royal titles. This meant that King Charles's children were the only legal heirs to the Spanish throne.

Luis and María Teresa had four children:

Luis María de Borbón y Vallabriga, 14th Count of Chinchón (born 1777 in Cadalso de los Vidrios – died 1823 in Madrid)
A child who was stillborn
María Teresa de Borbón y Vallabriga, 15th Countess of Chinchón. She married Manuel de Godoy in 1797. They had one daughter named Carlota Luisa Manuela.
María Luisa de Borbón y Vallabriga (born 1780 in Toledo – died 1846 in Paris). She married Joaquín José de Melgarejo y Saurín in 1817. They did not have any children.

King Charles had a lot of respect for his younger brother Luis. Even when Luis was sent away, he was treated well by the Spanish court. Luis also respected his brother. This is why he accepted Charles as king and accepted his exile.

However, Luis was still sad that he had lost the chance to be king. He died in 1785, still living away from the main court.