Infante Sebastião of Spain and Portugal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Infante Sebastian |
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| Born | 4 November 1811 Quinta da Boa Vista, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
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| Died | 14 February 1875 (aged 63) Pau, France |
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| House | Bourbon-Braganza | ||||
| Father | Infante Pedro Carlos of Spain and Portugal | ||||
| Mother | Infanta Maria Teresa of Portugal | ||||
Sebastian Gabriel de Borbón y Braganza was a prince from Spain and Portugal. He was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 4, 1811, and passed away in Pau, France, on February 14, 1875.
He was known as an Infante (a royal prince) of both Portugal and Spain. Sebastian was an important figure in the 19th century, especially as a commander in the First Carlist War in Spain. He also became the ancestor of several important Spanish noble families.
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Early Life and Family
Sebastian was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1811. He was the only child of Infanta Maria Teresa of Portugal and Infante Pedro Carlos of Spain and Portugal. His mother was the oldest daughter of King John VI of Portugal. His father, who died soon after Sebastian was born, was a grandson of King Charles III of Spain.
Because of his royal connections, Sebastian was given the title Infante of Portugal shortly after his birth. Later, in 1824, his great-uncle, King Ferdinand VII of Spain, also gave him the title Infante of Spain.
Role in Civil Wars
During Sebastian's lifetime, both Portugal and Spain faced civil wars. In Portugal, a conflict began in 1826 between Sebastian's uncles, Miguel I of Portugal and Pedro IV of Portugal. This war lasted until 1834.
Sebastian's mother, Maria Teresa, later married her uncle, Don Carlos. Don Carlos was the first "Carlist" pretender to the Spanish throne. A "Carlist" was someone who supported Don Carlos's claim to be king of Spain, instead of his niece, Isabella II of Spain. Sebastian's mother was a strong Carlist supporter.
Sebastian himself became a military commander in the First Carlist War in Spain. This war started in 1833. He led the Carlist Army of the North from late 1836. He won an important battle called the Battle of Oriamendi in March 1837 against British soldiers. However, a plan he led to attack Madrid failed, and he was removed from his command later that year.
Royal Titles and Status
Because Sebastian joined Don Carlos's side in the civil war, the Spanish government took away his titles. On January 15, 1837, a law was passed that removed him from the line of succession to the Spanish throne. He also lost his status as a Spanish Infante. Other Carlist supporters, including his mother and Don Carlos, also lost their titles.
However, things changed later. In 1859, Sebastian was given back his Spanish titles. This happened around the time of his second marriage. After the war ended in 1839, he had been living in Naples, Italy, but he returned to Spain after his titles were restored.
Marriages and Children
Sebastian was married twice. His first wife was his cousin, Princess Maria Amalia of the Two Sicilies. They were married for many years but did not have any children.
After his first wife passed away, Sebastian remarried in 1860. His second wife was his cousin, Infanta María Cristina of Spain. She was much younger than him. They had five sons together. These sons became the founders of several important noble families in Spain, known as dukedoms.
Their children were:
- Francisco María de Borbón y Borbón, 1st Duke of Marchena (1861–1923)
- Pedro de Alcántara de Borbón y Borbón, 1st Duke of Dúrcal (1862–1892)
- Luis de Jesús de Borbón y Borbón, 1st Duke of Ansola (1864–1889)
- Alfonso María de Borbón y Borbón (1866–1934)
- Gabriel Jesús de Borbón y Borbón (1869–1889)
After the Spanish Queen Isabella II of Spain was overthrown in 1868, Sebastian moved to Pau, France. He tried to bring together the different branches of the Bourbon royal family, but he was not successful. Some of his descendants later moved to the United Kingdom in the early 1900s.
Arms
- Heraldry of Infante Sebastian
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Coat of arms of Infante Sebastian
See also
In Spanish: Sebastián Gabriel de Borbón y Braganza para niños
