Laure-Therese Cros facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Laure-Therese Cros |
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| Pretender | |
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| Born | 22 December 1856 Paris, France |
| Throne(s) claimed | Pretender to throne of Kingdom of Araucanía and Patagonia |
| Pretend from | 1903–1916 |
| Father | Antoine-Hippolyte Cros |
| Mother | Leonilda Mendès Texeira |
| Spouse | Louis Marie Bernard |
| Predecessor | Antoine-Hippolyte Cros |
| Successor | Jacques Antoine Bernard |
Laure-Therese Cros (born December 22, 1856, in Paris, France – died May 12, 1916, in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France) was a French woman who claimed to be the ruler of a special kingdom. This kingdom was called the Kingdom of Araucanía and Patagonia. She was known as a "pretender" because her claim to the throne was not officially recognized by other countries. Laure-Therese inherited this unique claim from her father.
Her Early Life
Laure-Therese Cros was born on December 22, 1856, in Paris, France. Her parents were Antoine-Hippolyte Cros and Leonilda Mendès e Texeira. She married Louis Marie Bernard on November 14, 1877. They had three sons: Etienne Bernard, Andre Bernard, and Jacques Antoine Bernard. Her son Jacques Antoine Bernard later took over her claim to the throne of Araucania.
Laure-Therese had some famous relatives. Her uncle, Charles Cros, was a well-known poet and inventor. Another uncle, Henry Cros, was a French poet, painter, and sculptor. Henry Cros even made a special medallion showing young Laure-Therese. She passed away on February 12, 1916, in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France.
Claim to the Throne of Araucanía and Patagonia
The Kingdom of Araucanía and Patagonia was a unique idea. It was started by a French lawyer named Antoine de Tounens. He claimed to be the king of parts of what are now Chile and Argentina. However, in 1873, a court in Paris ruled that Antoine de Tounens' claim to be a king was not valid.
After Antoine de Tounens died, some French citizens, who were not related to him, began to claim they were the rightful rulers. These people are called "pretenders" to the throne. It is not clear if the Mapuche people, who live in that region, knew about or accepted these claims.
These claims to the throne of Araucanía and Patagonia are often called "monarchs of fantasy." This means their claims are not legally recognized by any country. They do not rule over a real kingdom.
On November 1, 1903, Laure-Therese Cros became a pretender to this throne. She took over this claim after her father, Antoine-Hippolyte Cros, passed away.
Special Honour
Years after Laure-Therese Cros died, a special medal was created in her memory. In 1958, Philippe Boiry, who was another pretender to the throne from 1952 to 2014, created this medal. It was called the l'Ordre de la reine Laure-Thérèse.
