Order of Prohibited Legitimacy facts for kids

The Order of Prohibited Legitimacy (which means "Order of Forbidden Rightful Claim" in Italian and Spanish) is a special group of knights. It was started by the House of Bourbon-Parma, a royal family. This order was given to people who supported the Carlist Cause. Carlism was a political movement in Spain that wanted a different branch of the royal family to rule.

The Order was created in 1923 by Jaime de Borbón y de Borbón-Parma. He was a Carlist claimant, meaning he believed he should be the King of Spain. He started the Order to thank people who were very loyal to the Carlist movement.

Today, there are two main groups, or "branches," of this Order. One branch is led by Prince Carlos, Duke of Parma. The other branch is led by his uncle, Prince Sixtus Henry of Bourbon-Parma.

Quick facts for kids Order of Prohibited Legitimacy Ordine di Vietata Legittimità
The Cross of the Order of Prohibited Legitimacy
Awarded by The Carlist Pretender to the Spanish Throne
Type	dynastic order
Founded	16 April 1923
Royal house	House of Bourbon-Parma
Ribbon
Awarded for	Service to the Carlist Cause
Status	Active
Founder	Infante Jaime, Duke of Madrid
Sovereign	Prince Carlos
Statistics
First induction	José Selva Mergelina, 5th Marquis de Villores
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of Merit of Saint Louis
Venera of the Order with its original design preserved by the branch in obedience to Prince Sixtus Henry of Bourbon-Parma

History of the Order

The Order of Prohibited Legitimacy was officially started on April 16, 1923. It was created by Jaime de Borbón y de Borbón-Parma. He was a Carlist leader.

From Paris, he sent a letter to his political helper, José Selva Mergelina, 5th Marquis de Villores. In the letter, he explained that the Order was meant to honor "all those who by their sufferings or services become worthy of it." The Marquis de Villores was one of the first people to receive this honor.

Later, on December 8, 1923, Jaime also gave the Order to young Carlist supporters. He also gave it to Julio de Urquijo e Ibarra, Count of Urquijo in Madrid.

Grand Masters and Succession

After Jaime passed away, the leaders of the Carlist movement became the Grand Masters of the Order. Jaime's cousin, Alfonso Carlos de Borbón y Austria-Este, took over as Sovereign of the Order in 1931.

Alfonso passed away in 1936 and did not have any sons to inherit his position. His wife, Infanta Maria das Neves of Portugal, chose her nephew, Prince Xavier, Hereditary Duke of Parma, to be his successor. Prince Xavier was then followed by his son, Prince Carlos Hugo, Hereditary Duke of Parma, in 1977.

The Two Branches of the Order

In the 1970s, Prince Carlos Hugo and his sister Princess María Teresa had different political ideas. Prince Carlos Hugo decided to give up his claims to the Carlist throne in 1979.

Because of this, his brother, Prince Sixtus Henry of Bourbon-Parma, who followed more traditional views, became the Grand Master of the Order.

However, in 2003, Prince Carlos Hugo changed his mind. He again said he was the rightful Carlist leader. He also started using royal titles for his children. He then became the Grand Master of the Order of Prohibited Legitimacy once more.

Prince Sixtus Henry and his supporters did not agree with Carlos Hugo's new claim. This is why the Order now has two separate branches. One branch is led by Prince Sixtus Henry. The other branch is led by Prince Carlos Hugo's successor, Prince Carlos, Duke of Parma.

Insignia of the Order

The special symbol, or insignia, of the Order of Prohibited Legitimacy is a cross. It is called a Covadonga Cross. This cross hangs from a ribbon that has vertical black and green stripes.

• For regular members, called gentlemen, the ribbon is simple.
• For officers, the ribbon has a small rosette (a rose-shaped decoration).
• For commanders, the ribbon has a larger rosette.

Important Members

Grand Masters of the Order

• Infante Jaime, Duke of Madrid (1923-1931)
• Infante Alfonso Carlos, Duke of San Jaime (1931-1936)
• Prince Xavier, Duke of Parma (1936-1977)
• Prince Carlos Hugo, Duke of Parma (1977-1979, 2003-2010; his leadership was debated after 1979)
• Prince Sixtus Henry, Duke of Aranjuez (1979–present; his leadership is debated)
• Prince Carlos, Duke of Parma (2010–present; his leadership is debated)

Knights of the Order

• José Selva Mergelina, 5th Marquis de Villores, a Spanish Carlist politician
• Julio de Urquijo e Ibarra, Count of Urquijo, a Spanish Carlist politician
• José Roca y Ponsa, a Spanish Catholic priest
• Josep de Suelves i de Montagut, 9th Marquis de Tamarit, a Spanish Carlist politician
• Esteban de Bilbao Eguía, a Spanish Carlist and Francoist politician
• Ramón del Valle-Inclán, a Spanish writer
• Melchor Ferrer Dalmau, a Spanish historian and Carlist supporter
• Claro Abánades López, a Spanish journalist
• José Luis Zamanillo González-Camino, a Spanish politician
• Dolores Gortázar Serantes, a Spanish writer
• Manuel Fal Conde, 1st Duke of Quintillo, a Spanish Carlist politician and Catholic activist
• Rafael Gambra Ciudad, a Spanish philosopher and Carlist politician
• Juan María Bordaberry, a President of Uruguay
• Osvaldo Lira, a Chilean Catholic priest and theologian
• José María Zavala Castella, a Spanish Carlist Party politician
• José Miguel Gambra Gutiérrez, a Spanish academic and politician
• Jose Maria Valiente Soriano, a Spanish politician
• Princess Marie des Neiges of Bourbon-Parma, a French noblewoman and scientist

See also

In Spanish: Orden de la Legitimidad Proscrita para niños