| Prince Alfonso | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count of Caserta | |||||
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| Head of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies | |||||
| Tenure | 27 December 1894 – 26 May 1934 | ||||
| Predecessor | Francis II | ||||
| Successor | Prince Ferdinand Pius | ||||
| Born | 28 March 1841 Caserta, Two Sicilies | ||||
| Died | 26 May 1934 (aged 93) Cannes, France | ||||
| Burial | |||||
| Spouse | Princess Maria Antonietta of Bourbon-Two Sicilies | ||||
| Issue | Prince Ferdinando Pio, Duke of Castro Prince Carlos Prince Francesco di Paola Princess Maria Immacolata Princess Maria Cristina Princess Maria di Grazia Princess Maria Giuseppina Prince Gennaro Prince Ranieri, Duke of Castro Prince Filippo Prince Francesco d'Assisi Prince Gabriel | ||||
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| House | Bourbon-Two Sicilies | ||||
| Father | Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies | ||||
| Mother | Maria Theresa of Austria | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholic | ||||
Prince Alfonso, Count of Caserta (28 March 1841 – 26 May 1934) was the third son of Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies and Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria.
He was pretender to the throne of the Two Sicilies in succession of his older half-brother, Francis II of the Two Sicilies. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Ferdinand Pius.
Born in Caserta, Alfonso was the fourth-in-line heir to the throne of Two Sicilies since the time of his birth. Ahead of him in line were his older half-brother Francis and older brothers Prince Louis, Count of Trani and Prince Alberto, Count of Castrogiovanni. On 12 July 1844, Alberto died, two months short of his fifth birthday and naturally childless which made Alfonso the third-in-line. On 22 May 1859, Ferdinand II died, making Francis the king, but had no children yet from his wife Duchess Maria Sophie in Bavaria. Louis became his heir presumptive and Alfonso the second-in-line heir to their half-brother.
The Two Sicilies were conquered by the Expedition of the Thousand under Giuseppe Garibaldi in 1861 leading to the end of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies. Garibaldi served the Kingdom of Sardinia which was in the process of Italian unification. The deposed Royal House survived with Francis still at its head, even though he was no longer King. On 8 June 1886, Louis died. His only daughter Princess Maria Teresa was not in line for the throne because females were barred from succession which made Alfonso the heir presumptive to Francis who had survived his own daughter. On 27 December 1894, Francis II died, making Alfonso the head of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. Alfonso later died at Cannes on May 26, 1934.
Alfonso was also an artist, and received tuition from Achille Vianelli.[1]
Alfonso was married to his cousin, Princess Maria Antonietta of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (16 March 1851 – 12 September 1938) on 8 June 1868. She was a daughter of Prince Francis, Count of Trapani and his wife Archduchess Maria Isabella of Austria, Princess of Tuscany.
Her paternal grandparents were Francis I of the Two Sicilies and his second wife Maria Isabella of Spain. Her maternal grandparents were Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany and his second wife Maria Antonietta of the Two Sicilies.
Maria Isabella was a daughter of Charles IV of Spain and Maria Luisa of Parma. Maria Antonietta was another daughter of Francis I of the Two Sicilies and Maria Isabella of Spain.
They had twelve children.[2]
Austrian Empire:[5]
Spain: Grand Cross of the Royal and Distinguished Order of Charles III, 28 January 1871[6]
Kingdom of Bavaria: Knight of the Royal Order of Saint Hubert, 1895[7].svg)
| Ancestors of Prince Alfonso, Count of Caserta |
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