Prince Ferdinand Pius, Duke of Calabria
Prince Ferdinand Pius (Ferdinando Pio Maria), Duke of Calabria (25 July 1869, Rome – 7 January 1960, Lindau), was head of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and pretender to the throne of the extinct Kingdom of the Two Sicilies from 1934 to 1960.
| Prince Ferdinand Pius | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke of Calabria | |||||
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| Head of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies | |||||
| Tenure | 26 May 1934 – 7 January 1960 | ||||
| Predecessor | Prince Alfonso | ||||
| Successor | Disputed: Prince Ranieri (brother) Infante Alfonso (nephew) | ||||
| Born | 25 July 1869 Rome, Italy | ||||
| Died | 7 January 1960 (aged 90) Lindau, Bavaria, Germany | ||||
| Burial | Filialkirche St. Peter und Paul, Rieden, Swabia, Germany | ||||
| Spouse | Princess Maria Ludwiga Theresia of Bavaria | ||||
| Issue | Princess Maria Antonietta Princess Maria Cristina Prince Ruggiero Maria, Duke of Noto Princess Barbara Maria Princess Lucia, Duchess of Genoa Princess Urraca Maria | ||||
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| House | Bourbon-Two Sicilies | ||||
| Father | Prince Alfonso, Count of Caserta | ||||
| Mother | Princess Maria Antonietta of Bourbon-Two Sicilies | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism | ||||
Family
Ferdinand was the eldest child and son of Prince Alfonso, Count of Caserta and his wife Princess Maria Antonietta of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. He was a grandson of Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies and an older brother of Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Maria Immaculata, Princess Johann Georg of Saxony, Maria Cristina, Archduchess Peter Ferdinand of Austria, Maria di Grazia, Princess Imperial of Brazil, Prince Ranieri, Duke of Castro, Prince Philip of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, and Prince Gabriel of Bourbon-Two Sicilies.
Marriage and issue
Ferdinand married Princess Maria Ludwiga Theresia of Bavaria, daughter of King Ludwig III of Bavaria on 31 May 1897. They had six children:[1][2]
- Princess Maria Antonietta (1898–1957)
- Princess Maria Cristina (1899–1985), married in 1948 to Manuel Sotomayor-Luna, Vice President of Ecuador
- Prince Ruggiero Maria, Duke of Noto (1901–1914)
- Princess Barbara Maria Antonietta Luitpolda (1902–1927), married in 1922 to Count Franz Xaver zu Stolberg-Wernigerode
- Princess Lucia Maria Raniera (1908–2001), married in 1938 to Prince Eugenio, Duke of Ancona
- Princess Urraca Maria Isabella Carolina Aldegonda (1913–1999)
Ferdinand and Maria lived for many years at Villa Amsee, Lindau. It was there that he died in 1960.
Following Ferdinand's death, the headship of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies was claimed by both his nephew Alfonso and his brother Ranieri. It remains disputed between the descendants of Alfonso and Ranieri today.
Honours
- Grand Master of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George
- Grand Master of the Order of Saint Januarius
- Grand Master of the Order of Saint Ferdinand and of Merit
- Grand Master of the Royal Order of Francis I
- Grand Master of the Order of Saint George and Reunion
- Knight of the Spanish Order of the Golden Fleece
- Knight of the Order of Saint Hubert of Bavaria
- Knight of the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation
- Bailiff Grand Cross of Honor and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III
Arms
- Heraldry of Prince Ferdinand Pius
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Prince Ferdinand's arms
Until 1894
Prince Ferdinand's arms as titular heir to the throne
1894-1934
Prince Ferdinand's arms as head of the Royal House
1934-1960
Ancestry
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References
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 17, 2006. Retrieved 2006-03-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-07-05. Retrieved 2010-07-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link).
Prince Ferdinand Pius, Duke of Calabria Cadet branch of the House of Bourbon Born: 25 July 1869 Died: 7 January 1960 | ||
| Titles in pretence | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Prince Alfonso, Count of Caserta |
— TITULAR — King of the Two Sicilies 26 May 1934 – 7 January 1960 Reason for succession failure: Italian Unification under the House of Savoy |
Succeeded by Disputed Prince Ranieri, Duke of Castro or Infante Alfonso, Duke of Calabria |