Francisco de Asís, Duke of Cádiz
The reluctant king consort whose marriage to his cousin was a political disaster, yet who survived her downfall to see his line restored.
1822–1902 (age 80)·King consort of Spain from 1846 to 1868·Birthday: May 13
Biography
Francisco de Asís was thrust into a role for which he was profoundly unsuited. Married to his double first cousin, Queen Isabella II of Spain, to satisfy dynastic politics, the union was famously unhappy and the subject of widespread gossip. Known for his piety and lack of political ambition—earning him the derisive nickname 'Paquita'—he was a passive figure in a court riven by scandal and intrigue. The marriage produced children, but paternity was openly questioned. When Isabella was overthrown in the 1868 revolution, Francisco quietly went into exile with her, their personal discord overshadowed by shared disgrace. In a final twist of fate, he lived to see the monarchy restored under their son, Alfonso XII, dying as the father of a king in a country that had never quite known what to make of him.
#1 When Francisco Was Born
The biggest hits of 1822
Francisco's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1822Born
1827Started school
1835Became a teenager
1838Could drive
1840Could vote
1843Turned 21
1852Turned 30
1862Turned 40
President: Abraham Lincoln
1872Turned 50
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1882Turned 60
First electrical power plant opens in New York
President: Chester A. Arthur
1892Turned 70
President: Benjamin Harrison
1902Turned 80
The eruption of Mount Pelee kills 30,000 in Martinique
President: Theodore Roosevelt
Key Achievements
- Served as King Consort of Spain for 22 years during the turbulent reign of Isabella II.
- His lineage provided the continuity for the Bourbon restoration under his son, Alfonso XII, in 1874.
- Served as Mayor of Madrid briefly in 1847.
Did You Know?
He and Queen Isabella II were double first cousins, sharing all four grandparents.
He was a great-grandson of King Charles III of Spain on both his father's and mother's side.
Rumors about his sexuality and the paternity of Isabella's children were rampant in 19th-century Madrid.
After Isabella's deposition, they lived separately in Paris but maintained a civil relationship.
“I am the king consort, and my only duty is to be the queen's husband.”
