Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Countess of Barcelona

[Marc]

I am trying to find out more about Maria de las Mercedes,Countess of Barcelona?Her life?Early life?I was also trying to find some colour portrait of her,but failed...Anybody?

[Eurohistory]

The European Royal History Journal had a nice obituary about HRH the Countess of Barcelona in Issue XIV.

She was a marvelous lady, strong, loving, dedicated wife, protective mother.

Arturo Beéche

[Marc]

Thanks so much,your posts are just great!Any info about her sister?

[Eurohistory]

Thanks so much,your posts are just great!Any info about her sister?

Princess Doña Esperanza de Borbón-Dos Sicilias is indeed still alive.  She is married to Prince dom Pedro-Gastâo d'Orleans-Braganza, a brother of the late Countess of Paris.  Theirs is one of the longest-lasting marriages among Gotha members today.

Arturo Beéche

[Moonlight_Densetsu]

Who is this woman HRH the Countess of Barcelona? I've never heard of her, was she a member of the Spanish royal family? Arturo can you post some background information her please.

[darius]

Doña María de las Mercedez de Borbón Dos Sicilias was the mother of King Juan Carlos I. She married Don Juan - the son of Alfonso XII and Victoria Eugenia of Battenberg. Don Juna inherited his fathers dynastic rights on his fathers abdication, becoming head of the Spanish Borbones and thus King in all but name. He chose the title Conde de Barcelona - a title which in fact belongs to the monarch (like QEII and the Duchy of Lancaster). This is the title by which he was known until his death.

[Eurohistory]

The Count of Barcelona was the third son and heir of Alfonso XIII, not XII.  I am sure it must be a typo on your part, but just to be clear here.

Don Juan and doña María de las Mercedes were married on October 12, 1935.  He died in 1993, she followed him in 2000.

For traditionalist Spanish monarchists don Juan was HM King don Juan III from the abdication of King Alfonso XIII in 1941 to don Juan's own renunciation of his rights in 1977, upon which King Juan Carlos I became THE Spanish rightful monarch.

Doña María de las Mercedes was instrumental in getting don Juan and his son Juan Carlos reconciled.

Arturo Beéche

[Marc]

Something more about her sister?Relations etc?

[cimbrio]

She was the daughter of the Infante Carlos de Borbon-Dos Sicilias y Borbon-Dos Sicilias and Princess Louise Françoise of Orléans and Orléans. Her siblings were:

1) Infante Don Carlos de Borbon y Orléans (1908-1936); he died un married. He was killed during the Spanish Civil War.

2) maria de los Dolores de Borbon y Orléans (1909-1996) married Prince Joseph-August Czartoryski and left issue.

3)The Countess herself (1910-2000). I remember that when she died, on january 2nd 2000 in Lanzarote (Canary Islands) she was often called (albeit a  mistake as a result of poor quality journalist research) and Mercedes de Borbon y Battenberg and even Mercedes de Borbon y Borbon, which were her husband's and her children's surnames (although you might consider the Orléans as Bourbons too).

4) maria de la Esperanza (1914) married the Brazilian Prince in 1944. She's still alive.

Mercedes' father had been previously married to Alfonso XIII of Spain's eldest sister, the Princess of Asturias (1880-1904) who died in childbirth. Here are their children (consequently, Mercedes' half-siblings):

a)Alfonso de Borbon y Borbon, Duque of Calabria (1901-1964), he married a Princess of Parma and left issue.

b) Isabel Alfonsa de Borbon y Borbon (1904-1985), married the Count of Polish origin Jan Zamoyski. They had children.

Hope it helps!

[Eurohistory]

HIH Esperanza de Borbón y Orleans has died. Her funeral, corpore insepulto, will take place on Thursday at noon with the King and Queen of Spain in attendance.

Arturo Beéche

[Marc]

[Marc]

Her eldest daughter Duchess Maria da Gloria of Segorbe!

[Marc]

[Marc]

Esperanza's daughter Maria da Gloria and her daughters from her second marriage Maria la Luna and Maria del Sol!

[cimbrio]

Those are lovely pics Marc, thanks very much for posting them. I wonder if Maria da Glória sees much of her sons though? In what university 8and what major) in Spain did one of them study recently? I forget his name...