Louis-Alphonse, Duc d'Anjou
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Don Luis Alfonso Gonzalo Víctor Manuel Marco de Borbón y Martínez-Bordiú is considered to be the head of the French Royal House by royalists who consider the renunciation of Felipe V of Spain as invalid. They call him prince Louis de Bourbon, and accord him the title Duc d'Anjou (Duke of Anjou). As king, he would be Louis XX.
Historical Background
His supporters usually call themselves legitimists. This term was originally applied to those who supported of Charles X of France after his replacement as French King by his cousin, Louis-Philippe of France on August 9, 1830. Charles' supporters maintained that he was the "legitimate" king. Louis-Philippe had been Duc d'Orléans so his supporters were called Orléanists. After the death of Charles X on November 6, 1836, the legitimists transferred their loyalty to his grandson, Henri, comte de Chambord.
When Chambord died on August 24, 1883, some of the legitimists recognized Louis-Philippe's grandson, Philippe, Comte de Paris, as the rightful heir. Others transferred their loyalty to members of the Spanish Royal Family who were descended from Philip V of Spain, an uncle of Louis XV of France. Luis Alfonso is the current claimant of the latter group. His supporters are also called Blancs d'Espagne. Opponents often prefer the term Alfonsists.
Life account
He was born on April 25 1974 in Madrid. His father was HRH Don Alfonso de Borbón y de Dampierre, Duke of Anjou and Cádiz. Don Alfonso was at that time the dauphin according to those who supported his claim of his father, HRH Don Jaime, Duke of Anjou and Segovia, to the French throne. Don Alfonso married Doña María del Carmen Martínez-Bordiú y Franco, granddaughter of Francisco Franco. Because of the birth of his first son, Francisco, the caudillo, gave Don Alfonso the title "Duke of Cádiz" with the style Royal Highness.
On March 20 1975, the Duke of Anjou and Segovia, Luis Alfonso's paternal grandfather, died. Luis Alfonso's father, don Alfonso became thus head of the French Royal House according to the legitimists. As such, don Alfonso took the title Duc d'Anjou.
On September 19 1981, the Duc d'Anjou gave Luis Alfonso the title Duc de Touraine.
In 1982 Luis Alfonso's parents divorced. The religious marriage was annulled in 1986.
On February 7 1984 Luis Alfonso's older brother Francisco died as the result of a car crash. From now on, Luis Alfonso was considered to be the heir apparent to his father, according to the legitimists. As such, he was given the additional title Duc de Bourbon on September 27.
In 1987 the Spanish government declared that the title Duke of Cádiz would not be hereditary. Luis Alfonso would never inherit it from his father.
On January 30, 1989 his father died in a skiing accident in Beaver Creek, Colorado. Luis Alfonso became pretender to the French throne and took the title Duc d'Anjou.
He studied economics at university and now works for a bank. Although he has visited France at a regular basis, he continues to live in Spain.
In November 2003 his engagement to marry María Margarita Vargas y Santaella, a native of Venezuela, was announced. In November 2004 they were married in La Romana, Dominican Republic.