Luis María de Borbón y Vallabriga


Luis María de Borbón y Vallabriga
Cardinal Archbishop of Toledo
Primate of Spain
Portrait by Francisco Goya
ChurchCatholic Church
ArchdioceseToledo
In office1800–1814
PredecessorFrancisco Antonio de Lorenzana
SuccessorPedro Inguanzo y Rivero
Other post(s)Administrator of Seville (1800–1814)
Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria della Scala (1800–1823)
Orders
Consecration2 June 1799
by Antonio Sentmenat y Castellá
Created cardinal20 October 1800
by Pope Pius VII
RankCardinal-Priest
Personal details
Born22 May 1777
Died19 March 1823 (aged 45)
Madrid, Spain
BuriedToledo Cathedral
ParentsInfante Luis of Spain
María Teresa de Vallabriga
Coat of arms

Don Luis María Cardinal de Borbón y Vallabriga, Farnesio y Rozas (22 May 1777 – 19 March 1823) was the 14th Count of Chinchón (1785–1803), Grandee of Spain First Class (4 August 1799), with a coat of arms of Bourbon, and 1st Marqués de San Martín de la Vega.

He was born in Cadalso de los Vidrios as the son of a morganatic marriage between Luis de Borbón y Farnesio, Infante of Spain, 13th Count of Chinchón, and María Teresa de Vallabriga y Rozas, Español y Drummond.[1]

Life and career

Until Charles III, King of Spain died in 1788, this Borbón offspring was compelled not to use the family name and since 1785 when his father Luis, the king's brother, died, they had to move to the city of Toledo to be educated under the protection of the Archbishop of Toledo Francisco Antonio de Lorenzana y Butrón. He received his doctorate in canon law.[1]

He was appointed to the following posts:

He was not present in Rome at the time of his elevation to the rank of cardinal, and the galero, biretta, and ring were sent to him.

Between 1820 and 1823, he played an important role in Spanish liberal politics, abolishing the Inquisition,[2] although the Inquisition was restored again after the French invasion of Spain in 1823 to restore absolutist policies.

He was made a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece[3] on 9 July 1820. He died in Madrid aged 45, a few weeks before France invaded Spain and restored Ferdinand VII, and some fifteen years after Napoleon's invasion in May 1808.

The Cardinal-Archbishop officiating the ceremonies related to his promotion in the Church was Antonio Sentmanat y Castellá [es].

He had two sisters:[2]

He died of gout in 1823 and was buried in the sacristy of Toledo Cathedral.[1]

References