Francisco de Paula Enrique de Borbón y Escasany, 5th Duke of Seville, Grandee of Spain, died in Madrid on May 20, 2025. He was 81 years old.
His death was announced by his son-in-law, Julian Porras-Figuerora.
"It is with immense sadness that I inform you that my father-in-law, Francisco de Borbón y Escasany, passed away tonight in Madrid. Thank God we could be with him until his last moment."
The Duke was the eldest son of Don Francisco de Paula Enrique María Luis de Borbón y Borbón (1912-1995 and Doña Enriqueta Escasany y Miquel (1925-1962). Following his father's renunciation of the ducal title in 1968, Francisco succeeded his late grandmother, Enriqueta de Borbón y Parade, 4th Duchess of Seville, who died a year earlier.
In 1823, King Ferdinand VII of Spain granted his nephew, Infante Enrique of Spain, the title Duke of Seville. The Infante was the son of Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain and Princess Luisa Carlotta of Bourbon-Two-Sicilies.
Enrique married Elena María de Castellví y Shelly, and their eldest son, Enrique de Borbón y Castellví, succeeded him. Queen Isabel II had not approved the first Duke's marriage, which meant his children were not Infantes of Spain. His morganatic marriage, however, did not affect the succession of the dukedom.
The second duke met his wife, Joséphine Parade, while his family lived in exile. The couple had three daughters: Maria Luisa, who was born two years before the marriage; Marta; and Enriqueta, who married her first cousin, Francisco de Borbón y de la Torre, whose father, Francisco de Paula de Borbón y Castellví, was the younger son of the 1st Duke of Seville.
Maria Luisa succeeded her father after his death in 1894. Because she was born illegitimate, family pressure forced her to cede the title in 1919 to her younger sister, Enriqueta, who became the 4th Duchess of Seville.
Don Francisco de Borbon y Escasany was married three times. His first wife was Countess Beatrice von Hardenberg, the daughter of Count Günther von Hardenberg and HSH Princess Maria Josepha of Fürstenberg. The couple married in Baden-Baden in July 1973 and had three children: Olivia Enriqueta María Josefa de Borbón y Hardenberg (1974), Cristina Elena de Borbón y Hardenberg (1975-2020), and Francisco de Paula Joaquín de Borbón y Hardenberg (1979)
This marriage was dissolved by divorce in 1989.
The late duke earned a degree in economics and studied history at the Sorbonne in Paris. He worked for many years in banking and finance in London and Miami. He was passionate about sailing and crossed the Atlantic Ocean twice. He also enjoyed polo and art.
Two years later, Don Francisco married Isabelle Eugénie Karanitsch. The marriage lasted only two years. His third marriage to María de los Ángeles de Vargas-Zúñiga y Juanes took place in 2002.
The 5th Duke of Seville is survived by his two surviving children and three grandchildren: Flavia Masephi, Fernando Enrique de Borbón y Porras-Figueroa, and Francisco de Borbón y Karoly.
In an interview with the Spanish magazine, Hola, he said: "Everything I've never allowed my children to do, I allow my grandchildren to do. I am delighted with them."
Even after his divorce from his first wife, the duke maintained an excellent relationship with her. Beatrice and their daughter, Cristina, 44, died within weeks of each other. "The memory is still there, of course, I see them as two people who will always be a part of my life and memory."
He was last seen in public on May 11 at the funeral of his younger brother, Don Alfonso Carlos de Borbón y Escasany, who died on May 10th at 80. His son told the press that his father "loved his brother very much, and I think they wanted to be together in the end."
A Mass for the duke's soul occurred at the San Isidro Monastery earlier today. Don Luis Alfonso de Borbón y Franco and Maria Zurita were among the mourners.
The Duke of Seville will be buried on May 22 at the Sacramental de San Justo cemetery.
Since 2005, succession to Spanish noble titles has been gender equal, with the eldest child usually being the heir to the title. It is likely Doña Olivia will succeed as the 5th Duchess of Seville. She must petition the Spanish Ministry of Justice to use the title.
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