Infante Philip, Duke of Calabria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Infante Philip |
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| Duke of Calabria | |||||
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Portrait by Francesco Liani
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| Born | 13 June 1747 Palace of Portici, Portici, Kingdom of Naples |
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| Died | 19 September 1777 (aged 30) Palace of Portici, Portici, Kingdom of Naples |
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| Burial | Basilica of Santa Chiara, Naples | ||||
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| House | Bourbons of Naples | ||||
| Father | Charles VII & V of Naples & Sicily | ||||
| Mother | Maria Amalia of Saxony | ||||
Philip of Naples and Sicily, "Duke of Calabria", Infante of Spain (13 June 1747 – 19 September 1777) was the eldest son and heir-apparent of Charles III of Spain, but was excluded from the succession to the thrones of Spain and Naples due to his imbecility. His younger brothers, Charles IV of Spain and Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies replaced him in the succession. When his father became King of Spain in 1759, Philip remained in Naples where he lived until his death from smallpox at the age of 30.
Heir apparent
Born at the Royal Palace of Portici in the Kingdom of Naples, he was the sixth child and eldest son of Charles VII and V, then King of Naples and Sicily, and his wife Maria Amalia of Saxony. His birth was a joyful event since his parents previously had five princesses, three of whom had died in childhood. The Prince was baptized Filippo Antonio Gennaro Pasquale Francesco de Paula. His grandfather, King Philip V of Spain, in whose honor he was named, had died on 9 July 1746. The child's godparents were his paternal uncle and aunt, King Ferdinand VI of Spain and Barbara of Portugal. As the heir apparent to his father, he was given the title of Duke of Calabria; the traditional title for the heir apparent of the Kingdom of Naples. Although he was born plump and rosy, it was soon evident that there was something wrong with him. His wet nurses had to be changed several times and the child had epileptic fits. As he grew up, it was confirmed that he had disabilities, especially his peculiar face. According to one observer, the prince had "a great heaviness of head, which makes him gloomy and ill-humored".
In 1754, the ambassador of Sardinia reported that " the prince royal does not appear to enjoy good health" adding that "there is something in his eyes that does not harmonize with the rest of his features. I have been assure[d] that although he is seven years old he does not speak, and that he can scarcely utter a word." However, his parents tried to conceal his deficiencies both from the public and from themselves making the child appear in court ceremonies as if there was nothing wrong with him. Until the age of seven Philip remained with his sisters and younger brothers under the care of a governess. In 1755, he was placed with his brother Charles under the tutorship of the Prince of San Nicandro.
Exclusion from the succession
The death of his half-uncle, King Ferdinand VI of Spain, on August 10, 1759, forced the parents to confront the status of their son. Since Charles III was to depart to Spain to take possession of the Spanish crown, he had to abdicate the thrones of Naples and Sicily in favour of a son. A committee of high officials, magistrates and six physicians examined the mental state of the Prince, who was twelve years old at the time, to determine his capacity to reign. The Prince was kept under close observation for two weeks after which the committee declared that his mental state made him incapable to govern and he was thus excluded from the succession to the thrones due to his mental disabilities. His younger brothers Charles and Ferdinand replaced him in the lines of succession. Philip remained in Naples out of sight from the Neapolitan courts at the palaces of Capodimonte and the newly constructed Palace of Caserta. His brother Ferdinand visited him and showed him affection treating him almost like a mascot.
Later life
According to William Hamilton who was the British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Naples, Infante Philip "was treated with certain distinctions, having chamberlains placed about him in constant attendance, who watched him with unremitting attention; as otherwise he would have committed a thousand excesses." On particular days of the year, he was allowed to hold a sort of Court, when the Foreign ministers repaired to his apartments to pay their compliments to him. His greatest amusement consisted in having his hand held up by his attendants while gloves were put upon it, one larger than another to the number of fifteen or sixteen.
In September 1777, Infante Philip contracted smallpox. The King and Queen, fearing contagion, fled to Caserta. Philip died at the Palace of Portici in Naples at the age of 30. He was buried at the Basilica of Santa Chiara in Naples.
See also
In Spanish: Felipe Antonio de Borbón para niños
