Prince Gaetano of Bourbon-Parma (11 June 1905 – 9 March 1958) was the youngest son of Robert I, the last reigning Duke of Parma and of his second wife Maria Antonia of Portugal. A prince of the House of Bourbon-Parma, he was educated in Austria, France, and Luxembourg. Prince Gaetan fought in the Spanish Civil War where he was wounded six times. In 1940, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, took part in the Normandy landings and made the campaign of France. He died at age 52 in a car accident near Cannes. He left a daughter from his marriage to Princess Margarete of Thurn und Taxis.
Prince Gaetan of Bourbon-Parma
Born
(1905-06-11)11 June 1905 Villa Pianore, Lucca, Italy
Prince Gaetan of Bourbon-Parma was the youngest child of the last Duke of Parma, Robert I (1848–1907) and his second wife Infanta Maria Antonia of Portugal (1862–1959), daughter of King Miguel of Portugal. Gaetan was the youngest of Duke Robert's twenty-four children. His father had married twice having twelve children in each marriage.
Gaetan was born at the Villa Pianore near Lucca, Tuscany. He was baptized as Gaetano Maria Giuseppe Pio. His godfather was Pope Pius X. Gaetan was only two years old at the death of his father. He was sent to study at Stella Matutina, a Catholic school for boys run by Jesuits priest in Feldkirch, near the Swiss border. At the fall of the Hapsburg dynasty he moved with his brother, Prince Sixtus of Bourbon-Parma to Paris. He finished his education in France and Luxembourg, where his brother Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma was the husband of the reigning Grand duchess. He accompanied his brother Sixtus in his expeditions to Africa.
Marriage
On 29 April 1931 at Paris, France, Prince Gaetan married Princess Margarete von Thurn und Taxis (1909 -2006), daughter of Prince Alexander von Thurn und Taxis, Duke of Castel Duino and Princess Marie Louise de Ligne. They were parents of an only daughter:
Princess Diana of Bourbon-Parma (born in Paris on 22 May 1932 - 7 May 2020). ∞ 1955 Franz Joseph Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen ∞ 1961 Hans Joachim Oehmichen (1920-1995). She had three sons with her second husband.
Gaetan's marriage was unhappy. He and his wife lived apart for most of their marriage life. They divorced on 24 January 1950 in Paris.
Carlism
During the 1930s Prince Gaetan was involved in the Carlist movement. His uncle Infante Alfonso Carlos, Duke of San Jaime died childless on 29 September 1936 and Gaetan's brother, Prince Xavier of Bourbon-Parma became the Regent of the traditionalist communion. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War on 12 January 1937, Gaetan joined the Requetés, the Third Battalion of Navarre, the Carlist militia, under the name of Gaetan of Lavardin, with the approval of his brother Xavier. This placed him on the Fascist side in the Spanish Civil War. Since he later served in the United States Army in World War II, he is one of those who fought both for and against Fascism in the World War II era.
On 7 April, the Third Navarre was assigned to dislodge the enemy from Mount Saibigain so as to open the way to Bilbao. The Third distinguished itself in the successful operation and was awarded a unit decoration for valor. D. Cayetano received a battlefield promotion to ensign for his role in the battle.
On 9 May, while in position in front of Bizcargui, Gaetan was wounded in the neck. He was taken to the hospital "Alfonso Carlos" in Pamplona with serious injuries. At the hospital he was forced to reveal his true identity. While there he was visited by Colonel Rada, who awarded him a battlefield promotion to lieutenant, again for conspicuous bravery before the enemy. He was also visited during his convalescence by his sister Zita of Bourbon-Parma, last Empress of Austria-Hungary through her marriage to Charles I of Austria and IV of Hungary, and his nephew Otto Habsburg-Lorraine, son of Zita.
Later life
He fled Europe in 1941 for the United States, where he was drafted into the United States Army two years later, During World War II, he participated on the side of the Allies, along with his brothers Javier and Felix, the last Grand Duke of Luxembourg by marriage to Charlotte of Luxembourg. In 1943 he tried to enlist in a battalion of Austrians who served in the U.S. Army but was rejected by its French origin. Later he taught at Camp Ritchie, in which a Jewish-German to conduct special operations in Germany formed young, took part in the landing of Normandy and fought the campaign for France.[1]
Death
On the way to visit his brother Luigi prince of Bourbon-Parma, Prince Gaetan suffered a serious car accident in Mandelieu-la-Napoule, on the French Riviera on 8 March 1958. He was taken to a hospital in Cannes where he died the next day. As he had wished, he was buried wearing the red beret of the Requetés of Navarre on 10 March 1958.
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Prince Gaetano of Bourbon Parma news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Prince Gaetano of Bourbon Parma 11 June 1905 9 March 1958 was the youngest son of Robert I the last reigning Duke of Parma and of his second wife Maria Antonia of Portugal A prince of the House of Bourbon Parma he was educated in Austria France and Luxembourg Prince Gaetan fought in the Spanish Civil War where he was wounded six times In 1940 he enlisted in the U S Army took part in the Normandy landings and made the campaign of France He died at age 52 in a car accident near Cannes He left a daughter from his marriage to Princess Margarete of Thurn und Taxis Prince Gaetan of Bourbon ParmaBorn 1905 06 11 11 June 1905Villa Pianore Lucca ItalyDied9 March 1958 1958 03 09 aged 52 Mandelieu la Napoule FranceSpousePrincess Margarete of Thurn and Taxis m 1931 wbr IssuePrincess DianaNamesGaetano Maria Giuseppe PioFatherRobert I Duke of ParmaMotherInfanta Maria Antonia of Portugal Contents 1 Early life 2 Marriage 3 Carlism 4 Later life 5 Death 6 ReferencesEarly life EditPrince Gaetan of Bourbon Parma was the youngest child of the last Duke of Parma Robert I 1848 1907 and his second wife Infanta Maria Antonia of Portugal 1862 1959 daughter of King Miguel of Portugal Gaetan was the youngest of Duke Robert s twenty four children His father had married twice having twelve children in each marriage Gaetan was born at the Villa Pianore near Lucca Tuscany He was baptized as Gaetano Maria Giuseppe Pio His godfather was Pope Pius X Gaetan was only two years old at the death of his father He was sent to study at Stella Matutina a Catholic school for boys run by Jesuits priest in Feldkirch near the Swiss border At the fall of the Hapsburg dynasty he moved with his brother Prince Sixtus of Bourbon Parma to Paris He finished his education in France and Luxembourg where his brother Prince Felix of Bourbon Parma was the husband of the reigning Grand duchess He accompanied his brother Sixtus in his expeditions to Africa Marriage EditOn 29 April 1931 at Paris France Prince Gaetan married Princess Margarete von Thurn und Taxis 1909 2006 daughter of Prince Alexander von Thurn und Taxis Duke of Castel Duino and Princess Marie Louise de Ligne They were parents of an only daughter Princess Diana of Bourbon Parma born in Paris on 22 May 1932 7 May 2020 1955 Franz Joseph Prince of Hohenzollern Sigmaringen 1961 Hans Joachim Oehmichen 1920 1995 She had three sons with her second husband Gaetan s marriage was unhappy He and his wife lived apart for most of their marriage life They divorced on 24 January 1950 in Paris Carlism EditDuring the 1930s Prince Gaetan was involved in the Carlist movement His uncle Infante Alfonso Carlos Duke of San Jaime died childless on 29 September 1936 and Gaetan s brother Prince Xavier of Bourbon Parma became the Regent of the traditionalist communion At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War on 12 January 1937 Gaetan joined the Requetes the Third Battalion of Navarre the Carlist militia under the name of Gaetan of Lavardin with the approval of his brother Xavier This placed him on the Fascist side in the Spanish Civil War Since he later served in the United States Army in World War II he is one of those who fought both for and against Fascism in the World War II era On 7 April the Third Navarre was assigned to dislodge the enemy from Mount Saibigain so as to open the way to Bilbao The Third distinguished itself in the successful operation and was awarded a unit decoration for valor D Cayetano received a battlefield promotion to ensign for his role in the battle On 9 May while in position in front of Bizcargui Gaetan was wounded in the neck He was taken to the hospital Alfonso Carlos in Pamplona with serious injuries At the hospital he was forced to reveal his true identity While there he was visited by Colonel Rada who awarded him a battlefield promotion to lieutenant again for conspicuous bravery before the enemy He was also visited during his convalescence by his sister Zita of Bourbon Parma last Empress of Austria Hungary through her marriage to Charles I of Austria and IV of Hungary and his nephew Otto Habsburg Lorraine son of Zita Later life EditHe fled Europe in 1941 for the United States where he was drafted into the United States Army two years later During World War II he participated on the side of the Allies along with his brothers Javier and Felix the last Grand Duke of Luxembourg by marriage to Charlotte of Luxembourg In 1943 he tried to enlist in a battalion of Austrians who served in the U S Army but was rejected by its French origin Later he taught at Camp Ritchie in which a Jewish German to conduct special operations in Germany formed young took part in the landing of Normandy and fought the campaign for France 1 Death EditOn the way to visit his brother Luigi prince of Bourbon Parma Prince Gaetan suffered a serious car accident in Mandelieu la Napoule on the French Riviera on 8 March 1958 He was taken to a hospital in Cannes where he died the next day As he had wished he was buried wearing the red beret of the Requetes of Navarre on 10 March 1958 References Edit Dolibois John E 16 November 2000 Pattern of Circles An Ambassador s Story Kent State University Press p 60 ISBN 9780873383899 OCLC 231054588 Camp Ritchie had been the Maryland National Guard Camp for years There was a prince of Bourbon Parma Romero Raizabal Ignacio El Principe Requete Aldus Santander 1966 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Prince Gaetano of Bourbon Parma amp oldid 1146021051, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
