Luís Filipe, Prince Royal of Portugal

D. Luís Filipe, Prince Royal of Portugal, Duke of Braganza, (Portuguese pronunciation: [luˈiʃ fɨˈlip(ɨ)]; 21 March 1887 – 1 February 1908) was the eldest son and heir-apparent of King Carlos I of Portugal. He was born in 1887 when his father was still Prince Royal of Portugal and received the usual style of the heirs to the heir of the Portuguese crown: 4th Prince of Beira at birth, with the subsidiary title 14th Duke of Barcelos. After his grandfather King Luís I of Portugal died, he became Prince Royal of Portugal with the subsidiary titles 21st Duke of Braganza, 20th Marquis of Vila Viçosa, 28th count of Barcelos, 25th count of Ourém, 23rd count of Arraiolos and 22nd count of Neiva.

Luís Filipe Maria Carlos Amélio Francisco Víctor Manuel António Lourenço Miguel Rafael Gabriel Gonzaga Xavier Francisco de Assis Bento was born in Lisbon, the elder son of Carlos, Prince Royal of Portugal (later King Carlos I of Portugal), and Princess Amélie d'Orléans, a member of the House of Braganza.

Two years after his birth, Dom Luís Filipe inherited all his father's royal princely titles when his father became king. He was himself re-styled Prince Royal, and at the same time inherited the Dukedom of Braganza (as 21st Duke), which brought with it the largest private fortune in Portugal at that time, completely at the disposal of the heir to the Portuguese crown. In English, he is sometimes, but inaccurately, called "Crown Prince of Portugal".

In 1907, the Prince Royal acted as regent of the kingdom while his father was outside the country. The same year he made a very successful official visit to the Portuguese colonies in Africa, the first member of the royal family ever to visit them.

Dom Luís was the pupil of the African war hero Mouzinho de Albuquerque, and like all the Braganzas, showed many aptitudes in the arts, besides his pursuing a military education. Negotiations were being held when he was assassinated for him to marry his cousin Princess Patricia of Connaught, granddaughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the daughter of British Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, and Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia.

On 1 February 1908, Luís Filipe and his family were returning to Lisbon from Vila Viçosa Palace. Alfredo Costa and Manuel Buiça, two members of a revolutionary society called the Carbonária, shot at all the royal family, hitting Luís Filipe, his father King Carlos, and his younger brother Infante Manuel, Duke of Beja. Carlos I died immediately, while Luís Filipe lived for another twenty minutes. Manuel survived the attack, having only been shot in the arm, while the queen was unharmed. Had automatic ascension to the throne been the law, Luís Filipe would have been one of the shortest-reigning monarchs in history, with a reign of just twenty minutes.

Manuel would succeed to the throne as Manuel II. Luís Filipe is buried next to his father and forefathers in the Royal Pantheon of the House of Braganza in Lisbon. His younger brother, King Manuel II of Portugal, and his mother, Queen Maria Amélia, are buried opposite.

On 5 October 1910, the monarchy under the reign of his surviving younger brother, Manuel II, was overthrown in a military coup and the Portuguese First Republic was established.

Titles and styles

• 21 March 1887 – 19 October 1889: His Royal Highness The Prince of Beira, Duke of Barcelos
• 19 October 1889 – 1 February 1908: His Royal Highness The Prince Royal of Portugal, Duke of Braganza

Honours

Domestic

• Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of Our Knights of Lord Jesus Christ
• Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of Saint Benedict of Avis
• Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword
• Knight Commander of the Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Tower and Sword

Foreign

•  Spain: Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece
•  United Kingdom: Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter - 15 July 1902

Arms

The Coat of arms of Luís Filipe, as a Knight of the Garter

Luis Filipe bore as heir to the throne the arms of his father; differenced by a Label of three points Or.