Salvador de Iturbide y Marzán

Salvador Agustín Francisco de Paula de Iturbide y Marzán was born on 18 September 1849 into a family of the Mexican nobility. He was the son of Prince Salvador of Mexico, the third son of Emperor Agustín I, and Rosario de Marzán y Guisasola. He was therefore the grandson of Agustín de Iturbide, the first emperor of independent Mexico, and his wife, Empress Ana María. His life was closely connected with the short-lived Mexican Empire under Maximilian I. Maximilian ascended the Mexican throne in 1863 with the support of French troops under Napoleon III. As it became clear that Maximilian and his wife, Empress Carlota, would have no children of their own, they invited members of the Iturbide family back to Mexico. Salvador and his cousin Agustín de Iturbide y Green were eventually adopted jointly by the imperial couple. By an imperial decree of 16 September 1865, both received the title “Princes of Iturbide” and the style “Highness.” In the order of precedence, they ranked behind the reigning family. The decree also stipulated that the title was not hereditary and could be extended to legitimate descendants only on a case-by-case basis. Maximilian assumed the guardianship and legal care of the two boys, while Princess Josefa de Iturbide was appointed co-guardian. The adopted princes were also permitted to use their ancient family coat of arms with a princely mantle and crown, as well as, by special authorization, the national coat of arms. Historians differ in their assessment of Maximilian’s intentions in adopting the boys. It is possible that he genuinely regarded the Iturbide children as potential heirs. Maximilian explained that either his brother, Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria, would have to give him one of his sons as a successor, or he would leave his possessions to the Iturbide children. At the same time, it has been suggested that the adoption may also have been a political maneuver directed at his brother. Empress Carlota sent Salvador to France. He initially lived in Paris and moved to Hungary in 1867. There, he sought a pension to which he believed he was entitled as a possible heir to the Mexican imperial throne. Emperor Franz Joseph, Maximilian’s brother, eventually granted him such a payment. Salvador regularly petitioned him to increase the pension. In Vienna, Salvador became friends with the young Hungarian aristocrat Baron Gyula Gáspár Mikos de Taródhaza. The baron had recently returned from an extended journey through South America and invited Salvador to the family estate at Mikosdpuszta. There he met Baroness Gizella Mikos de Taródhaza. Salvador and Gizella married on 21 June 1871 at the Mikosdpuszta manor house. They had one daughter, Maria Josepha Sophia de Iturbide. The couple initially lived on the Mikos family estate. After Baron János Mikos sold the castle in 1881, Salvador and his wife moved to Venice. There they lived in a palace rented from Count Zeno. In Venice, Salvador formed a close friendship with Carlos, Duke of Madrid, who was regarded as a legitimist, or Carlist, claimant to the Spanish throne. Salvador belonged to the Order of the Grand Cross of Our Lady of Guadalupe and was also awarded the personal order of the Duke of Madrid. Despite the loss of the Mexican Empire, his life remained shaped by dynastic claims, aristocratic connections, and the memory of the Mexican monarchy. During a stay in Corsica, Salvador became seriously ill. He died there on 26 February 1895, aged 45, from a ruptured appendix.