The New York herald., 1873-09-16
OBITUARY.
Duke DE RianZares.

A cable telegram dated at Havre, France yester-
day, 18th inst, announces the death in that city
OF the Duke de RanZares, husband OF ex-Queen
Christina OF Spain.
Fernando Munoz, Duke de Rianzares husband
OF Maria Christina, ex-Quecn Dowager OF Spain,
was born OF very humble parentage at Tarrancon,
in the province OF Cuenca, in the year 1910, and
he was thus in the sixtythird year of his age at
the time OF his decease. He entered the Span
ish army early in life and obtained rapid
promotion. He was serving as q commissioned
officer in the Royal Guards when, In the year 1s33
Queen Christina became enamored OF the y outhful
soldier with whom, soon after the death OF Ferdl-
nand vII she contracted q secret marriage. This
event took place on the Goth OF September, in the
year 1888, but the marriage was not publicly rati-
fed until October Is, in the year 1914 Though sud-
denly raised to a very elevated position before the
public, Senor Munoz was never desirous of playing
q prominent part IN Spanish politics. His wife
urged him to DO so almost constantly. During the
period of the expedition OF General Flores to
Ecuador SenOr Munoz was spoken OF as the
future monarch OF that ancient colony or
Kianzares and q Grandee of Spain OF the First
Glass, ana Knight OF the Golden Fleece King
Louis PHILIPPE bestowed upon him the Grand Cross
OF the Legion OF Honor, with the French title OF
Due de Montmorot, in the year lS47. Queen Chris
tina's marriage with Duke de RaDzares Influenced
the political and dynastc condition OF Spain in
very serious manner. II may be said that the
agitation which II produced IN the Peninsula has
not completely suDsided even To-Day. A commlS-
sion OF the constituent Cortes had to undertake
the very delicate duty OF examining the Church
records to hDd whether Queen Christmas mar
rage really took place In lS33, for the simple rea-
that II It did, she must have received her large
allowance as regent and guardian Of her daughters
by King Ferdinand without having any right to 1t
in other words, that she must have defrauded the
Spanish treasury, as she could only continue In
those functions so long as she remained unmarried.
or the fact Of her relation with Fernando Munoz
there was not doubt; and the Commission from
feeling OF deicacy, preferred supposing that she
had hnAn MOI nj nfr
King Ferdnand's death rather than fixing the
date In 1874. They were unwilling to proclaim
that Queen Christina could have forgotten her
duties and her sefrespect at moment so critical
for her daughters crown while civil war
was raging in the land. They preferred
snpposing marriage TO supposing anything worse.
The Commission report was entitled REPORT pre-
sented to Her Majesty Queen Maria Christina de
Bourbon on that OF the Commission of the Consti-
tuent Cortes OF 1885, charged with the Parliamen-
tary Inquiry relative TO her Person,n and the par
ties who drew 1t up were Manuel Cortina, Juan
Gonzalez Acevedo and Luis Diaz Perez. advocates
Of the Madrid bar. With reference to the very
delicate point OF the Queen Christmas marriage
with M. Mun0Z, Duke dc RanZares, the report
states:-
The investigations made by the Commission, In order
to discover the date of the second marriage Your Ma.
Wherefore the Commission inciincs to believe that Il
celebrated in 1888 and that concealed on &C
incnes TO this supposon because any other ared
to II more offensive and as likely to occasion greater
fesponsoi,y and csnsnre be depored that ihs
%en,s q the members Of the rarl,ameaS1ary, S,C,
an opinion contrary to that which which :, tnes Mss
informed the Commission on the 10th Of july soo sn'
having received the declaration Of freedom ir9 o wit
nesses and having dispe with me nse eerses WITH
bom hSsasn S feTmanao MnnSa sanchez Ran
SAres on the l2th Vi Oeoher lob ssVoI"p@ WV V"-