Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-11
Italy's Royal Marriage.

Great preparations are being made throughout
Italy for the approaching marriage OF King Hum
bert's brother, Amadeus, Duke Of Aosta, to Pr1n-
cess Ltitia Bonaparte, daughter OF Prince Napo-
leon Jerome and OF princess Clotilde OF Savoy,
daughter OF the late King Victor Emanuel and
sister to the oridegroom-elect. The fact Of the
young princess being the niece OF her future hus-
band Is offensive 10 the ideas OF most people OF
ordinary rank In life; but roy al persons have had
apparently at all times a privilege TO contract
marriages without thought OF cloSeness of rela-
tionship. However, Prince Amadeus thought It
necessary as well as decent 10 obtain permission
OF his holiness the head OF the Catholic Church
before ratifying his Oetrothal, and the pope
graciously gave his 'dispensation" adding that
the duke had always been "such faithful son
OF the Church that it was impossible to deny his
prayer"
His royal highness the Duke Of Aosta is an
important parsonage In Europe, and in his time
was King. In 1870 he accepted the crown or
Spain. and for three years he regned over the
naughty Spaniards, his throne being shared by
his beautiful wife, Queen Marie. In 1873 he re-
signed the spanish 6adem and resumed his rank
as an Italian prince, leaving the land OF the don
and the grandee with all proper dignity, and
enjoying TO this day the title or "Infant Of Spain
and En- King" He has entirely dropped the title
OF majesty" although on the principle OF "once
king always king" he could have retained 1t
together with the precedence accorded to a crown.
ed head among the 'annointed" OF the world.
But the Duke OF AOSta may again wear q crown
II ne survives MS brother. King Humbert. The
Crown Prince OF Italy, commonly known as the
Prince OF Naples, is a sickly youth OF H. whose
death may De an event in the near future and I'm
that case the duke would become either the heir
or the poSseSSor OF one OF the great mOnarches OF
Europe with the title OF Amadeus /. 1t Is not
likely, however, that any child OF Princess Litttia
Will succeed TO It's ftthers possible regal honors,
as the dukes first wife, the late Princess Marie
who died In 1875, lef: him three SONS. the eldest
OF whom Is 10 and the youngest Is all three sturdy
boys Inc Duke or AoSta Is 43 years OF age.
Princess Ltitia Bonaparte is not quite % years
OF age, and her features have the strong Napo-
leonic Cast. Her grandfather was the brother OF
the nrst Napoleon, and had the kingdom OF West
phalla created for him at the time or his marriage
TO the princess royal OF Wurtemburg Being
thus In the direct descent OF the reigning family
OF the great usurper, 1t is, Of course source Of
gratlncauon on the part OF all the Bonapartes to
see one or their daughters again taking rank as a
princess or reigning house. II she ever becomes
queen OK Italy IL viii be better still for the ex-
Imperial princes, as they viii have one court in
Europe where the dignity OF ''royal personages"
may De accorded 10 them. Every royal marriage
helps the BonaparteS In a social way among the
purple.oOrn; the great Corslcan won the many
thrones ne owned Tor himself and his brethren at
the point OF his sword, but his kin and descend
comparatively humble origin forgotten Napoleon
III was always looked upon as a parvenu 6y his
brother monarchS, even in the height or his
glory, while Napoleon was only acknowledged
as sovereign by the kings and emperors whose
armies he destroyed.
Princess LlIt1a's brother is Prince Victor the
eldest son OF Prince jerome, and by the latter's
abnegation pretender TO the French Empire
Her aunt Is Queen-consort OF Portugal The
whlrhg1g or time may yet see several BOnaparte
relations sharing some OF the thrones OF Europe