The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-10
EUROPE |S FILLED
 WITH PRETENDERS ID ROYAL THRONES
A Dozen DreamerS Pursue Their Phantom Kingdoms
 In Old World
By RALPH H. TURNER Leased Wire To AEe-HeraId

LONDON, Sept. 9.-Scattered about the capitals of the old world, dream ing of their imaginary kingdoms, are dozen claimants to the thrones of Europe.
 These men are. the monarchs who might have been. Barred by the fates from the gilded palaces of their forefathers. they are now living in seelusion, many of them under finan- cial circumstances that are exceed ingly embarrassing.
 The pitiful plight of the Duke Of Orleans, head of the Bourbons and pretender to the throne of France, recalls other might rulers who today pursue their phantom kingdoms. The Duke of Orleans Louis Philippe is his family name is housed now in a London suburb. He was reported recently tN be in a delirious condition, wildly exclaim- ing to his guards. q am here a pris- oner; I, the King of France, a pris- oner,"
 The dukes entourage denied that This majesty" was suffering from anything more than a slight illness adding that he spent his time prun- ing shrubs and writing a book Whatever the dukes condition, he is not alone.
 NctCHucT lnrOnGs
 There is even pretender to the British throne, one who believes he Is the rightful holder of King Georges job. This is Prince Rup- precht of Bavaria, a remnant of the house of Stuart. Since the war, the Stuart press agent has soft-pedaled the claim of the German prince, but his mother, Princess Maria Theresa of Bavaria, who died in 1919, received ta of Great Britain" The Stuarts, or Jacobites, as they are commonly Known in England, still survive here and on January 30 of every year they solemnize the anniversary of the ex- ecution of Charles I in 1649.
 One of the most active pretenders or modern times was Don Carlos, who aspired to the throne of Spain. Like Louis Philippe, Carlos was a Bour- bon. When he died in 1909, he left a son, Don Jaime. to carry on tn Car list tradition, but the latter has made no effort to capture the Span- ish kingship.
 A pretender who has figured in the news of the past two years Is Prince Otto' the ll-year-old son of the ex- empress Zita. Zita Is grooming her son for a come back in Hungary and Austria, too, if he can put 1t over. In Line For Russian Crown.
 Two claimants, the Grand Duke Nicholas and the Grand Duke Cyril. are in line for the Russian throne but latest advices from boIshevil< cir cles indicated there was little pros pect of an early coronation.
 Manuel, ex-King of Portugal. does his pretending in London, comforta- ply and with an apparently adequate income. He is prominent socially. plays about with the English royal family and breaks into the court cir eular as His Majesty, the King of Portugal"
 Modern instances of pretenders that made good in their claims may be found in Greece and Serbia. Tn Greece, w King Constantine landed back on his throne, only to flop and be kicked out again. In Serbia, after teh murder of King Alexander, King Peter ascended the throne, which is now occupied by his son.
 Probably the best known near-em- peror is the exile of Wieringen. Tit tle Willie" the ex-crown prince of Germany But Willie's chances for gaining pomp and power are consid- cred no better than those of his we'll known papa.