Calle del Rey Francisco

The man who gives this street its name never reigned in his own right. Francis of Assisi de Bourbon (1822-1902) married his cousin Isabella II in 1846, and that same day received the title of king and the style of Majesty. He was chosen for his royal blood and for having no claim to any European crown that might get in the way. With a high voice and delicate manners, the king consort fed satirical songs all over Madrid, and the court hung on him the nickname “Paquita.” He is remembered above all for an unhappy marriage, though he was also a patron of Madrid churches lying in ruins. Calle del Rey Francisco was born in the 19th-century Argüelles, a district whose first streets paid tribute to the royal family. The Revolution of 1868 pushed the couple into exile, and his remains rest at El Escorial, alongside the monarchs who did wear the crown.