Gonzalo was born inMadrid. He was baptized with the namesGonzalo Manuel María Bernardo Narciso Alfonso Mauricio. He received his final name in honor of his uncle,Prince Maurice of Battenberg, who was killed inWorld War I shortly before Gonzalo's baptism. The infante was educated privately. Because heinherited the genetic disorderhemophilia from his mother's family (a fact not widely known in Spain during his life), he had some ill health, although he was an active sportsman. He held the rank of a private in the Engineering Corps of theSpanish Army. In 1927, he was made the 1,166thKnight of the Spanish branch of theOrder of the Golden Fleece.
In May 1924, nine-year-old Gonzalo inaugurated theEstadio Chamartín, the new football stadium forReal Madrid, kicking the ball of honour and yelling "¡Hala Madrid!."[1]
In August 1934, Gonzalo was spending the summer holidays with his family at the villa of Count Ladislaus de Hoyos atPörtschach am Wörthersee inAustria. On the evening of 11 August, Gonzalo and his sisterInfanta Beatriz were driving fromKlagenfurt to Pörtschach. NearKrumpendorf, Beatriz, who was driving, was forced to swerve to avoid a cyclist (the retired jockey Baron Neimans). The car crashed into a wall. Neither Gonzalo nor Beatriz appeared badly hurt, and so they returned to their villa. Several hours later it became clear that Gonzalo had severe abdominal bleeding. Because he had a weak heart, an operation was ruled out. He died two days later. His eldest brother,Alfonso, would die just over four years later from very similar circumstances—having also inherited hemophilia, he was involved in a crash after the automobile he was in swerved to avoid a truck. The crash caused severe internal bleeding, ultimately leading to his death.[2]
Gonzalo was buried in the graveyard atPörtschach. Later, his body was moved to the Pantheon of the Princes inEl Escorial.
The generations indicate descent fromCarlos I, under whom the crowns of Castile and Aragon were united, forming the Kingdom of Spain. Previously, the title Infante had been largely used in the different realms.
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