Blancs d'Espagne ("Spanish Whites") was a term used to refer to those legitimists in France who, following the death of the Comte de Chambord in 1883, supported the Spanish Carlist claimant rather than the Orleanist candidate, who was supported by the vast majority of French royalists.

The term was generally used by supporters of the Comte de Paris, the Orleanist candidate, as a term of derision for their ultra-legitimist opponents who so hated the House of Orléans that they would support a foreign prince over an Orleanist candidate. It is a pun on the cosmetic and cleanser known as blanc d'Espagne, originally a white lead pigment and later either basic bismuth nitrate[1] or a preparation made from chalk and clay.[2]

Dynastic rationale

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Claimants or declared claimants

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Portrait Name from until Relationship with predecessor(s)
Jean III 24 August 1883 18 November 1887 his great-great-grandfather was brother to great-great-great-grandfather of Count of Chambord
Charles XI 18 November 1887 18 July 1909 oldest son
  Jacques I 18 July 1909 2 October 1931 only son
  Charles XII
also Alphonse I
2 October 1931 29 September 1936 paternal uncle
  Alphonse I 29 September 1936 28 February 1941 second cousin once removed (his great-grandfather was brother to grandfather of Alphonse I
  Jacques II
also Henri VI
28 February 1941 20 March 1975 oldest living son (second son)
  Alphonse II 20 March 1975 30 January 1989 oldest son
  Louis XX 30 January 1989 onwards oldest living son (second son)

Notes

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  1. ^ Leopold Gmelin, Henry Watts. Handbook of Chemistry. Cavendish Society, London, 1850.
  2. ^ Le Nouveau Petit Robert: Dictionnaire de la langue française. Dictionnaires le Robert, Paris, 1993.