House of Güemes

House of Güemes
Country	Mexico, New France, Spain
Founded	c. 1790
Current head	Jean, Marquis of Saint Hyacinthe
Titles	Emperor of Mexico Count of Medina de Pomar
Connected families	House of Bourbon House of Velasco House of Flórez-Osorio
Heirlooms	Heart of Juan de Prado

The House of Güemes (Spanish: Casa de Güemes; French: Maison de Gouemes), since 1915 sometimes called the House of Bourbon-Güemes, is a Mexican, New French, and Spanish noble house. Numerous members of the family served in high-ranking positions in colonial America during the 18th and 19th centuries, including two members achieving the rank of Viceroy of New Spain. From 1881 to 1913, the family provided the only two Emperors of Mexico.

The dynasty traces its noble lineage to a number of families, including the houses of Flórez-Osorio and de Velasco. Spanish noblewoman Juliana Joaquina Flórez-Osorio married Cantabrian Miguel Alfonso de Güemes de Velasco in 1763, with both of them emigrating to colonial Mexico soon after. Their criollo son, Juan de Prado de Güemes, 2nd Count of Medina de Pomar established a prestigious position for his family in colonial American society.

In 1881, Viceroy Jorge González de Güemes was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico after the country's independence from the Spanish Empire. Him and his son were the only Mexican monarchs before the monarchy's abolition in 1913 and the establishment of a republic. After their fall from power, the majority of Güemes family members emigrated to New France and Spain.

History

Going back to the 16th and 17th centuries, the family's paternal line can be traced back to a number of Cantabrian noble families who served in various government positions. Diego Güemes Barona y Gallo, a native of the town of Ríoseras who had been granted the title Knight of the Order of Santiago in 1666, is a direct ancestor of the modern House.

Miguel Alfonso de Güemes de Velasco was born his great-grandson in 1732. Through his mother, he was also a relative of the ennobled de Velasco family. In 1763, he was granted the title Count of Medina de Pomar; shortly after, he would wed a member of the Flórez-Osorio family, Lady Juliana Joaquina. Two years later, the family would emigrate to New Spain. They were not the only people in America with their unique surname — the Güemes de la Mora family had emigrated to Peru over a century earlier in 1634.

Their criollo son, Juan de Prado de Güemes, famously became Viceroy of New Spain in 1794, holding the position for two years. By the end of the century, the Güemes family had been firmly established as a member of the Viceroyalty's nobility. The family had also been involved the mining industry in the regions of Hidalgo and Guanaxuato, dramatically increasing their wealth.

In 1876, Lt. Colonel Jorge González de Güemes was appointed Viceroy, following in the footsteps of his grandfather. He would become a major political and military leader during the massive social unrest of the next few years. In 1881, he was declared Emperor of Mexico due to his noble lineage, social connections, and material wealth in Mexico. Six years after the passing of his first wife in 1877, he married Victoria, fils de France & Countess of Vexin, a younger daughter of Henri VII, King of New France.

Widespread protests against the Mexican monarchy led to the Emperor's abdication in favor of his son in 1908. Agustín González Silva de Güemes-Borbón had a short-lived reign, being forced to flee the country to New France in 1913 where he would be murdered. Outliving his son, Emperor Jorge González was granted the New French title Marquis of Saint Hyacinthe in 1915.

Upon his death in 1925, his titles passed to his grandson Germain, Marquis of Saint Hyacinthe. Germain would marry Irish-Spanish noblewoman and descendant of the O'Neill dynasty of Ulster, Cayetana Josefa Felán y Osorio in 1927. Upon his tragic death in a plane crash in London in 1934, he was succeeded by his infant son Jean, who remains the head of the dynasty and pretender to the Mexican throne.

List of notable members

Portrait	Name	Birth	Death
	Miguel Alfonso de Güemes de Velasco 1st Count of Medina de Pomar	8 June 1732 Burgos, Spain Son of José Manuel de Güemes and María del Pilar de Velasco	16 March 1785 Actopan, New Spain
	Viceroy Juan de Prado de Güemes Flórez-Osorio 2nd Count of Medina de Pomar	21 May 1769 Mexico City, New Spain Son of Miguel Alfonso Güemes de Velasco and Juliana Joaquina Flórez-Osorio	18 November 1819 Mexico City, New Spain
	Juan Serafín de Güemes y Fuenmayor 3rd Count of Medina de Pomar	29 January 1802 Mexico City, New Spain Son of Juan de Prado de Güemes Osorio	15 June 1877 Mexico City, New Spain
	Emperor Jorge González de Güemes y Horcasitas	4 December 1834 Acapulco, New Spain Son of Juan Serafín de Güemes y Fuenmayor	12 April 1925 Quebec City, New France
	Emperor Agustín González Silva de Güemes-Borbón	3 April 1876 San Luis Potosi, New Spain Son of Jorge González de Güemes y Horcasitas	9 October 1913 Saint Augustin de Desmaures, New France
	Germán de Güemes Borbón 2nd Marquis of Saint Hyacinthe	2 August 1900 Los Angeles, Alta California, Mexican Empire Son of Agustín González Silva de Güemes-Borbón	22 September 1934 London, United Kingdom
	Juan Felipe de Güemes Borbón y Felán Osorio 3rd Marquis of Saint Hyacinthe	25 April 1928 Quebec City, New France Son of Germán de Güemes Borbón and Cayetana Josefa Felán y Osorio

Family tree

Diego Güemes Barona y Gallo

Miguel Alfonso de Güemes de Velasco

Juliana Joaquina Flórez-Osorio

Juan de Prado de Güemes, 2nd Count