Julio Pinedo
Afro-Bolivian king (born 1942)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Don Julio Bonifaz Pinedo y Pinedo (born 19 February 1942) is the ceremonial king of the Afro-Bolivian community of the Nor Yungas province,[1] crowned in 1992, forty years after the death of the previous king, his grandfather Bonifacio Pinedo.[2] His coronation took place during a Catholic ceremony in the chapel at the hacienda of the Marquis de Pinedo.[3]
| Julio I | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||
| King of the Afro-Bolivians | |||||
| Reign | 18 April 1992 – present | ||||
| Coronation | 3 November 2007[a] | ||||
| Predecessor | Bonifacio I | ||||
| Heir apparent | Rolando Julio | ||||
| Born | 19 February 1942 Mururata, Bolivia | ||||
| Spouse | |||||
| Issue | Rolando Pinedo Larrea (adopted) | ||||
| |||||
| House | Pinedo | ||||
| Father | Prince Genaro Pinedo | ||||
| Mother | Princess Aurora Pinedo | ||||
| Styles of King Julio I | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | His Majesty |
| Spoken style | Your Majesty |
Early life
Julio was born on 19 February 1942 in Mururata to Prince Genaro Pinedo and Princess Aurora Pinedo. He is a descendent of Uchicho, an African prince who was enslaved by the Spanish and brought to Bolivia, where he was later appointed as the first Afro-Bolivian king. At the time of his birth, his maternal grandfather Bonifacio Pinedo, reigned as the King of the Afro-Bolivians. Following his grandfather's death in 1954, Julio's mother became Princess Regent, until he was old enough to succeed the title.
Reign
He was crowned by the Afro-Bolivians as King Julio I on 18 April 1992, during a Catholic coronation ceremony at the chapel of the hacienda of the Marquis de Pinedo. His position as King of the Afro-Bolivians gained official recognition from the Bolivian government in 2007, when he was officially installed by the prefect of La Paz.[4][5]
As king, he is the sovereign and Grand Master of the Royal Order of Merit of Prince Uchicho.[6] He appointed Bishop Juan Vargas Aruquipa, Prince Alexander David Ssimbwa of Buganda, Prince Daudi Kintu Wasajja of Buganda, Katikkiro John Baptist Walusimbi of Buganda, Miguel Dongil y Sánchez, and Francisco Manuel de las Heras y Borrero to the order.[6]
In 2016, he went on a royal tour to Senegal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda.[7]
In 2019, Julio was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honorable Order of Omukama Chwa II Kabalega by King Solomon Iguru I of Bunyoro.[8]
Marriage and family life
Julio married Angélica Larrea in 1976. He and Angélica have no biological children,[9] but adopted his nephew and heir, Prince Rolando.[10]
He is Catholic and, when not performing royal duties, works as a farmer and shop owner in Mururata.[11][12]
Honours
Grand Master of the Royal Order of Merit of Prince Uchicho
Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honorable Order of Omukama Chwa II Kabalega
Notes
- Some sources say it's 3 December 2007.
