List of Spanish monarchs
This is a list of Spanish monarchs, that is, rulers of the country of Spain. The forerunners of the monarchs of the Spanish throne were the following:
- Kings of the Visigoths
- Kings of Asturias
- Kings of Navarre
- Kings of León
- Kings of Galicia
- Kings of Aragon
- Kings of Castile
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Monarchs of the Iberian Peninsula |
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These seven lineages were eventually united by the marriage of the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand II of Aragon (king of the Crown of Aragon) and Isabella I of Castile (queen of the Crown of Castile). Although their kingdoms continued to be separate, with their personal union they ruled them together as one dominion. The regnal numbers follow those of the rulers of Asturias, León, and Castile; thus, Alfonso XII is numbered in succession to Alfonso XI of Castile.
House of Trastámara (1479–1555)
Under Isabella and Ferdinand, the royal dynasties of Castile and Aragon, their respective kingdoms, were united into a single line. Historiography of Spain generally treats this as the formation of the Kingdom of Spain, but in formality, the two kingdoms continued for many centuries with their own separate institutions. It was not until the Nueva Planta decrees of 1707–1716 that the two lands were formally merged into a single state.
Name | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | Family | Image |
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Isabella I
| 53) | 22 April 1451 – 26 November 1504 (aged11 December 1474 Castile | 26 November 1504 Castile | Daughter of John II of Castile and Isabella of Portugal | Trastámara | |
Ferdinand V & II
| 63) | 10 March 1452 – 23 January 1516 (aged15 January 1475 Castile 20 January 1479 Aragon | 26 November 1504 Castile 23 January 1516 Aragon | Son of John II of Aragon and Juana Enríquez | Trastámara | |
Joanna
| 75) | 6 November 1479 – 12 April 1555 (aged26 November 1504 Castile 23 January 1516 Aragon | 12 April 1555 | Daughter of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon | Trastámara | |
Philip I
| 28) | 22 July 1478 – 25 September 1506 (aged27 June 1506 Castile | 25 September 1506 Castile | Husband of Joanna of Castile | Habsburg |
Joanna was confined from 1509 till her death for alleged insanity.
House of Habsburg (1516–1700)
Following the deaths of Isabella (1504) and Ferdinand (1516), their daughter Joanna inherited the Spanish kingdoms. However, she was kept prisoner at Tordesillas due to an alleged mental disorder. As Joanna's son, Charles I (the future Holy Roman Emperor Charles V), did not want to be merely a regent, he proclaimed himself king of Castile and Aragon jointly with his mother. Subsequently, Castilian and Aragonese Cortes alleged oath to him as co-monarch with his mother. Upon her death, he became sole King of Castile and Aragon, and the thrones were left permanently united to Philip II of Spain and successors. Traditional numbering of monarchs follows the Castillian crown; i.e. after King Ferdinand (II of Aragon and V of Castile jure uxoris as husband of Queen of Castille Isabella I), the next Ferdinand was numbered VI. Likewise, Alfonso XII takes his number following that of Alfonso XI of Castile rather than that of Alfonso V of Aragon, the prior Spanish monarchs with that name.
Name | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | Family | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charles I
| 58) | 24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558 (aged14 March 1516 | 16 January 1556 | Son of Joanna and Philip I of Castile Nominally co-monarch with Joanna till 1555, while she was confined | Habsburg | |
Philip II
| 71) | 21 May 1527 – 13 September 1598 (aged16 January 1556 | 13 September 1598 | Son of Charles I | Habsburg | |
Philip III
| 42) | 14 April 1578 – 31 March 1621 (aged13 September 1598 | 31 March 1621 | Son of Philip II | Habsburg | |
Philip IV
| 60) | 8 April 1605 – 17 September 1665 (aged31 March 1621 | 17 September 1665 | Son of Philip III | Habsburg | |
Charles II
| 38) | 6 November 1661 – 1 November 1700 (aged17 September 1665 | 1 November 1700 | Son of Philip IV | Habsburg |
In the year 1700, Charles II died. His will named the 16-year-old Philip, the grandson of Charles's sister Maria Theresa of Spain, as his successor to the whole Spanish Empire.[1] Upon any possible refusal of the undivided Spanish possessions, the Crown of Spain would be offered next to Philip's younger brother Charles, Duke of Berry, or, next, to Archduke Charles of Austria.[2]
Both claimants, both Charles of Austria and Philip, had a legal right to the Spanish throne because Philip's grandfather, King Louis XIV of France and Charles's father, Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, were sons of Charles II's aunts, Anne and Maria Anna. Philip claimed primogeniture because Anne was older than Maria Anna. However, Philip IV had stipulated in his will the succession should pass to the Austrian Habsburg line, and the Austrian branch also claimed that Maria Theresa, Philip's grandmother, had renounced the Spanish throne for herself and her descendants as part of her marriage contract. This was countered by the French claim that it was on the basis of a dowry that had never been paid.[3]
After a long council meeting where the Dauphin spoke up in favour of his son's rights, it was agreed that Philip would ascend the throne.[4] Following this, the War of the Spanish Succession broke out and Archduke Charles was also proclaimed king of Spain, as Charles III, in opposition to Philip V. He was proclaimed in Vienna,[5] and also in Madrid in the years 1706 and 1710. Charles renounced his claims to the Spanish throne in the Treaty of Rastatt of 1714, but was allowed the continued use of the styles of a Spanish monarch for his lifetime. Philip ascended the Spanish throne but had to renounce his claim to the throne of France for himself and his descendants.[6]
Disputed claimant of the House of Habsburg
Portrait | Coat of arms | Name | Life | Reign | Titles | Claim |
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Archduke Charles of Austria, as Charles III Archiduque Carlos (Carlos III) |
1 October 1685 – 20 October 1740 (aged 55) | 12 September 1703 – 2 July 1715 |
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House of Bourbon (1700–1808)
Name | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | Family | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Philip V
| 62) | 19 December 1683 – 9 July 1746 (aged16 November 1700 | 14 January 1724 | Great-grandson of Philip IV Half-grandnephew of Charles II | Bourbon | |
Louis I
| 17) | 25 August 1707 – 31 August 1724 (aged14 January 1724 | 31 August 1724 | Son of Philip V | Bourbon | |
Philip V
| 62) | 19 December 1683 – 9 July 1746 (aged6 September 1724 | 9 July 1746 | Father of Louis I | Bourbon | |
Ferdinand VI
| 45) | 23 September 1713 – 10 August 1759 (aged9 July 1746 | 10 August 1759 | Son of Philip V | Bourbon | |
Charles III
| 72) | 20 January 1716 – 14 December 1788 (aged10 August 1759 | 14 December 1788 | Son of Philip V | Bourbon | |
Charles IV
| 70) | 11 November 1748 – 20 January 1819 (aged14 December 1788 | 19 March 1808 | Son of Charles III | Bourbon | |
Ferdinand VII
| 48) | 14 October 1784 – 29 September 1833 (aged19 March 1808 | 6 May 1808 | Son of Charles IV | Bourbon |
House of Bonaparte (1808–1813)
The only monarch from this dynasty was Joseph I, imposed by his brother Napoleon I of France after Charles IV and Ferdinand VII had abdicated. The title used by Joseph I was King of the Spains and the Indias, by the Grace of God and the Constitution of the State. He was also later given all of the titles of the previous kings. A government in opposition to the French was formed in Cádiz on 25 September 1808, which continued to recognize the imprisoned Ferdinand VII as king. This government was diplomatically recognized as the legitimate Spanish government by Britain and other countries at war with France.
Name | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | Family | Image |
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Joseph I | 76) | 7 January 1768 – 28 July 1844 (aged6 June 1808 | 11 December 1813 | Older brother of Emperor Napoleon | Bonaparte |
House of Bourbon (1813–1868)
Charles IV's eldest son was restored to the throne. Again, the title used was king of Castile, Leon, Aragon,… by the Grace of God.
Name | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | Family | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ferdinand VII
| 48) | 14 October 1784 – 29 September 1833 (aged11 December 1813 | 29 September 1833 | Son of Charles IV | Bourbon | |
Isabella II
| 73) | 10 October 1830 – 10 April 1904 (aged29 September 1833 | 30 September 1868 | Daughter of Ferdinand VII | Bourbon |
House of Savoy (1870–1873)
After the Spanish Revolution of 1868 deposed Isabella II, while a new monarch was sought, a provisional government and a regency headed by Francisco Serrano y Domínguez from 8 October 1868 until 2 January 1871 was established. Amadeo was elected as king and the new title used was King of Spain, by the Grace of God and will of the nation.
Name | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | Family | Image |
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Amadeo I
| 44) | 30 May 1845 – 18 January 1890 (aged16 November 1870 | 11 February 1873 | Elected by Cortes Generales Great-great-grandson of Charles III | Savoy |
House of Bourbon (1874–1931)
Isabella II's eldest son was restored to the throne as she had abdicated in his favour in 1870. Constitutional King of Spain.
Name | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | Family | Image |
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Alfonso XII
| 27) | 28 November 1857 – 25 November 1885 (aged29 December 1874 | 25 November 1885 | Son of Isabella II | Bourbon | |
Alfonso XIII
| 54) | 17 May 1886 – 28 February 1941 (aged17 May 1886 | 14 April 1931 | Posthumous son of Alfonso XII | Bourbon |
Dictatorship of Francisco Franco (1936–1975)
On 1 October 1936, General Francisco Franco was proclaimed "Leader of Spain" (Spanish: Caudillo de España) in the parts of Spain controlled by the Nationalists (nacionales) after the Spanish Civil War broke out. At the end of the war on 1 April 1939, General Franco took control of the whole of Spain. In 1947, Franco proclaimed the restoration of the monarchy but did not allow the pretender, Juan, Count of Barcelona, to take the throne. In 1969, Franco declared that Juan Carlos, Prince of Spain, the Count of Barcelona's son, would be his successor. After Franco's death in 1975, Juan Carlos succeeded him as the King of Spain.
House of Bourbon (1975–present)
Alfonso XIII's claim descended (due to his two eldest sons' renunciations) to his third son, Juan of Bourbon, Count of Barcelona, who was passed over in favour of his eldest son, whose title is King of Spain. The Count of Barcelona formally renounced his claims in favour of his son in 1977, two years after Franco's death and Juan Carlos's accession.
Juan Carlos abdicated in favor of his son Felipe VI, who became king on 19 June 2014, with Felipe's older daughter, Leonor, next in succession.[7]
Name | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | Family | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Juan Carlos I | 5 January 1938 | 22 November 1975 | 19 June 2014 | Grandson of Alfonso XIII | Bourbon | |
Felipe VI | 30 January 1968 | 19 June 2014 | Incumbent | Son of Juan Carlos I | Bourbon |
See also
- Family tree of Spanish monarchs
- List of heads of state of Spain
- List of Spanish regents
- List of Succession to the Spanish Throne
- List of monarchs of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
- Royal Consorts of Spain
- Spanish monarchy
- War of the Spanish Succession
Notes
- Spanish: Pepe Botella
- Due to Franco's illness, Prince Juan Carlos held the post of head of state as an interim measure from 19 July to 2 September 1974, and again from 30 October to 20 November 1975. On 22 November, two days after Franco's death, Juan Carlos was proclaimed King by the Cortes.
References
- Kamen, Henry. "Philip V of Spain: The King who Reigned Twice". Yale University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-300-08718-7 P6
- Kamen, Henry. "Philip V of Spain:: The King who Reigned Twice", p.6. Published by Yale University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-300-08718-7
- Durant, Will. "The Age of Louis XIV", p.699. Simon and Schuster, New York 1963.
- Kamen, Henry. "Philip V of Spain:: The King who Reigned Twice" Yale University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-300-08718-7 P158
- Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 905. .
- Kamen, Henry. "Philip V of Spain:: The King who Reigned Twice", p.158. Published by Yale University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-300-08718-7
- "Leonor becomes a crown princess". El Pais.