List of Spanish monarchs

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al-Andalus (taifas)

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This is a list of Spanish monarchs, that is, rulers of the country of Spain in the modern sense of the word. 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

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. Ferdinand also conquered the southern part of Navarre and annexed it to what was to become Spain. Isabella left her kingdom to her daughter Joanna of Castile. Ferdinand served as her regent during her insanity; though rebuffed by the Castilian nobility and replaced by Joanna's husband Philip the Handsome, he resumed his regency after Philip's death. In 1516, after Ferdinand II's death, his daughter Joanna inherited the kingdom of Aragon, but was kept prisoner at Tordesillas as insane. As Joanna's son, the future Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, did not want to be merely a regent, he was proclaimed king of Castile and Aragon jointly with his mother in Brussels. Subsequently, Castilian and Aragonese Cortes alleged oath to him as co-king with his mother. Upon her death, he became sole King of Castile and Aragon, and the thrones were thereafter united permanently.

Kingdom of Spain (1479–1873)

House of Trastámara (1479–1555)

Under Isabella and Ferdinand, the royal dynasties of Aragon and Castile were united into a single line. Historiography of Spain generally treats this as the formation of the Kingdom of Spain, but in actuality, the two kingdoms continued for many centuries with their own separate institutions. It wasn't until the Nueva Planta decrees of the early 18th century that the two lands were formally merged into a single state.

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Ferdinand V & II the Catholic Spanish: Fernando V & II	10 March 1452 – 23 January 1516 (aged 63)	15 January 1475 In Castile 20 January 1479 In Aragon	26 November 1504 In Castile 23 January 1516 In Aragon	Son of John II of Aragon and Juana Enríquez	Trastámara
Isabella I the Catholic Spanish: Isabel I	22 April 1451 – 26 November 1504 (aged 53)	11 December 1474 In Castile	26 November 1504 In Castile	Daughter of John II of Castile and Isabella of Portugal	Trastámara
Joanna the Mad Spanish: Juana I	6 November 1479 – 12 April 1555 (aged 75)	26 November 1504 In Castile 23 January 1516 In Aragon	12 April 1555 In Spain	Daughter of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon	Trastámara
Philip I the Handsome Spanish: Felipe I	22 July 1478 – 25 September 1506 (aged 28)	27 June 1506 In Castile	25 September 1506 In Castile	Son of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor and Mary of Burgundy	Habsburg

House of Habsburg (1516–1700)

Under Joanna and Charles I, the two thrones of Castile and Aragon were finally united under one monarch. 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 the Emperor Spanish: Carlos I	24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558 (aged 58)	14 March 1516	16 January 1556 (abdicated)	Son of Joanna and Philip I of Castile	Habsburg
Philip II the Prudent Spanish: Felipe II	21 May 1527 – 13 September 1598 (aged 71)	16 January 1556	13 September 1598	Son of Charles I	Habsburg
Philip III the Pious Spanish: Felipe III	14 April 1578 – 31 March 1621 (aged 42)	13 September 1598	31 March 1621	Son/Grandnephew of Philip II	Habsburg
Philip IV the Great Spanish: Felipe IV	8 April 1605 – 17 September 1665 (aged 60)	31 March 1621	17 September 1665	Son of Philip III	Habsburg
Charles II the Bewitched Spanish: Carlos II	6 November 1661 – 1 November 1700 (aged 38)	17 September 1665	1 November 1700	Son/Grandnephew of Philip IV	Habsburg

House of Bourbon (1700–1808)

In the year 1700 Charles II died. Charles' will named the 16-year-old Philip, the grandson of Charles' sister Maria Theresa of Spain, as his successor.^[1] Upon any possible refusal the Crown of Spain would be offered next to Philip's younger brother Charles, Duke of Berry, or, next, to Archduke Charles of Austria.

Both claimants, Philip and Charles, had a legal right to the Spanish throne due to the fact that Philip's grandfather, King Louis XIV of France and Charles's father, Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, were sons of Charles' aunts, Anne and Maria Anna. Philip had the better claim because his grandmother and great-grandmother were older than Leopold's. However, the Austrian branch claimed that 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 branch's claim that it was on the basis of a dowry that had never been paid.^[2]

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.^[3] Following this, a war broke out and Archduke Charles was also proclaimed king of Spain, as Charles III in opposition to Philip V. He was proclaimed in Vienna,^[4] 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.

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Philip V the Spirited Spanish: Felipe V	19 December 1683 – 9 July 1746 (aged 62)	16 November 1700	14 January 1724 (abdicated)	Great-grandson of Philip IV	Bourbon
Louis I the Beloved and the Liberal Spanish: Luis I	25 August 1707 – 31 August 1724 (aged 17)	14 January 1724	31 August 1724	Son of Philip V	Bourbon
Philip V the Spirited Spanish: Felipe V	19 December 1683 – 9 July 1746 (aged 62)	6 September 1724	9 July 1746	Father of Louis I	Bourbon
Ferdinand VI the Learned Spanish: Fernando VI	23 September 1713 – 10 August 1759 (aged 45)	9 July 1746	10 August 1759	Son of Philip V	Bourbon
Charles III the Enlightened and the King-Mayor Spanish: Carlos III	20 January 1716 – 14 December 1788 (aged 72)	10 August 1759	14 December 1788	Son of Philip V	Bourbon
Charles IV the Hunter Spanish: Carlos IV	11 November 1748 – 20 January 1819 (aged 70)	14 December 1788	19 March 1808 (abdicated)	Son of Charles III	Bourbon
Ferdinand VII the Desired and the Felon King Spanish: Fernando VII	14 October 1784 – 29 September 1833 (aged 48)	19 March 1808	6 May 1808 (abdicated)	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
Joseph I the Intruder and Bottle Joe Spanish: José I	7 January 1768 – 28 July 1844 (aged 76)	6 June 1808	11 December 1813 (deposed)	The 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 the Desired and the Felon King Spanish: Fernando VII	14 October 1784 – 29 September 1833 (aged 48)	11 December 1813	29 September 1833	Son of Charles IV	Bourbon
Isabella II the One with the Sad Destinies Spanish: Isabel II	10 October 1830 – 10 April 1904 (aged 73)	29 September 1833	30 September 1868 (deposed)	Daughter of Ferdinand VII	Bourbon

House of Savoy (1870–1873)

After the Spanish Revolution of 1868 deposed Isabella II, there was established a provisional government and a regency headed by Francisco Serrano y Domínguez from October 8, 1868 until January 2, 1871, while a new monarch was sought. 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
Amadeo I	30 May 1845 – 18 January 1890 (aged 44)	16 November 1870	11 February 1873 (abdicated)	Elected by Cortes Generales	Savoy

Spanish Republic (1873–1874)

Kingdom of Spain (1874–1931)

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
Alfonso XII the Peacemaker	28 November 1857 – 25 November 1885 (aged 27)	29 December 1874	25 November 1885	Son of Isabella II	Bourbon
Alfonso XIII the African	17 May 1886 – 28 February 1941 (aged 54)	17 May 1886	14 April 1931 (abdicated)	Son of Alfonso XII. Born after his father's death.	Bourbon

Spanish Republic (1931–1939)

Spanish State (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.

Kingdom of Spain (1975–present)

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 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. ^[5]

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Juan Carlos I	5 January 1938	22 November 1975	19 June 2014 (abdicated)	Grandson of Alfonso XIII	Bourbon
Felipe VI	30 January 1968	19 June 2014	Incumbent	Son of Juan Carlos I	Bourbon

See also

• Kings of Spain family tree
• 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

References

1. Kamen, Henry. "Philip V of Spain: The King who Reigned Twice". Yale University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-300-08718-7 P6
2. Durant, Will. "The Age of Louis XIV". Simon and Schuster, New York 1963 P699
3. Kamen, Henry. "Philip V of Spain:: The King who Reigned Twice" Yale University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-300-08718-7 P158
4. http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Charles_VI_of_the_Holy_Roman_Empire LoveToKnow Free Online Encyclopedia
5. "Leonor becomes a crown princess". El Pais.

External links

• Monarchs of Spain (700–present)