Online Encyclopedia
List of Spanish monarchs
This is a list of Spanish monarchs - that is, rulers of united Spain. The forerunners of the Spanish throne were the following:
- Kings of Aragon and Counts of Barcelona
- Kings of Castile and of Leon
- Kings of Navarre
These lineages were eventually united by the marriage of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I 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 Spain. Isabella left her kingdom to her daughter Joanna. Ferdinand served as her regent during her insanity; though rebuffed by the Castilian nobility and replaced with Joanna's husband Philip I of Castile, he resumed his regency after Philip's death. Joanna's son, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, succeeded her on the throne of Castile; and he also succeeded his grandfather Ferdinand on the Aragonese throne when Ferdinand died in 1516; thereafter the thrones were united.
Contents |
Kings, Queens of Spain:
House of Habsburg (or Austria, as it was known in Spain)
- Carlos I, a.k.a. Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor: 23 January 1516 - 16 January 1556
- Felipe II: 16 January 1556 - 13 September 1598
- Felipe III: 13 September 1598 - 31 March 1621
- Felipe IV: 31 March 1621 - 17 September 1665
- Carlos II: 17 September 1665 - 1 November 17001
House of Bourbon
- Felipe V: 16 November 1700 - 14 January 1724
- Luis I: 14 January - 31 August 17242
- Felipe V (restored): 6 September 1724 - 9 July 1746
- Fernando VI: 9 July 1746 - 10 August 1759
- Carlos III: 10 August 1759 - 14 December 1788
- Carlos IV: 14 December 1788 - 19 March 1808
- Fernando VII: 19 March - 6 May 18083
- Carlos IV (restored): 6 May 18084
House of Bonaparte
House of Bourbon (restored)
- Fernando VII: 11 December 1813 - 29 September 1833
- Isabel II: 29 September 1833 - 30 September 18686
House of Savoy
First Spanish Republic 1873-1874
House of Bourbon (restored)
Second Spanish Republic 1931-1939
rule of Francisco Franco 1939-19758
House of Bourbon (restored)
Notes
1 There was a brief interregnum following Carlos II's death, during which the decision of the Duc d'Anjou as to whether he would accept the Spanish throne was awaited.
2 There was a short interregnum following the death of King Luis before his father resumed the throne.
3 Throughout much of Spain, Fernando's abdication was not recognized to be valid, having been given under duress. The Supreme Governing Junta established on 25 September 1808, which was recognized as the legitimate government of Spain by Britain, Portugal, and other governments, continued to recognize Fernando as King.
4 Following Carlos IV's second abdication, there was a month long interregnum, during which Marshal Joachim Murat ruled Spain as Lieutenant-General and Governor of the Realm.
5 This was Napoleon's brother Joseph. He was not universally recognized as King, and following the Bourbon restoration, his acts were largely considered to have been invalid.
6 Following Isabel's abdication, there was a more than two year interregnum, during which time the government sought a new monarch from abroad.
7 Following Alfonso XII's death, there was an interregnum until the birth of his posthumous son Alfonso XIII.
8In 1947, Franco proclaimed the restoration of the monarchy, but did not allow the pretender, the Count of Barcelona , to take the throne.
See also: Kings of Spain family tree