List of heirs to the Spanish throne
This is a list of the individuals who were, at any given time, considered the next in line to inherit the throne of Spain, should the incumbent monarch die. Those who actually succeeded (at any future time) are shown in bold.
From the personal union of the Crown of Castile and the Crown of Aragon until the accession of the first Bourbon monarch in 1700, the heir to the Spanish throne was the person closest to the Spanish monarch according to the male-preference cognatic primogeniture. From the accession of Philip V until the Pragmatic Sanction of 1830, the heir to the Spanish throne was the person closest to the Spanish monarch according to the Salic law.[1] The heir, whether heir apparent or heir presumptive, was often granted the title of Prince of Asturias.
Significant breaks in the succession, where the designated heir did not in fact succeed (due to usurpation, conquest, revolution, or lack of heirs) are shown as breaks in the table below.
The symbols +1, +2, etc. are to be read "once (twice, etc.) removed in descendancy", i.e., the child or grandchild (etc.) of a cousin of the degree specified. The symbols -1, -2, etc. indicate the converse relationship, i.e., the cousin of a parent or grandparent (etc.).
1516 to 1700[]
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Next in succession | Monarch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charles I | Heir apparent | eldest son | 14 March 1516 | mother became queen | 12 April 1555 | became sole monarch | Ferdinand 1516-1527, younger brother | Joanna I |
Philip 1527-1555, eldest son | ||||||||
Ferdinand | Heir presumptive | younger brother | brother became king | 21 May 1527 | son born to king | Eleanor 1516-1526, elder sister | Charles I | |
Elizabeth 1526-1527, daughter | ||||||||
Philip, Prince of Asturias | Heir apparent | eldest son | 21 May 1527 | born | 16 January 1556 | became king | Ferdinand 1527-1528, uncle | |
Mary 1528-1529, younger sister | ||||||||
Ferdinand 1529-1530, younger brother | ||||||||
Mary 1530-1537, younger sister | ||||||||
John 1537-1538, younger brother | ||||||||
Mary 1538-1545, younger sister | ||||||||
Carlos 1545-1556, son | ||||||||
Carlos, Prince of Asturias | Heir apparent | son | 16 January 1556 | father became king | 24 July 1568 | died | Mary 1556-1566, aunt | Philip II |
Isabella Clara Eugenia 1566-1568, younger half-sister | ||||||||
Isabella Clara Eugenia | Heiress presumptive | eldest daughter | 24 July 1568 | half-brother died | 4 December 1571 | half-brother born | Catalina Micaela 1568-1571, younger sister | |
Ferdinand, Prince of Asturias | Heir apparent | son | 4 December 1571 | born | 18 October 1578 | died | Isabella Clara Eugenia 1571-1573, elder half-sister | |
Charles Laurence 1573-1575, younger brother | ||||||||
Isabella Clara Eugenia 1575, elder half-sister | ||||||||
Diego 1575-1578, younger brother | ||||||||
Diego, Prince of Asturias | Heir apparent | son | 18 October 1578 | brother died | 21 November 1582 | died | Philip 1578-1582, younger brother | |
Philip, Prince of Asturias | Heir apparent | son | 21 November 1582 | brother died | 13 September 1598 | became king | Isabella Clara Eugenia 1582-1598, elder half-sister | |
Isabella Clara Eugenia | Heiress presumptive | elder half-sister | 13 September 1598 | half-brother became king | 22 September 1601 | daughter born to king | Philip Emmanuel, Prince of Piedmont 1598-1601, nephew | Philip III |
Anne | Heiress presumptive | eldest daughter | 22 September 1601 | born | 8 April 1605 | brother born | Isabella Clara Eugenia 1601-1603, aunt | |
Mary 1603, younger sister | ||||||||
Isabella Clara Eugenia 1603-1605, aunt | ||||||||
Philip, Prince of Asturias | Heir apparent | eldest son | 8 April 1605 | born | 31 March 1621 | became king | Anne 1605-1607, elder sister | |
Charles 1607-1621, younger brother | ||||||||
Charles | Heir presumptive | younger brother | 31 March 1621 | brother became king | 14 August 1621 | daughter born to king | Ferdinand 1621, younger brother | Philip IV |
Maria Margaret | Heiress presumptive | eldest daughter | 14 August 1621 | born | 15 August 1621 | died | Charles 1621, uncle | |
Charles | Heir presumptive | younger brother | 15 August 1621 | king's daughter died | 25 November 1623 | daughter born to king | Ferdinand 1621-1623, younger brother | |
Margaret Maria Catherine | Heiress presumptive | daughter | 25 November 1623 | born | 22 December 1623 | died | Charles 1623, uncle | |
Charles | Heir presumptive | younger brother | 22 December 1623 | king's daughter died | 21 November 1625 | daughter born to king | Ferdinand 1623-1625, younger brother | |
Maria Eugenia | Heiress presumptive | daughter | 21 November 1625 | born | 21 August 1627 | died | Charles 1625-1627, uncle | |
Charles | Heir presumptive | younger brother | 21 August 1627 | king's daughter died | 31 October 1627 | daughter born to king | Ferdinand 1627, younger brother | |
Isabella Maria Theresa | Heiress presumptive | daughter | 31 October 1627 | born | 1 November 1627 | died | Charles 1627, uncle | |
Charles | Heir presumptive | younger brother | 1 November 1627 | king's daughter died | 17 October 1629 | son born to king | Ferdinand 1627-1629, younger brother | |
Balthasar Charles, Prince of Asturias | Heir apparent | eldest son | 17 October 1629 | born | 9 October 1646 | died | Charles 1629-1632, uncle | |
Ferdinand 1632-1634, uncle | ||||||||
Francis Ferdinand 1634, younger brother | ||||||||
Ferdinand 1634-1636, uncle | ||||||||
Maria Anna 1636, younger sister | ||||||||
Ferdinand 1636-1638, uncle | ||||||||
Maria Theresa 1638-1646, younger sister | ||||||||
Maria Theresa | Heiress presumptive | daughter | 9 October 1646 | brother died | 28 November 1657 | half-brother born | Ferdinand 1646-1651, 1st cousin | |
Margaret Theresa 1651-1657, younger half-sister | ||||||||
Philip Prospero, Prince of Asturias | Heir apparent | son | 28 November 1657 | born | 1 November 1661 | died | Maria Theresa 1657-1658, elder half-sister | |
Ferdinand Thomas Charles 1658-1659, younger brother | ||||||||
Maria Theresa 1659-1660, elder half-sister | ||||||||
succession uncertain 1660-1661 | ||||||||
succession uncertain 1–6 Nov 1661 | ||||||||
Charles, Prince of Asturias | Heir apparent | son | 6 November 1661 | born | 17 September 1665 | became king | succession uncertain 1661-1665 | |
Since the validity of the renunciation of Maria Theresa on her rights to the Spanish throne was contested, the succession was disputed among the heirs by cognatic primogeniture and the heirs established under the will of Philip IV. The will entailed the throne on the heirs of his younger daughter Margaret Theresa. The following are the leaders of both lines: | ||||||||
Maria Theresa | Potential heirs by cognatic primogeniture | elder half-sister | 17 September 1665 | half-brother became king | 30 July 1683 | died | Louis, Dauphin of France 1665-1683, eldest son | Charles II |
Louis, Dauphin of France | nephew | 30 July 1683 | mother died | 2 October 1700 | renounced claims to the throne | Louis, Duke of Burgundy 1683-1700, eldest son | ||
Philip, Duke of Anjou | grandnephew | 2 October 1700 | father's renunciation | 16 November 1700 | became king | Charles, Duke of Berry 1700, younger brother | ||
Margaret Theresa | Potential heirs by the will of Philip IV | sister | 17 September 1665 | brother became king | 12 March 1673 | died | Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor 1665-1667, 1st cousin | |
Ferdinand Wenceslaus 1667-1668, eldest son | ||||||||
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor 1668-1669, 1st cousin | ||||||||
Maria Antonia 1669-1670, daughter | ||||||||
John Leopold 1670, son | ||||||||
Maria Antonia 1670-1673, daughter | ||||||||
Maria Antonia | niece | 12 March 1673 | mother died | 24 December 1692 | died | Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor 1673-1689, father | ||
Leopold Ferdinand 1689, eldest son | ||||||||
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor 1689-1690, father | ||||||||
Anton 1690, son | ||||||||
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor 1690-1692, father | ||||||||
Joseph Ferdinand 1692, son | ||||||||
Joseph Ferdinand | grandnephew | 24 December 1692 | mother died | 6 February 1699 | died | Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor 1692-1699, grandfather | ||
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor | 1st cousin | 6 February 1699 | grandson died | 16 November 1700 | succession of new king | Joseph 1699-1700, son |
1700 to 1808[]
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Next in succession | Monarch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charles, Duke of Berry | Heir presumptive | younger brother | 16 November 1700 | brother became king | 25 August 1707 | son born to king | none 1700-1707 | Philip V |
Louis, Prince of Asturias | Heir apparent | eldest son | 25 August 1707 | born | 15 January 1724 | became king | Charles, Duke of Berry 1707-1709, uncle | |
Philip 1709, younger brother | ||||||||
Charles, Duke of Berry 1709-1712, uncle | ||||||||
Philip 1712-1719, younger brother | ||||||||
Ferdinand 1719-1724, younger brother | ||||||||
Ferdinand, Prince of Asturias | Heir presumptive | brother | 15 January 1724 | brother became king | 9 July 1746 | became king | Charles 1724-1746, younger half-brother | Louis I |
Heir apparent | son | Philip V | ||||||
Charles | Heir presumptive | half-brother | 9 July 1746 | half-brother became king | 10 August 1759 | became king | Philip 1746-1747, younger brother | Ferdinand VI |
Philip 1747-1759, eldest son | ||||||||
Philip | Heir apparent | eldest son | 10 August 1759 | father became king | 5 October 1759 | removed from the succession | Charles 1759, younger brother | Charles III |
Charles, Prince of Asturias | Heir apparent | son | 5 October 1759 | brother removed from the succession | 14 December 1788 | became king | Ferdinand 1759-1771, younger brother | |
Carlos Clemente 1771-1774, eldest son | ||||||||
Ferdinand 1774-1780, younger brother | ||||||||
Carlos Domingo 1780-1783, son | ||||||||
Ferdinand 1783, younger brother | ||||||||
Carlos Francisco de Paula 1783-1784, son | ||||||||
Ferdinand 1784-1788, son | ||||||||
Ferdinand, Prince of Asturias | Heir apparent | son | 14 December 1788 | father became king | 19 March 1808 | became king | Charles 1788-1808, younger brother | Charles IV |
Charles | Heir presumptive | younger brother | 19 March 1808 | brother became king | 6 May 1808 | brother deposed | Francisco de Paula 1808, younger brother | Ferdinand VII |
1808 to 1813[]
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Next in succession | Monarch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Zénaïde | Heiress presumptive | eldest daughter | 6 June 1808 | father became king | 11 December 1813 | father deposed | Charlotte 1808-1813, younger sister | Joseph I |
1813 to 1868[]
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Next in succession | Monarch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carlos | Heir presumptive | younger brother | 11 December 1813 | brother restored | 10 October 1830 | daughter born to king | Francisco de Paula 1813-1818, younger brother | Ferdinand VII |
Carlos Luis 1818-1830, eldest son | ||||||||
Isabella, Princess of Asturias | Heiress presumptive | eldest daughter | 10 October 1830 | born | 29 September 1833 | became queen | Carlos 1830-1832, uncle | |
Louisa Ferdinanda 1832-1833, younger sister | ||||||||
Louisa Ferdinanda | Heiress presumptive | younger sister | 29 September 1833 | sister became queen | 20 May 1849 | son born to queen | Carlos 1833-1837, uncle | Isabella II |
Francisco de Paula 1837-1848, uncle | ||||||||
Marie Isabelle 1848-1849, daughter | ||||||||
Louis | Heir apparent | eldest son | 20 May 1849 | born | 20 May 1849 | died | Louisa Ferdinanda 1849, aunt | |
Louisa Ferdinanda | Heiress presumptive | younger sister | 20 May 1849 | queen's son died | 12 July 1850 | son born to queen | Marie Isabelle 1849-1850, daughter | |
Ferdinand | Heir apparent | eldest son | 12 July 1850 | born | 12 July 1850 | died | Louisa Ferdinanda 1850, aunt | |
Louisa Ferdinanda | Heiress presumptive | younger sister | 12 July 1850 | queen's son died | 20 December 1851 | daughter born to queen | Marie Isabelle 1850-1851, eldest daughter | |
Isabella, Princess of Asturias | Heiress presumptive | eldest daughter | 20 December 1851 | born | 21 December 1856 | brother born | Louisa Ferdinanda 1851-1854, aunt | |
Maria Christina 1854, younger sister | ||||||||
Louisa Ferdinanda 1854-1855, aunt | ||||||||
Margaret 1855, younger sister | ||||||||
Louisa Ferdinanda 1855-1856, aunt | ||||||||
Francisco | Heir apparent | son | 21 December 1856 | born | 21 December 1856 | died | Isabella 1856, elder sister | |
Isabella, Princess of Asturias | Heiress presumptive | eldest daughter | 21 December 1856 | brother died | 28 November 1857 | brother born | Louisa Ferdinanda 1856, aunt | |
Alfonso, Prince of Asturias | Heir apparent | son | 28 November 1857 | born | 30 September 1868 | mother deposed | Isabella 1857-1866, elder sister | |
Francisco 1866, younger brother | ||||||||
Isabella 1866-1868, elder sister |
1870 to 1873[]
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Next in succession | Monarch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Emmanuel Philibert, Prince of Asturias | Heir apparent | eldest son | 16 November 1870 | father became king | 11 February 1873 | father abdicated | none 1870 | Amadeo I |
Vittorio Emanuele 1870-1873, younger brother |
1874 to 1931[]
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Next in succession | Monarch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Isabella, Princess of Asturias | Heiress presumptive | elder sister | 29 December 1874 | brother became king | 11 September 1880 | daughter born to king | María del Pilar 1874-1879, younger sister | Alfonso XII |
María de la Paz 1879-1880, younger sister | ||||||||
Mercedes, Princess of Asturias | Heiress presumptive | daughter | 11 September 1880 | born | 17 October 1904 | died | Isabella 1880-1882, aunt | |
María Teresa 1882-1901, younger sister | ||||||||
elder sister | Alfonso 1901-1904, eldest son | Alfonso XIII | ||||||
Alfonso | Heir presumptive | nephew | 17 October 1904 | mother died | 10 May 1907 | son born to king | Fernando 1904-1905, younger brother | |
Isabel Alfonsa 1905-1907, younger sister | ||||||||
Alfonso, Prince of Asturias | Heir apparent | eldest son | 10 May 1907 | born | 14 April 1931 | monarchy abolished | Alfonso 1907-1908, 1st cousin | |
Jaime 1908-1931, younger brother |
Since 1947[]
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Next in succession | Monarch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
no recognised heir 1947–1969 | none | |||||||
Juan Carlos, Prince of Spain | Heir apparent | none | 22 July 1969 | appointed heir | 22 November 1975 | became king | Felipe 1969-1975, son | |
Felipe, Prince of Asturias | Heir apparent | son | 22 November 1975 | father became king | 19 June 2014 | became king | Elena 1975-2005, younger sister | Juan Carlos I |
Leonor 2005-2014, eldest daughter | ||||||||
Leonor, Princess of Asturias | Heiress presumptive | eldest daughter | 19 June 2014 | father became king | incumbent | Sofía 2014-present, younger sister | Felipe VI |
See also[]
- Line of succession to the Spanish throne
References[]
- ^ Blinkhorn, Martin (1975). Carlism and crisis in Spain, 1931-1939. CUP Archive. ISBN 0-521-20729-0.
- Spain politics-related lists
- Princes of Asturias
- Lists of heirs
- Lists of Spanish nobility
- Heirs to the throne