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
Charles I	Heir apparent	eldest son		mother became queen	12 April 1555	became sole monarch	Philip 1527-1555, eldest son	Joanna I
Ferdinand	Heir presumptive	younger brother		brother became king	21 May 1527	son born to king	Eleanor 1516-1526, elder sister	Charles I
Ferdinand	Heir presumptive	younger brother		brother became king	21 May 1527	son born to king	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
Carlos, Prince of Asturias	Heir apparent	son	16 January 1556	father became king	24 July 1568	died	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
Philip, Prince of Asturias	Heir apparent	eldest son	8 April 1605	born	31 March 1621	became king	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
Maria Theresa	Heiress presumptive	daughter	9 October 1646	brother died	28 November 1657	half-brother born	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
Ferdinand, Prince of Asturias	Heir apparent	son	15 January 1724	brother became king	9 July 1746	became king	Charles 1724-1746, younger half-brother	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
Charles	Heir presumptive	half-brother	9 July 1746	half-brother became king	10 August 1759	became king	Philip 1747-1759, eldest son	Ferdinand VI
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	Heir presumptive	younger brother	11 December 1813	brother restored	10 October 1830	daughter born to king	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
Isabella, Princess of Asturias	Heiress presumptive	eldest daughter	10 October 1830	born	29 September 1833	became queen	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
Emmanuel Philibert, Prince of Asturias	Heir apparent	eldest son	16 November 1870	father became king	11 February 1873	father abdicated	Vittorio Emanuele 1870-1873, younger brother	Amadeo I

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
Isabella, Princess of Asturias	Heiress presumptive	elder sister	29 December 1874	brother became king	11 September 1880	daughter born to king	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
		daughter					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
Alfonso	Heir presumptive	nephew	17 October 1904	mother died	10 May 1907	son born to king	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
Alfonso, Prince of Asturias	Heir apparent	eldest son	10 May 1907	born	14 April 1931	monarchy abolished	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	none
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
Felipe, Prince of Asturias	Heir apparent	son	22 November 1975	father became king	19 June 2014	became king	Leonor 2005-2014, eldest daughter	Juan Carlos I
Leonor, Princess of Asturias	Heiress presumptive	eldest daughter	19 June 2014	father became king	incumbent		Sofía 2014-present, younger sister	Felipe VI

References[]

^ Blinkhorn, Martin (1975). Carlism and crisis in Spain, 1931-1939. CUP Archive. ISBN 0-521-20729-0.

[Blinkhorn-1] Blinkhorn, Martin (1975). Carlism and crisis in Spain, 1931-1939. CUP Archive. ISBN 0-521-20729-0.

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