Categories: Lists of office-holders | Spanish monarchs

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:

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

1 Kings, Queens of Spain:

1.1 House of Habsburg / House of Austria
1.2 House of Bourbon
1.3 House of Bonaparte
1.4 House of Bourbon (first restoration)
1.5 House of Savoy
1.6 House of Bourbon (second restoration)
1.7 House of Bourbon (third restoration)
1.8 Notes

2 See also

Kings, Queens of Spain:

House of Habsburg / House of Austria

The House of Habsburg (or "of Austria", as it was known in Spain) descended from Charles I of Spain (who was also the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V). He left behind a Spanish monarchy that also, for some time, retained control of the Netherlands; however, the title of Holy Roman Emperor did not pass to these Spanish monarchs.

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

The Spanish kings of the House of Bourbon were related to the French royal family.

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

See also Bonaparte.

José I Napoleón: 6 June 1808-11 December 1813⁵

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.