Monarchs of a United Spain (since 1516)

House of Austria (aka Habsburg)

On the death of Ferdinand II of Aragon on 23 June 1516, the Crown of Aragon went to Ferdinand’s grandson, Charles of Austria. The regency of the Crown of Castile – which was officially presided over by Joan “The Mad,” daughter of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile – also went to Charles. Effectively, Charles – as Carlos I in Spain – was the first modern ruler of both Castile and Aragon (although the kingdoms were not officially united under one constitution until 1715) and was the first Spanish ruler of the House of Austria (as the Habsburg dynasty was known in Spain). Almost exactly three years after inheriting the Spanish crown, Charles inherited the Austrian lands of his paternal grandfather, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I, and was elected Holy Roman Emperor on 28 June 1519.

  • Charles I (Carlos I)  – 23 January 1516 – 16 January 1556 (abdicated) *
  • Philip II (Felipe II)  – 16 January 1556 – 13 September 1598
  • Philip III (Felipe III)  – 13 September 1598 – 31 March 1621
  • Philip IV (Felipe IV)  – 31 March 1621 – 17 September 1665
  • Charles II (Carlos II)  – 17 September 1665 – 1 November 1700

* Charles I abdicated voluntarily as a form of retirement and spent his last years at the Monastery of Yuste in Extremadura, Spain, where he died on September 21, 1558.

House of Bourbon (Borbón)
In October 1700, the childless Charles II designated as his successor Philip, Duc d’Anjou – grandson of Louis XIV of France and his wife, María Theresa of Spain, and second son of the Dauphin Louis “The Grand.” Following the death of Charles on 1 November 1700, there was a brief delay before Philip was proclaimed the first Borbón (Bourbon) king of Spain.

  • Philip V (Felipe V) – 16 November 1700 – 14 January 1724 (abdicated) *
  • Louis I (Luis I) – 14 January – 31 August 1724
  • Philip V (restored) – 6 September 1724 – 9 July 1746
  • Ferdinand VI (Fernando VI) – 9 July 1746 – 10 August 1759
  • Charles III (Carlos III) – 10 August 1759 – 14 December 1788
  • Charles IV (Carlos IV) – 14 December 1788 – 19 March 1808
  • Ferdinand VII (Fernando VII) – 19 March – 6 May 1808 (abdicated) **
  • Charles IV (restored) – 6 May 1808 ***

* Philip V voluntarily abdicated (as a form of retirement) in favor of his son Louis on 14 January 1724, but Louis died of smallpox less than eight months later, at which point Philip resumed the throne a short time later, reigning until his death.

** 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.” (Source: Wikipedia)

*** 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.” (Source: Wikipedia)

House of Bonaparte

  • Joseph Bonaparte (José I Napoleón) – 6 June 1808 – 11 December 1813 *

* 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.” (Source: Wikipedia)

House of Bourbon (first restoration)

  • Ferdinand VII (Fernando VII) – 11 December 1813 – 29 September 1833
  • Isabella II (Isabel II) – 29 September 1833 – 30 September 1868 *

* Isabella was forced into exile, but did not abdicate her rights until 25 June 1870. After Isabella went into exile, an interim Spanish government was followed by a new Cortes that decided in May 1869 to reinstate the monarchy under a new king. After much deliberation and several false starts, the Cortes decided on Amadeus of Savoy, Duke of Aosta.

House of Savoy

  • Amadeus I (Amadeo I) – 2 January 1871 – 11 February 1873 (abdicated) *

* With little political or popular support, Amadeus abdicated in 1873 and the First Spanish Republic was proclaimed.

The First Spanish Republic 11 February 1873 – 29 December 1874

House of Bourbon (second restoration)

  • Alfonso XII – 29 December 1874 – 25 November 1885
  • Alfonso XIII – 17 May 1886 – 14 April 1931 *

* After the death of Alfonso XII, his pregnant widow, Queen María Cristina, was made regent for the couple’s unborn child and heir, Alfonso XIII.

The Second Spanish Republic 14 April 1931 – 28 March 1939

Dictatorship of Francisco Franco1 April 1939 – 20 November 1975

House of Bourbon (third restoration)

  • Juan Carlos I – 22 November 1975 – 19 June 2014
  • Felipe VI – 19 June 2014 –

Primary Sources:
– Lines of Succession: Heraldry of the Royal Families of Europe by Michael Maclagan and Jiří Louda
– The Concise Guide to Kings & Queens: A Thousand Years of European Monarchy by Peter Gibson
– A History of Spain and Portugal, Volume 1 by Stanley G. Payne
– The Spanish Bourbons: The History of a Tenacious Dynasty by John D. Bergamini
– Official site of the Royal Household of HM the King of Spain
– Wikipedia