List of heads of state of Spain


This is a list of Spanish Heads of State; that is, kings and presidents that governed the country of Spain in the modern sense of the word. The forerunners of the Spanish throne were the following:
These seven lineages were eventually united by the marriage of the Catholic Monarchs, 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. Spain was thereafter governed as a dynastic union by the House of Trastamara, the House of Habsburg, and the House of Bourbon until the Nueva Planta decrees merged Castile and Aragon into one kingdom.
During the First Spanish Republic, Spain had heads of state known as the President of the Executive Power. It is only during the Second Spanish Republic, however, that the official title of President of Spain existed. Today, Spain is a constitutional monarchy, and there is thus no person holding the title of President of Spain. However, the Prime Minister holds the official title of President of the Government.

Kingdom of Spain (1479–1873)

[House of Trastámara] (1479–1555)

Under Isabella and Ferdinand, the royal dynasties of Castile and Aragon, their respective kingdoms, were united into a single line. Historiography of Spain generally treats this as the formation of the Kingdom of Spain, but in actuality, the two kingdoms continued for many centuries with their own separate institutions. It wasn't until the Nueva Planta decrees of the early 18th century that the two lands were formally merged into a single state.

[House of Habsburg] (1516–1700)

Following the deaths of Isabella and Ferdinand, their daughter Joanna inherited the Spanish kingdoms. However, she was kept prisoner at Tordesillas due to her mental disorder. As Joanna's son, Charles I, did not want to be merely a regent, he proclaimed himself king of Castile and Aragon jointly with his mother. Subsequently, Castilian and Aragonese Cortes alleged oath to him as co-monarch with his mother. Upon her death, he became sole King of Castile and Aragon, and the thrones were left permanently united to Philip II of Spain and successors. Traditional numbering of monarchs follows the Castillian crown; i.e. after King Ferdinand, the next Ferdinand was numbered VI. Likewise, Alfonso XII takes his number following that of Alfonso XI of Castile rather than that of Alfonso V of Aragon, the prior Spanish monarchs with that name.
PortraitCoat of armsNameLifeReignTitlesClaim
1Charles I
Carlos I, el César Carlos		February 24, 1500 – September 21, 1558 March 14, 1516 – January 16, 1556
son of Joanna of Castile, grandson of Isabella I and Ferdinand II
2Philip II, the PrudentFelipe II, el PrudenteMay 21, 1527 – September 13, 1598 January 16, 1556 – September 13, 1598
son of Charles I
3Philip III, the PiousFelipe III, el PiadosoApril 14, 1578 – March 31, 1621 September 13, 1598 – March 31, 1621
  • King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily and Sardinia
  • Duke of Milan
son of Philip II
4Philip IV, the Great, the Planet KingFelipe IV, el Grande, el Rey PlanetaApril 8, 1605 – September 17, 1665 March 31, 1621 – September 17, 1665
son of Philip III
5Charles II, the BewitchedCarlos II, el HechizadoNovember 6, 1661 – November 1, 1700 September 17, 1665 – November 1, 1700
  • King of Spain, Naples, Sicily and Sardinia
  • Duke of Milan
  • Sovereign of the Netherlands and Count Palatine of Burgundy
son of Philip IV
----
Disputed claimant
PortraitCoat of armsNameLifeReignTitlesClaim
6 Archduke Charles of Austria,
as Charles III
Archiduque Carlos, 		October 1, 1685 – October 20, 1740 September 12, 1703 – July 2, 1715
  • King of Spain, Naples, Sicily and Sardinia
  • Duke of Milan
  • Sovereign of the Netherlands
great-grandson of Philip III
In the year 1700 Charles II died. Charles' will named the 16-year-old Philip, the grandson of Charles' sister Maria Theresa of Spain and King Louis XIV of France, as his successor to the whole Spanish Empire. Upon any possible refusal of the undivided Spanish possessions, the Crown of Spain would be offered next to Philip's younger brother Charles, duc de Berry, or, next, to Archduke Charles of Austria.
Archduke Charles of Austria had a legal right to the Spanish throne due to the fact that Charles's father, Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, was the son of Charles' aunt Maria Anna of Austria, but Philip still had the better claim because Philip's grandfather, King Louis XIV of France, was the son of Charles' aunt Anne of Austria, the older of the sisters of Philip IV. However, Philip IV had stipulated in his will the succession should pass to the Austrian Habsburg line, and the Austrian branch also claimed that Maria Theresa of Spain, Philip's grandmother, had renounced the Spanish throne for herself and her descendants as part of her marriage contract. This was countered by the French claim that it was on the basis of a dowry that had never been paid.
Thus, the war broke out and Archduke Charles was proclaimed king of Spain, as Charles III, opposite to Philip V. Charles renounced his claims to the Spanish throne in the Treaty of Rastatt of 1714, but was allowed the continued use of the styles of a Spanish monarch for his lifetime. Philip ascended the Spanish throne but forever renounced his claim to the throne of France for himself and his descendants.

[House of Bourbon] (1700–1808)

PortraitCoat of armsNameLifeReignTitlesClaim
7Philip V, the Spirited
Felipe V, el Animoso		December 19, 1683 – July 9, 1746 November 16, 1700 – January 14, 1724
King of Spaingreat-grandson of Philip IV
8Louis I, the Beloved, the Liberal
Luis I, el Bien Amado, el Liberal		August 25, 1707 – August 31, 1724 January 14, 1724 – August 31, 1724
King of Spainson of Philip V
9Philip V, the Spirited
Felipe V, el Animoso		December 19, 1683 – July 9, 1746 September 6, 1724 – July 9, 1746
King of Spainfather of Louis I
10Ferdinand VI, the Learned, the Just
Fernando VI, el Prudente, el Justo		September 23, 1713 – August 10, 1759 July 9, 1746 – August 10, 1759King of Spainson of Philip V
11Charles III, the Enlightened, the King-Mayor
Carlos III, el Político		January 20, 1716 – December 14, 1788 August 10, 1759 – December 14, 1788King of Spainson of Philip V
12Charles IV, the Hunter
Carlos IV, el Cazador		November 11, 1748 – January 20, 1819 December 14, 1788 – March 19, 1808King of Spainson of Charles III
13Ferdinand VII, the Desired, the Felon King
Fernando VII, el Deseado, el Rey Felón		October 14, 1784 – September 29, 1833 March 19, 1808 – May 6, 1808King of Spainson of Charles IV

[House of Bonaparte] (1808–1813)

The only monarch from this dynasty was Joseph I, imposed by his brother Napoleon I of France after Charles IV and Ferdinand VII had abdicated. The title used by Joseph was King of the Spains and the Indias, by divine grace and the Constitution of the State . He was also later given all of the titles of the previous kings. A government in opposition to the French was formed in Cádiz on 25 September 1808, which continued to recognize the imprisoned Ferdinand VII as king. This government was diplomatically recognized as the legitimate Spanish government by Britain and other countries at war with France.
PortraitCoat of armsNameLifeReignTitlesClaim
14Joseph I, the Intruder, Bottle Joe
José I, Pepe Botella		January 7, 1768 – July 28, 1844 June 6, 1808 – December 11, 1813
no relationship, appointee and elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte

[House of Bourbon] (1813–1868; first restoration)

Charles IV's eldest son was restored to the throne. Again the title used was king of Castile, Leon, Aragon,… by divine grace.
PortraitCoat of armsNameLifeReignTitlesClaim
15Ferdinand VII, the Desired, the Felon King
Fernando VII, el Deseado, el Rey Felón		October 14, 1784 – September 29, 1833 December 11, 1813 – September 29, 1833 King of Spainson of Charles IV
16Isabella II, the One with the Sad Destinies
Isabel II, la de los Tristes Destinos		October 10, 1830 – April 10, 1904 September 29, 1833 – September 30, 1868Queen of Spaindaughter of Ferdinand VII

[House of Savoy] (1870–1873)

After the Spanish Revolution of 1868 deposed Isabella II, there was established a provisional government and a regency headed by Francisco Serrano y Domínguez, who acted as Head of State, from October 8, 1868 until December 4, 1870 while it was requested a new monarch. Amadeo I was elected as king and the new title used was King of Spain, by divine grace and will of nation.
PortraitCoat of armsNameLifeReignTitlesClaim
17Amadeo I, the Gentleman King, "King Macaroni"
Amadeo I, el Rey Caballero		May 30, 1845 – January 18, 1890 December 4, 1870 – February 11, 1873King of Spaindescendant of Philip II and of Charles III

[First Spanish Republic] (1873–1874)

The First Spanish Republic started with the abdication as King of Spain on February 10, 1873 of Amadeo I, following the Hidalgo Affair, when he had been required by the radical government to sign a decree against the artillery officers. The next day, February 11, the republic was declared by a parliamentary majority made up of radicals, republicans and democrats. It lasted twenty-three months.

Presidents of the Executive Power

Kingdom of Spain">Restoration (Spain)">Kingdom of Spain (1874–1931)

[House of Bourbon] (1874–1931; second restoration)

Isabella II's eldest son was restored to the throne. Constitutional king of Spain. Between the death of Alfonso XII and the birth of Alfonso XIII, there was a period of seven months where the pregnant Queen Maria Christina served as Head of State with the title of Regent for her daughter Maria de las Mercedes, who was declared to be "Queen in Name" until the gender of her baby sibling was known.
PortraitCoat of armsNameLifeReignTitlesClaim
18Alfonso XII, the Peacemaker
Alfonso XII, el Pacificador		November 28, 1857 – November 25, 1885 December 30, 1874 – November 25, 1885Constitutional King of Spainson of Isabella II
19Alfonso XIII, the African
Alfonso XIII, el Africano		May 17, 1886 – February 28, 1941 May 17, 1886 – April 14, 1931Constitutional King of Spainson of Alfonso XII

[Second Spanish Republic] (1931–1939)

The Second Spanish Republic was the system of government in Spain between April 14, 1931 when Alfonso XIII left the country following a period of social unrest after the collapse of General Primo de Rivera's dictatorship a year earlier, and April 1, 1939 when the last of the Republican forces surrendered to the Nationalist forces led by Francisco Franco, at the end of the Spanish Civil War.

Presidents of the Republic

[Spanish Republican government in exile] (1939–1977)

Presidents in exile

[Francoist Spain] (1936–1975)

On October 1, 1936 General Francisco Franco was proclaimed Head of State in parts of Spain controlled by Nationalist forces after the Spanish Civil War broke out. After the end of war on April 1, 1939 General Franco took control of the whole of Spain. In 1947, Franco proclaimed the restoration of the monarchy, but did not allow the pretender, Juan de Borbón, Count of Barcelona, to take the throne. In 1969, Franco declared that Juan Carlos, styled as the Prince of Spain, the Count of Barcelona's son, would be his successor. After Franco's death in 1975, Juan Carlos succeeded him as the King of Spain.

Kingdom of Spain">History of Spain (1975–present)">Kingdom of Spain (1975–present)

[House of Bourbon] (1975–present; third restoration)

Alfonso XIII's claim descended to his third son, Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona, who was passed over in favour of his eldest son, whose title became King of Spain. The Count of Barcelona renounced his claims in favour of his son in 1977, two years after Franco's death and Juan Carlos's accession.
Juan Carlos abdicated in favor of his son Felipe VI, who became King on 19 June 2014, with Felipe's older daughter Infanta Leonor next in succession.
PortraitCoat of armsNameLifeReignTitlesClaim
32Juan Carlos INovember 22, 1975 – June 19, 2014King of SpainGrandson of Alfonso XIII, through his third son, Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona
33Felipe VIJune 19, 2014 – presentKing of SpainSon of Juan Carlos I