This is a list of Spanish heads of state, that is, monarchs and presidents that governed the country of Spain in the modern sense of the word. For the forerunners of the Spanish throne, see the following:
List of Asturian monarchs List of Navarrese monarchs List of monarchs of León List of Galician monarchs List of Aragonese monarchs List of Castilian monarchs
These lineages were eventually united by the marriage of the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand II of Aragon (king of the Crown of Aragon) and Isabella I of Castile (queen of the Crown 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 Trastámara, 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 (1873–1874), Spain had heads of state known as the President of the Executive Power. However, it is only during the Second Spanish Republic (1931–1939) that the official title of President of Spain (or President of the Republic) 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 was not 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 (1504) and Ferdinand (1516), 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 (the future Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V), did not want to be merely a regent, he proclaimed himself king of Castile and Aragon jointly with his mother. Subsequently, the Castilian and Aragonese Cortes recognized him as co-monarch along 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 (II of Aragon and V of Castile jure uxoris as husband of Queen of Castille Isabella I), 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.
Portrait Coat of armsNameLifeReignTitles Claim Charles I (Emperor Charles V) – March 14, 1516 – January 16, 1556 Holy Roman Emperor; King of Germany and Italy King of Spain, Sicily and Sardinia King of Naples and Jerusalem Archduke of Austria Duke of Burgundy (Titular), Lord of the Netherlands Son of Joanna of Castile, grandson of Isabella I and Ferdinand II Philip II, the Prudent – January 16, 1556 – September 13, 1598 King of Spain, Sicily and Sardinia King of Naples and Jerusalem King of Portugal (from 1580) King of England and Ireland (jure uxoris, 1554-1558) Duke of Burgundy (Titular), Lord of the Netherlands Duke of Milan Son of Charles I Philip III, the Pious – September 13, 1598 – March 31, 1621* King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily and Sardinia Duke of Milan Son of Philip II Philip IV, the Great, the Planet King – March 31, 1621 – September 17, 1665 King of Spain, Portugal (until 1640), Naples, Sicily and Sardinia Duke of Milan Sovereign of the Netherlands and Count Palatine of Burgundy Son of Philip III Charles II, the Bewitched – 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
Portrait Coat of armsNameLifeReignTitlesClaim Archduke Charles of Austria,as Charles III – 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 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.Kamen, Henry. "Philip V of Spain:: The King who Reigned Twice", p.6. Published by Yale University Press, 2001. 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, 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.Durant, Will. "The Age of Louis XIV", p.699. Simon and Schuster, New York 1963.
Thus, the war broke out and Archduke Charles was proclaimed king of Spain, as Charles III, opposite to Philip V.He was proclaimed in Vienna (), and also in Madrid in the years 1706 and 1710. 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.Kamen, Henry. "Philip V of Spain:: The King who Reigned Twice", p.158. Published by Yale University Press, 2001.
House of Bourbon (1700–1808)
Portrait Coat of armsNameLifeReignTitles Claim Philip V, the Spirited – November 16, 1700 – January 14, 1724 King of Spain Great-grandson of Philip IV Louis I, the Beloved, the Liberal – January 14, 1724 – August 31, 1724 Son of Philip V Philip V, the Spirited – September 6, 1724 – July 9, 1746 Father of Louis I Ferdinand VI, the Learned, the Just – July 9, 1746 – August 10, 1759 Son of Philip V Charles III, the Enlightened, the King-Mayor – August 10, 1759 – December 14, 1788 Charles IV, the Hunter – December 14, 1788 – March 19, 1808 Son of Charles III Ferdinand VII, the Desired, the Felon King – March 19, 1808 – May 6, 1808 Son 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.
Portrait Coat of armsNameLifeReignTitles Claim Joseph I, the Intruder, Bottle Joe – June 6, 1808 – December 11, 1813 King of Spain King of Naples and Sicily and the Indies Comte de Survilliers No relationship, appointee and elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte
House of Bourbon (1813–1868; first restoration)
Ferdinand VII, Charles IV's eldest son, was restored to the throne by Napoleon I of France. Again the title used was king of Castile, Leon, Aragon,… by divine grace.
Portrait Coat of armsNameLifeReignTitles Claim Ferdinand VII, the Desired, the Felon King – December 11, 1813 – September 29, 1833 King of Spain Son of Charles IV Isabella II, the One with the Sad Destinies – September 29, 1833 – September 30, 1868 Queen of Spain Daughter 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 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.
Portrait Coat of armsNameLifeReignTitles Claim Amadeo I, the Gentleman King, – December 4, 1870 – February 11, 1873 King of Spain Descendant of Philip II (through his grandson Thomas Francis) and of Charles III (through his son Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies and his daughter Maria Luisa)
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 Republic Portrait Coat of arms NameTerm of officePolitical affiliation Estanislao Figueras February 12, 1873 June 11, 1873Federal Democratic Republican Party Francesc Pi i Margall June 11, 1873 July 18, 1873 Nicolás Salmerón y Alonso July 18, 1873 September 7, 1873 Emilio Castelar y Ripoll September 7, 1873 January 3, 1874 Francisco Serrano 1st Duke of la Torre January 3, 1874 December 30, 1874 Constitutional Party
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 María de las Mercedes, who was declared to be "Queen in Name" until the gender of her baby sibling was known.
Portrait Coat of armsNameLifeReignTitles Claim Alfonso XII, the Peacemaker – December 30, 1874 – November 25, 1885 Constitutional King of Spain Son of Isabella II Alfonso XIII, the African – May 17, 1886 – April 14, 1931 Son 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 (republicanos) forces surrendered to the Nationalist (nacionales) forces led by Francisco Franco, at the end of the Spanish Civil War.
Presidents of the Republic Portrait Coat of arms NameTerm of officePolitical affiliation Niceto Alcalá-Zamora December 10, 1931 April 7, 1936 Liberal Republican Right Diego Martínez Barrio April 7, 1936 May 10, 1936 Republican Union Manuel Azaña May 10, 1936 March 3, 1939 Republican Left Segismundo Casado March 4, 1939 March 13, 1939Republican Army José Miaja March 13, 1939 March 27, 1939
Spanish Republican government in exile (1939–1977)
Presidents of the Republic in exile