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This is alist of Spanish heads of state, that is,monarchs andpresidents that governed the country ofSpain in the modern sense of the word. The forerunners of theSpanish throne were the following:
These lineages were eventually united by the marriage of the Catholic Monarchs,Ferdinand II of Aragon (king of theCrown of Aragon) andIsabella I of Castile (queen of theCrown of Castile). Although their kingdoms continued to be separate, with theirpersonal union they ruled them together as one dominion. Spain was thereafter governed as adynastic union by theHouse of Trastámara, theHouse of Habsburg, and theHouse of Bourbon until theNueva Planta decrees merged Castile and Aragon into one kingdom.
During theFirst Spanish Republic (1873–1874), Spain hadheads of state known as thePresident of the Executive Power. However, it is only during theSecond Spanish Republic (1931–1939) that the official title ofPresident of Spain (orPresident of the Republic) existed. Today, Spain is aconstitutional monarchy, and there is thus no person holding the title ofPresident of Spain. However, theprime minister holds the official title ofPresident of theGovernment.
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 theNueva Planta decrees of the early 18th century that the two lands were formally merged into a single state.
| Name | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | Family | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Isabella I
| (1451-04-22)22 April 1451 – 26 November 1504(1504-11-26) (aged 53) | 11 December 1474 Castile | 26 November 1504 Castile | Daughter ofJohn II of Castile andIsabella of Portugal | Trastámara |  |
Ferdinand V & II
| (1452-03-10)10 March 1452 – 23 January 1516(1516-01-23) (aged 63) | 15 January 1475 Castile 20 January 1479 Aragon | 26 November 1504 Castile 23 January 1516 Aragon | Son ofJohn II of Aragon andJuana Enríquez | Trastámara |  |
Joanna
| (1479-11-06)6 November 1479 – 12 April 1555(1555-04-12) (aged 75) | 26 November 1504 Castile 23 January 1516 Aragon | 12 April 1555 | Daughter ofIsabella I of Castile andFerdinand II of Aragon | Trastámara |  |
Philip I
| (1478-07-22)22 July 1478 – 25 September 1506(1506-09-25) (aged 28) | 27 June 1506 Castile | 25 September 1506 Castile | Husband ofJoanna of Castile | Habsburg | _-_GG_3872.jpg) |
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 futureHoly 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 AragoneseCortes 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 toPhilip II of Spain and successors. Traditional numbering of monarchs follows the Castillian crown; i.e. after King Ferdinand (II of Aragon and V of Castilejure uxoris as husband of Queen of Castille Isabella I), the next Ferdinand was numbered VI. Likewise,Alfonso XII takes his number following that ofAlfonso XI of Castile rather than that ofAlfonso V of Aragon, the prior Spanish monarchs with that name.
| Portrait | Coat of arms | Name | Life | Reign | Titles | Claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | .svg) | Charles I (Emperor Charles V) Carlos I,el César Carlos | (1500-02-24)February 24, 1500 – September 21, 1558(1558-09-21) (aged 58) | March 14, 1516 – January 16, 1556 |
| Son ofJoanna of Castile, grandson ofIsabella I andFerdinand II |
 | .svg) | Philip II,the Prudent Felipe II,el Prudente | (1527-05-21)May 21, 1527 – September 13, 1598(1598-09-13) (aged 71) | January 16, 1556 – September 13, 1598 |
| Son ofCharles I |
 | Philip III,the Pious Felipe III,el Piadoso | (1578-04-14)April 14, 1578 – March 31, 1621(1621-03-31) (aged 42) | September 13, 1598 – March 31, 1621 |
| Son ofPhilip II | |
 | Philip IV,the Great,the Planet King Felipe IV,el Grande,el Rey Planeta | (1605-04-08)April 8, 1605 – September 17, 1665(1665-09-17) (aged 60) | March 31, 1621 – September 17, 1665 |
| Son ofPhilip III | |
 | Charles II,the Bewitched Carlos II,el Hechizado | (1661-11-06)November 6, 1661 – November 1, 1700(1700-11-01) (aged 38) | September 17, 1665 – November 1, 1700 |
| Son ofPhilip IV |
| Portrait | Coat of arms | Name | Life | Reign | Titles | Claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | .svg) .svg) | Archduke Charles of Austria, asCharles III Archiduque Carlos, (Carlos III) | (1685-10-01)October 1, 1685 – October 20, 1740(1740-10-20) (aged 55) | September 12, 1703 – July 2, 1715 |
| Great-grandson ofPhilip III |
In 1700 Charles II died. Charles' will named the 16-year-oldPhilip, the grandson of Charles' sisterMaria Theresa of Spain and KingLouis XIV of France, as his successor to the wholeSpanish Empire.[1] Upon any possible refusal of the undivided Spanish possessions, the Crown of Spain would be offered next to Philip's younger brotherCharles, duc de Berry, or, next, toArchduke Charles of Austria.[1]
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' auntMaria Anna of Austria, but Philip still had the better claim because Philip's grandfather, KingLouis XIV of France, was the son of Charles' auntAnne 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 thatMaria 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.[2]
Thus, the war broke out andArchduke Charles was proclaimed king of Spain, asCharles III, opposite to Philip V.[3] Charles renounced his claims to the Spanish throne in theTreaty 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.[4]
| Portrait | Coat of arms | Name | Life | Reign | Titles | Claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | _Version_with_Golden_Fleece_and_Holy_Spirit_Collars.svg) | Philip V,the Spirited Felipe V,el Animoso | (1683-12-19)December 19, 1683 – July 9, 1746(1746-07-09) (aged 62) | November 16, 1700 – January 14, 1724 (abdicated in favor of his son) | King of Spain | Great-grandson ofPhilip IV |
 | Louis I,the Beloved,the Liberal Luis I,el Bien Amado,el Liberal | (1707-08-25)August 25, 1707 – August 31, 1724(1724-08-31) (aged 17) | January 14, 1724 – August 31, 1724 (ruled only 7 months before his death) | Son ofPhilip V | ||
 | Philip V,the Spirited Felipe V,el Animoso | (1683-12-19)December 19, 1683 – July 9, 1746(1746-07-09) (aged 62) | September 6, 1724 – July 9, 1746 (reinstated on death of his son) | Father ofLouis I | ||
.jpg) | Ferdinand VI,the Learned,the Just Fernando VI,el Prudente,el Justo | (1713-09-23)September 23, 1713 – August 10, 1759(1759-08-10) (aged 45) | July 9, 1746 – August 10, 1759 | Son ofPhilip V | ||
 | Charles III,the Enlightened,the King-Mayor Carlos III,el Político | (1716-01-20)January 20, 1716 – December 14, 1788(1788-12-14) (aged 72) | August 10, 1759 – December 14, 1788 | |||
.jpg) | Charles IV,the Hunter Carlos IV,el Cazador | (1748-11-11)November 11, 1748 – January 20, 1819(1819-01-20) (aged 70) | December 14, 1788 – March 19, 1808 | Son ofCharles III | ||
_by_Goya.jpg) | Ferdinand VII,the Desired,the Felon King Fernando VII,el Deseado,el Rey Felón | (1784-10-14)October 14, 1784 – September 29, 1833(1833-09-29) (aged 48) | March 19, 1808 – May 6, 1808 | Son ofCharles IV |
The only monarch from this dynasty wasJoseph I, imposed by his brotherNapoleon I of France afterCharles IV and Ferdinand VII had abdicated. The title used by Joseph wasKing 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. Agovernment in opposition to the French was formed inCádiz 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 arms | Name | Life | Reign | Titles | Claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | Joseph I,the Intruder,Bottle Joe José I,Pepe Botella | (1768-01-07)January 7, 1768 – July 28, 1844(1844-07-28) (aged 76) | June 6, 1808 – December 11, 1813 |
| No relationship, appointee and elder brother ofNapoleon Bonaparte |
Ferdinand VII, Charles IV's eldest son, wasrestored to the throne by Napoleon I of France. Again the title used wasking of Castile, Leon, Aragon,… by divine grace.
| Portrait | Coat of arms | Name | Life | Reign | Titles | Claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | _Version_with_Golden_Fleece_and_Order_of_Charles_III_Collars.svg) | Ferdinand VII,the Desired,the Felon King Fernando VII,el Deseado,el Rey Felón | (1784-10-14)October 14, 1784 – September 29, 1833(1833-09-29) (aged 48) | December 11, 1813 – September 29, 1833 | King of Spain | Son ofCharles IV |
 | Isabella II,the One with the Sad Destinies Isabel II,la de los Tristes Destinos | (1830-10-10)October 10, 1830 – April 9, 1904(1904-04-09) (aged 73) | September 29, 1833 – September 30, 1868 | Queen of Spain | Daughter ofFerdinand VII |
After theSpanish Revolution of 1868 deposed Isabella II, there was established a provisional government and a regency headed byFrancisco 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 wasKing of Spain, by divine grace and will of nation.
| Portrait | Coat of arms | Name | Life | Reign | Titles | Claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | _Golden_Fleece_Variant.svg) | Amadeo I,the Gentleman King, Amadeo I,el Rey Caballero | (1845-05-30)May 30, 1845 – January 18, 1890(1890-01-18) (aged 44) | December 4, 1870 – February 11, 1873 | King of Spain | Descendant of Philip II (through his grandsonThomas Francis) and of Charles III (through his sonFerdinand I of the Two Sicilies and his daughterMaria Luisa) |
TheFirst Spanish Republic started with theabdication as King of Spain on February 10, 1873, ofAmadeo I, following theHidalgo 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.
| Portrait | Coat of arms | Name (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Political affiliation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | .svg) | Estanislao Figueras (1819–1882) | February 12, 1873 | June 11, 1873 | Federal Democratic Republican Party | |
 | Francesc Pi i Margall (1824–1901) | June 11, 1873 | July 18, 1873 | |||
.jpg) | Nicolás Salmerón y Alonso (1838–1908) | July 18, 1873 | September 7, 1873 | |||
.jpg) | Emilio Castelar y Ripoll (1832–1899) | September 7, 1873 | January 3, 1874 | |||
.jpg) | Francisco Serrano 1st Duke of la Torre (1810–1885) | January 3, 1874 | December 30, 1874 | Conservative faction | ||
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 pregnantQueen Maria Christina served as Head of State with the title ofRegent for her daughterMaría de las Mercedes, who was declared to be "Queen in Name" until the gender of her baby sibling was known.
| Portrait | Coat of arms | Name | Life | Reign | Titles | Claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | | Alfonso XII,the Peacemaker Alfonso XII,el Pacificador | (1857-11-28)November 28, 1857 – November 25, 1885(1885-11-25) (aged 27) | December 30, 1874 – November 25, 1885 | Constitutional King of Spain | Son ofIsabella II |
.jpg) | Alfonso XIII,the African Alfonso XIII,el Africano | (1886-05-17)May 17, 1886 – February 28, 1941(1941-02-28) (aged 54) | May 17, 1886 – April 14, 1931 | Son ofAlfonso XII |
TheSecond 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 thecollapse of GeneralPrimo de Rivera'sdictatorship a year earlier, and April 1, 1939, when the last of theRepublican (republicanos) forces surrendered to theNationalist (nacionales) forces led byFrancisco Franco, at the end of theSpanish Civil War.
| Portrait | Coat of arms | Name (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Political affiliation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | -Flag_Variant.svg) | Niceto Alcalá-Zamora (1877–1949) | December 10, 1931 | April 7, 1936 | Liberal Republican Right | |
 | Diego Martínez Barrio (1883–1962) Interim | April 7, 1936 | May 10, 1936 | Republican Union Popular Front coalition | ||
 | Manuel Azaña (1880–1940) | May 10, 1936 | March 3, 1939 | Republican Left Popular Front coalition | ||
 | Segismundo Casado (1893–1968) Interim | March 4, 1939 | March 13, 1939 | Republican Army National Defence Council | ||
 | José Miaja (1878–1958) Interim | March 13, 1939 | March 27, 1939 | |||
Presidents in exile
| Portrait | Coat of arms | Name (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Political affiliation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Diego Martínez Barrio (1883–1962) Interim | March 4, 1939 | May 11, 1940 | Republican Union | |
 | Álvaro de Albornoz y Liminiana (1879–1954) Interim | May 11, 1940 | August 17, 1945 | Independent | ||
| Diego Martínez Barrio (1883–1962) | August 17, 1945 | January 1, 1962 | Republican Union | ||
 | Luis Jiménez de Asúa (1889–1970) | January 1, 1962 | November 16, 1970 | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party | ||
 | José Maldonado González (1900–1985) | November 16, 1970 | July 1, 1977 | Republican Left | ||
On October 1, 1936, GeneralFrancisco Franco was proclaimed Head of State (Caudillo) inparts of Spain controlled byNationalist (nacionales) forces after theSpanish Civil Warbroke out. Afterthe end of the 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, in accordance with theLaw of Succession to the Headship of the State, Franco declared thatJuan Carlos (the Count of Barcelona's son), styled as thePrince of Spain, would be his successor. AfterFranco's death in 1975, Juan Carlos succeeded him as the King of Spain.
| Portrait | Coat of arms | Name (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Political affiliation | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head of State (Caudillo) | |||||||
.jpg) |  | Francisco Franco (1892–1975) | October 1, 1936 | November 20, 1975 | FET y de las JONS (after1937) National Movement | ||
| President of the Regency | |||||||
.jpg) | .svg) | Alejandro Rodríguez de Valcárcel (1917–1976) | November 20, 1975 | November 22, 1975 | National Movement | ||
Alfonso XIII's claim descended (due to his two eldest sons' renunciations) to his third son,Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona, who was passed over in favour of his eldest son, whose title becameKing 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 sonFelipe VI, who became King on 19 June 2014, with Felipe's eldest daughter,Leonor, Princess of Asturias, next in succession.[5]
| Portrait | Coat of arms | Name | Life | Reign | Titles | Claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) |  | Juan Carlos I | (1938-01-05)January 5, 1938 (age 87) | November 22, 1975 – June 19, 2014 | King of Spain | Grandson of Alfonso XIII, through his third son,Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona |
 |  | Felipe VI | (1968-01-30)January 30, 1968 (age 57) | June 19, 2014 – present | Son of Juan Carlos I |
