Prince of Asturias - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Prince of Asturias is the historical (and under the Spanish Constitution of 1978

Spanish Constitution of 1978

-Structure of the State:The Constitution recognizes the existence of nationalities and regions . Preliminary Title As a result, Spain is now composed entirely of 17 Autonomous Communities and two autonomous cities with varying degrees of autonomy, to the extent that, even though the Constitution...

, the official) title given to the heir to the Spanish throne. It was also the title under the earlier Kingdom of Castile

Kingdom of Castile

Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...

. The current Prince of Asturias is Felipe

Felipe, Prince of Asturias

Felipe, Prince of Asturias de Borbón y de Grecia; born 30 January 1968), is the third child and only son of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía of Spain....

, son of King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Sofía. Contrary to practice in non-Iberian countries, should there be no heir apparent

Heir apparent

An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....

, the title can be (but is not necessarily) given to the heir presumptive

Heir Presumptive

An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...

- a daughter, sibling or matrilineal descendant of the monarch.

Other associated titles originate from the rest of the kingdoms that formed Spain: Prince of Viana

Prince of Viana

The Prince of Viana is one of the titles of the heir of the Crown of Spain. Other associated titles originate from the rest of the kingdoms that formed Spain: Prince of Asturias, Prince of Girona, Duke of Montblanc, Count of Cervera and Lord of Balaguer....

(for Navarre

Kingdom of Navarre

The Kingdom of Navarre , originally the Kingdom of Pamplona, was a European kingdom which occupied lands on either side of the Pyrenees alongside the Atlantic Ocean....

), Prince of Girona

Prince of Girona

The title of Prince of Girona is one of the titles given to the heir apparent to the Crown of Aragon. It originated in 1351 when King Peter IV of Aragon named his successor, to whom he conceded the title of Duke of Girona; the title embraced territories of the counties of Girona, Besalú, Empúries...

(for Aragon

Kingdom of Aragon

The Kingdom of Aragon was a medieval and early modern kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula, corresponding to the modern-day autonomous community of Aragon, in Spain...

), Duke of Montblanc

Duchy of Montblanc

Duke of Montblanc is a Spanish noble title, which has been reserved as one of the titles of the heir apparent prince since the 15th century, pertaining first to the Aragonese and then to the Spanish crown...

(for Catalonia

Principality of Catalonia

The Principality of Catalonia , is a historic territory in the northeastern Iberian Peninsula, mostly in Spain and with an adjoining portion in southern France....

), Count of Cervera

Count of Cervera

The title Count of Cervera is currently held by Felipe, Prince of Asturias, heir to Juan Carlos of Spain. Cervera is the capital of the comarca of Segarra, in the province of Lleida, Catalonia...

(for Valencia

Kingdom of Valencia

The Kingdom of Valencia , located in the eastern shore of the Iberian Peninsula, was one of the component realms of the Crown of Aragon. When the Crown of Aragon merged by dynastic union with the Crown of Castile to form the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Valencia became a component realm of the...

) and Lord of Balaguer

Lord of Balaguer

The Lord of Balaguer is a title of the Spanish Crown. specifically represents the Heir to the Kingdom of Mallorca, a part of the Crown of Aragon.-Evolution:...

(for Majorca

Kingdom of Majorca

The Kingdom of Majorca was founded by James I of Aragon, also known as James The Conqueror. After the death of his first-born son Alfonso, a will was written in 1262 which created the kingdom in order to cede it to his son James...

).

Military dictator Francisco Franco

Francisco Franco

Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...

appointed Juan Carlos de Borbón

Juan Carlos I of Spain

Juan Carlos I |Italy]]) is the reigning King of Spain.On 22 November 1975, two days after the death of General Francisco Franco, Juan Carlos was designated king according to the law of succession promulgated by Franco. Spain had no monarch for 38 years in 1969 when Franco named Juan Carlos as the...

as his "successor with the title of King" but gave him the new title of Prince of Spain instead of Prince of Asturias.

The current Prince of Asturias has instituted the Prince of Asturias Awards

Prince of Asturias Awards

The Prince of Asturias Awards are a series of annual prizes awarded in Spain by the Prince of Asturias Foundation to individuals, entities or organizations from around the world who make notable achievements in the sciences, humanities, and public affairs....

.

Príncipe de Asturias Peak

Príncipe de Asturias Peak

Príncipe de Asturias Peak is the peak rising to 4680 m in Vinson Massif, Sentinel Range in Ellsworth Mountains, Antarctica, and surmounting Branscomb Glacier to the west-northwest, Roché Glacier to the north and Tulaczyk Glacier to the southwest....

in Vinson Massif

Vinson Massif

Vinson Massif is the highest mountain of Antarctica, lying in the Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountains, which stand above the Ronne Ice Shelf near the base of the Antarctic Peninsula. The massif is located about from the South Pole and is about long and wide. At the highest point is Mount...

, Antarctica is named after the Prince of Asturias.

History

After the death of King Peter of Castile in 1369, the kingdom was drawn yet deeper in a civil war, disputes and long rivalled between English claimant, John, Duke of Lancaster, and two successive Trastamare claimants, Kings Henry II of Castile and his son John I of Castile

John I of Castile

John I was the king of Crown of Castile, was the son of Henry II and of his wife Juana Manuel of Castile, daughter of Juan Manuel, Prince of Villena, head of a younger branch of the royal house of Castile...

. After two decades of conflicts of varying intensity, the parties arrived at compromise through means of marriage: the future Henry III of Castile

Henry III of Castile

Henry III KG , sometimes known as Henry the Sufferer or Henry the Infirm , was the son of John I and Eleanor of Aragon, and succeeded him as King of the Castilian Crown in 1390....

(1379–1406) was married to Catherine of Lancaster

Catherine of Lancaster

-Coat of arms:The following are Armorials of the House of Lancaster under her father, John of Gaunt.-References:* Anthony Goodman: "Katherine of Lancaster" in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 30 , p. 890-891....

in 1388. A part of the pact ("Accord of Bayonne") was to elevate the young couple to a title, Prince and Princess of Asturias, which was modelled after that of Prince of Wales

Prince of Wales

Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...

in English kingdom. The title was to belong to the official successor of the Castilian throne. Thus the first Prince and Princess of Asturias were the young Henry of Castile and Catherine of Lancaster.

In the first years the title was not only honorary, as it included the ownership of the territory of Asturias

Asturias

The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...

; the Prince ruled the Principality in representation of the King and was able to appoint judges, mayors, etc. This was changed by the Catholic Monarchs

Catholic Monarchs

The Catholic Monarchs is the collective title used in history for Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon. They were both from the House of Trastámara and were second cousins, being both descended from John I of Castile; they were given a papal dispensation to deal with...

, who limited the scope of the title making it merely honorary; this decision was upheld by the members of the House of Habsburg and the House of Bourbon

House of Bourbon

The House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...

until the present day.

List

Image	Name	Heir to	From	Until
Image	Name	Heir to	From	Year	Cause
	Henry of Castile Henry III of Castile Henry III KG , sometimes known as Henry the Sufferer or Henry the Infirm , was the son of John I and Eleanor of Aragon, and succeeded him as King of the Castilian Crown in 1390.... (1379-1406)	John I John I of Castile John I was the king of Crown of Castile, was the son of Henry II and of his wife Juana Manuel of Castile, daughter of Juan Manuel, Prince of Villena, head of a younger branch of the royal house of Castile... (father)	1388	1390	ascended the throne as Henry III
	Maria of Castile Maria of Castile Maria of Castile was Queen consort of Aragon and Naples as the spouse of Alfonso V of Aragon. Maria acted as the regent of Aragon during the reign of her spouse, as he was absent during most of his reign; her regencies lasted between 1420 and 1423 and between 1432 and 1458... (1401-1458)	Henry III Henry III of Castile Henry III KG , sometimes known as Henry the Sufferer or Henry the Infirm , was the son of John I and Eleanor of Aragon, and succeeded him as King of the Castilian Crown in 1390.... (father)	1402	1405	displaced by the birth of brother
	John of Castile John II of Castile John II was King of Castile from 1406 to 1454.He was the son of Henry III of Castile and his wife Catherine of Lancaster, daughter of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster by Constance of Castile, daughter of King Peter of Castile.-Regency:He succeeded his father on 25 December 1406, at the age of... (1405-1454)		1405	1406	ascended the throne as John II
	Catherine of Castile Catherine, Princess of Asturias Catherine of Castile was suo jure Princess of Asturias and heiress presumptive to the Castilian throne all her life.... (1422-1424)	John II John II of Castile John II was King of Castile from 1406 to 1454.He was the son of Henry III of Castile and his wife Catherine of Lancaster, daughter of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster by Constance of Castile, daughter of King Peter of Castile.-Regency:He succeeded his father on 25 December 1406, at the age of... (father)	1423	1424	died
	Eleanor of Castile Eleanor, Princess of Asturias Eleanor of Castile was heiress presumptive to the throne of the Crown of Castile and Princess of Asturias during her short life.... (1423-1425)		1424	1425	displaced by the birth of brother
	Henry of Castile Henry IV of Castile Henry IV , King of the Crown of Castile, nicknamed the Impotent , was the last of the weak late medieval kings of Castile... (1425-1474)		1425	1454	ascended the throne as Henry IV
	Joanna of Castile (1462-1530)	Henry IV Henry IV of Castile Henry IV , King of the Crown of Castile, nicknamed the Impotent , was the last of the weak late medieval kings of Castile... (father)	1462	1464	disinherited in favour of half-aunt
	Alfonso of Castile (1453-1468)	Henry IV Henry IV of Castile Henry IV , King of the Crown of Castile, nicknamed the Impotent , was the last of the weak late medieval kings of Castile... (half-brother)	1465	1468	died
	Isabella of Castile Isabella I of Castile Isabella I was Queen of Castile and León. She and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to both kingdoms that became the basis for the unification of Spain. Later the two laid the foundations for the political unification of Spain under their grandson, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor... (1451-1504)		1468	1470	disinherited in favour of half-niece
	Joanna of Castile (1462-1530)	Henry IV Henry IV of Castile Henry IV , King of the Crown of Castile, nicknamed the Impotent , was the last of the weak late medieval kings of Castile... (father)	1470	1475	crown assumed by Isabella I
	Isabella of Aragon (1470-1498)	Isabella I Isabella I of Castile Isabella I was Queen of Castile and León. She and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to both kingdoms that became the basis for the unification of Spain. Later the two laid the foundations for the political unification of Spain under their grandson, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor... (mother)	1476	1480	displaced by the birth of brother
	John of Aragon (1478-1497)		1480	1497	died
	Isabella of Aragon (1470-1498)		1498	1498	died
	Michael of Portugal (1498-1500)	Isabella I Isabella I of Castile Isabella I was Queen of Castile and León. She and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to both kingdoms that became the basis for the unification of Spain. Later the two laid the foundations for the political unification of Spain under their grandson, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor... (grandmother)	1499	1500	died
	Joanna of Aragon Joanna of Castile Joanna , nicknamed Joanna the Mad , was the first queen regnant to reign over both the Crown of Castile and the Crown of Aragon , a union which evolved into modern Spain... (1479-1555)	Isabella I Isabella I of Castile Isabella I was Queen of Castile and León. She and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to both kingdoms that became the basis for the unification of Spain. Later the two laid the foundations for the political unification of Spain under their grandson, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor... (mother)	1502	1504	ascended the throne
	Charles of Austria Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As... (1500-1558)	Joanna Joanna of Castile Joanna , nicknamed Joanna the Mad , was the first queen regnant to reign over both the Crown of Castile and the Crown of Aragon , a union which evolved into modern Spain... (mother)	1504	1516	ascended the throne as Charles I
	Philip of Austria Philip II of Spain Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count.... (1527-1598)	Charles I Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As... and Joanna Joanna of Castile Joanna , nicknamed Joanna the Mad , was the first queen regnant to reign over both the Crown of Castile and the Crown of Aragon , a union which evolved into modern Spain... (father and grandmother)	1528	1556	ascended the throne as Philip II
	Charles of Austria (1545-1568)	Philip II Philip II of Spain Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count.... (father)	1560	1568	died
	Ferdinand Ferdinand, Prince of Asturias Ferdinand of Spain was the son of Philip II of Spain and Anna of Austria.When Ferdinand was born, he was proclaimed Prince of Asturias, his half-brother Charles having died three years previously. Ferdinand died when he was 6 years old and the new prince of Asturias was his younger brother... (1571-1578)		1573	1578	died
	Diego of Austria Diego, Prince of Asturias Diego Félix of Austria, Infante of Spain was the third son of Philip II of Spain by his fourth wife Anna of Austria.-Life:... (1575-1582)		1580	1582	died
	Philip of Austria Philip III of Spain Philip III , also known as Philip the Pious, was the King of Spain and King of Portugal and the Algarves, where he ruled as Philip II , from 1598 until his death... (1578-1621)		1584	1598	ascended the throne as Philip III
	Philip of Austria Philip IV of Spain Philip IV was King of Spain between 1621 and 1665, sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands, and King of Portugal until 1640... (1605-1665)	Philip III Philip III of Spain Philip III , also known as Philip the Pious, was the King of Spain and King of Portugal and the Algarves, where he ruled as Philip II , from 1598 until his death... father)	1608	1621	ascended the throne as Philip IV
	Balthasar Charles of Austria (1629-1646)	Philip IV Philip IV of Spain Philip IV was King of Spain between 1621 and 1665, sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands, and King of Portugal until 1640...	1632	1646	died
	Philip Prosper of Austria Philip Prospero, Prince of Asturias Philip Prospero of Spain, Prince of Asturias was the first male child of the marriage between Philip IV of Spain and Mariana of Austria to survive infancy... (1657-1661)		1658	1661	died
	Charles of Austria Charles II of Spain Charles II was the last Habsburg King of Spain and the ruler of large parts of Italy, the Spanish territories in the Southern Low Countries, and Spain's overseas Empire, stretching from the Americas to the Spanish East Indies... (1661-1700)		1661	1665	ascended the throne as Charles II
	Louis of Spain (1707-1724)	Philip V Philip V of Spain Philip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...	1709	1724	ascended the throne
	Ferdinand of Spain Ferdinand VI of Spain Ferdinand VI , called the Learnt, was King of Spain from 9 July 1746 until his death. He was the fourth son of the previous monarch Philip V and his first wife Maria Luisa of Savoy... (1713-1759)		1724	1746	ascended the throne as Ferdinand VI
	Charles of Spain Charles IV of Spain Charles IV was King of Spain from 14 December 1788 until his abdication on 19 March 1808.-Early life:... (1716-1788)	Charles III Charles III of Spain Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese... (father)	1760	1788	ascended the throne as Charles IV
	Ferdinand of Spain (1784-1833)	Charles IV Charles IV of Spain Charles IV was King of Spain from 14 December 1788 until his abdication on 19 March 1808.-Early life:...	1789	1808	ascended the throne as Ferdinand VII
	Isabella of Spain Isabella II of Spain Isabella II was the only female monarch of Spain in modern times. She came to the throne as an infant, but her succession was disputed by the Carlists, who refused to recognise a female sovereign, leading to the Carlist Wars. After a troubled reign, she was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of... (1830-1904)	Ferdinand VII (father)	1830	1833	ascended the throne as Isabella II
	Isabella of Spain (1851-1931)	Isabella II Isabella II of Spain Isabella II was the only female monarch of Spain in modern times. She came to the throne as an infant, but her succession was disputed by the Carlists, who refused to recognise a female sovereign, leading to the Carlist Wars. After a troubled reign, she was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of... (mother)	1851	1857	displaced by the birth of brother
	Alfonso of Spain Alfonso XII of Spain Alfonso XII was king of Spain, reigning from 1874 to 1885, after a coup d'état restored the monarchy and ended the ephemeral First Spanish Republic.-Early life and paternity:Alfonso was the son of Queen Isabella II of Spain, and... (1857-1885)		1857	1868	mother's deposition
	Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy (1869-1931)	Amadeus Amadeo I of Spain Amadeo I was the only King of Spain from the House of Savoy...	1871	1873	father's abdication
	Isabella of Spain (1851-1931)	Alfonso XII Alfonso XII of Spain Alfonso XII was king of Spain, reigning from 1874 to 1885, after a coup d'état restored the monarchy and ended the ephemeral First Spanish Republic.-Early life and paternity:Alfonso was the son of Queen Isabella II of Spain, and... (brother)	1875	1880	displaced by the birth of niece
	Mercedes of Spain Mercedes, Princess of Asturias Infanta María de las Mercedes of Spain , Princess of the Asturias, for all 24 years of her life the heiress presumptive to the Crown of Spain, was the eldest daughter of King Alfonso XII of Spain and his second wife, Maria Christina of Austria.For a period from... (1880-1904)	Alfonso XII Alfonso XII of Spain Alfonso XII was king of Spain, reigning from 1874 to 1885, after a coup d'état restored the monarchy and ended the ephemeral First Spanish Republic.-Early life and paternity:Alfonso was the son of Queen Isabella II of Spain, and... (father) Alfonso XIII Alfonso XIII of Spain Alfonso XIII was King of Spain from 1886 until 1931. His mother, Maria Christina of Austria, was appointed regent during his minority... (brother)	1881	1904	died
	Alfonso of Spain (1907-1938)	Alfonso XIII Alfonso XIII of Spain Alfonso XIII was King of Spain from 1886 until 1931. His mother, Maria Christina of Austria, was appointed regent during his minority... (father)	1907	1933	renounced his succcession rights
	Juan, Count of Barcelona (1913-1993)	Alfonso XIII Alfonso XIII of Spain Alfonso XIII was King of Spain from 1886 until 1931. His mother, Maria Christina of Austria, was appointed regent during his minority... (father)	1933	1977	Recognized as heir apparent to the Spanish throne and held the title Prince of Asturias from 21 June 1933, but preferred to use the title Count of Barcelona; renounced his claim to the throne in favour of his son, Juan Carlos on 14 May 1977
	Felipe of Spain Felipe, Prince of Asturias Felipe, Prince of Asturias de Borbón y de Grecia; born 30 January 1968), is the third child and only son of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía of Spain.... (1968-)	Juan Carlos I Juan Carlos I of Spain Juan Carlos I \|Italy]]) is the reigning King of Spain.On 22 November 1975, two days after the death of General Francisco Franco, Juan Carlos was designated king according to the law of succession promulgated by Franco. Spain had no monarch for 38 years in 1969 when Franco named Juan Carlos as the...	1977	incumbent	—