List of heads of state of Spain

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. The forerunners of the Spanish throne were the following:

These 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 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, Spain had heads of state known as the President of the Executive Power. However, it is only during the Second Spanish Republic 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 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 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, 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, 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 arms	Name	Life	Reign	Titles	Claim
		Charles I Carlos I, el César Carlos	–	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, Lord of the Netherlands	Son of Joanna of Castile, grandson of Isabella I and Ferdinand II
		Philip II, the PrudentFelipe II, el Prudente	–	January 16, 1556 – September 13, 1598	King of Spain, Sicily and Sardinia King of Naples and Jerusalem King of Portugal King of England and Ireland Duke of Burgundy, Lord of the Netherlands Duke of Milan	Son of Charles I
		Philip III, the PiousFelipe III, el Piadoso	–	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 KingFelipe IV, el Grande, el Rey Planeta	–	March 31, 1621 – September 17, 1665	King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily and Sardinia Duke of Milan Sovereign of the Netherlands and Count Palatine of Burgundy	Son of Philip III
		Charles II, the BewitchedCarlos II, el Hechizado	–	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 arms	Name	Life	Reign	Titles	Claim
		Archduke Charles of Austria, as Charles III Archiduque Carlos,	–	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. 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)

Portrait	Coat of arms	Name	Life	Reign	Titles	Claim
		Philip V, the Spirited Felipe V, el Animoso	–	November 16, 1700 – January 14, 1724	King of Spain	Great-grandson of Philip IV
		Louis I, the Beloved, the Liberal Luis I, el Bien Amado, el Liberal	–	January 14, 1724 – August 31, 1724	King of Spain	Son of Philip V
		Philip V, the Spirited Felipe V, el Animoso	–	September 6, 1724 – July 9, 1746	King of Spain	Father of Louis I
		Ferdinand VI, the Learned, the Just Fernando VI, el Prudente, el Justo	–	July 9, 1746 – August 10, 1759	King of Spain	Son of Philip V
		Charles III, the Enlightened, the King-Mayor Carlos III, el Político	–	August 10, 1759 – December 14, 1788	King of Spain	Son of Philip V
		Charles IV, the Hunter Carlos IV, el Cazador	–	December 14, 1788 – March 19, 1808	King of Spain	Son of Charles III
		Ferdinand VII, the Desired, the Felon King Fernando VII, el Deseado, el Rey Felón	–	March 19, 1808 – May 6, 1808	King of Spain	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 arms	Name	Life	Reign	Titles	Claim
		Joseph I, the Intruder, Bottle Joe José I, Pepe Botella	–	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 arms	Name	Life	Reign	Titles	Claim
		Ferdinand VII, the Desired, the Felon King Fernando VII, el Deseado, el Rey Felón	–	December 11, 1813 – September 29, 1833	King of Spain	Son of Charles IV
		Isabella II, the One with the Sad Destinies Isabel II, la de los Tristes Destinos	–	September 29, 1833 – September 30, 1868	Queen of Spain	Daughter of Ferdinand VII