List of titles and honours of the Spanish Crown

The current Spanish constitution refers to the monarchy as "the Crown of Spain" and the constitutional title of the monarch is simply rey/reina de España:[1] that is, "king/queen of Spain". However, the constitution allows for the use of other historic titles pertaining to the Spanish monarchy,[1] without specifying them. A decree promulgated 6 November 1987 at the Council of Ministers regulates the titles further, and on that basis the monarch of Spain has a right to use ("may use") those other titles appertaining to the Crown.[2] Contrary to some belief, the long titulary that contains the list of over 20 kingdoms is not in state use, nor is it used in Spanish diplomacy. In fact, it has never been in use in that form, as "Spain" was never a part of the list in the pre-1837 era when the long list was officially used.[3]

The Coat of Arms of the Spanish Crown

Spain, mentioned differently in the titulary depending on which monarch was reigning, was for more than three centuries also symbolized by the long list that started "... of Castile, León, Aragón, ..." The following long titulary in the feudal style was the last used officially in 1836 by Isabella II of Spain (see the account of titulary in her article) before she became constitutional queen.

Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon were together described as the Catholic Monarchs of Spain. The first king to officially use a derivation of the name "Spain" as the realm in the titulary was Charles I of Spain, who used Rex Hispaniarum et Indiarum (i.e. King of the Spains and the Indies). This title was often used after his title of Holy Roman Emperor which was superior to that of king. During his brief and controversial occupancy of the throne Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte, brother of Emperor Napoleon, also used a similar title, King of the Spains and the Indies, he conferred the title "Prince of Spain" to be hereditary on his children and grandchildren in the male and female line.

During the first restoration of the Bourbons, it returned to the traditional format ("of Castile, Leon, Aragon, ...") until 1837, when the short version "queen of the Spains" was taken into use by Isabella II. The singular Spain was first used by Amadeo—he was "by divine grace and will of nation, king of Spain". During the second restoration, King Alfonso XII started to use "constitutional king of Spain, by divine and constitutional grace".

With the third restoration of the royal house of Spain, still current as of August 2017, the monarch uses the simple title "king of Spain", without any divine, national or constitutional reference.

Juan Carlos, king until June 2014, did not use the title of Catholic Majesty and the other titles and honours, but did not relinquish them.[4]

Titles associated with the Spanish crown
See also: List of titles and honours of Felipe VI of Spain

The titles used by the last Habsburg king of Spain, Charles II, were:[5][6]

By the Grace of God, King of Castile, of León, of Aragon, of the Two Sicilies, of Jerusalem, of Hungary, of Dalmatia, of Croatia, of Navarre, of Granada, of Toledo, of Valencia, of Galicia, of Mallorca, of Seville, of Sardinia, of Córdoba, of Corsica, of Murcia, of Jaén, of the Algarves, of Algeciras, of the Canary Islands, of the East and West Indies, of the Islands and Mainland of the Ocean Sea; Archduke of Austria; Duke of Burgundy, of Brabant, of Milan, of Athens and Neopatria; Count of Habsburg, of Flanders, of Tyrol, of Barcelona, of Roussillon, and of Cerdanya; Marquess of Oristano and Count of Goceano.

Greater royal arms of Spain from Charles III (1761-1868) to Alfonso XIII (1875-1931)

The Kingdoms

Archduchies

Duchies

Counties

Lordships

Other titles maintained, but usually abbreviated with "etc."

Because of the large number of titles associated with the Spanish Crown, only the most important were written, finishing the list with "etc." or "&c.", referring to minor or obsolete titles. These titles are:

Military rank

Hereditary orders of Spain
Collar of a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece.
The insignia of the Order of Charles III.

Titles of the heir apparent or heir presumptive
The coat of arms of the Princess of Asturias
See also: List of titles and honours of Leonor, Princess of Asturias

Titles and styles are listed in order of degrees of rank, nobility, and honor:[9]

Principalities

Duchies, counties and lordships

Orders of the heir apparent

The following orders are traditionally granted to the heir apparent:

Royal titles

Duchies

Counties

See also

Notes
  1. Titles in Pretence: historical title which is only nominal and ceremonial.
  2. Since 2010 the Government of Gibraltar has referred to Elizabeth II as Queen of Gibraltar.[7] Initially just on coinage, the title now appears on many government documents referencing the Queen.[8]

References
  1. Constitution, article 56(2)
  2. Royal Decee 1368/1987, article 1(1)
  3. (in Spanish) Article 57 of the Spanish Constitution
  4. Almanach de Gotha 1999, Page 336, Decree of 1987
  5. Seiler, Louis (1998). "Las fracturas políticas de la historia europea: una aplicación de la Carta de Rokkan". In Francisco Letamendía (ed.). Nacionalidades y regiones en la Unión Europea (in Spanish). Editorial Fundamentos. pp. 161–182. ISBN 9788424508036., p. 177
  6. Nobiliario de los reinos y señorios de España (in Spanish). III. Madrid. 1859. pp. 239–240 (note 2).
  7. "No. 103/2010" (PDF) (Press release). Gibraltar: Government of Gibraltar. 6 May 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  8. "United Kingdom Partnership Agreement" (PDF). www.gov.uk. HM Government. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2016. The Governor of Gibraltar is the representative of the Queen of Gibraltar, Queen Elizabeth II.
  9. Casa de Su Majestad el Rey de España - La Monarquía en la Historia - The Monarchy through History
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