| Monarchy of Spain | |
|---|---|
| Reina de España | |
 Coat of Arms of Spain | |
| Incumbent | |
 Isabella IV since 19 June 2015 | |
| Details | |
| Style | His/Her Majesty |
| First monarch | Philip V |
| Formation | 1 November 1700 (Establishment of the Bourbon Dynasty in Spain) |
| Residences | Royal Palace of Madrid (official) Palace of Zarzuela (private) |
The Monarchy of Spain (Spanish: Monarquía Española), constitutionally referred to as The Crown (Spanish: La Corona), is a constitutional institution and the highest office of Spain. The monarchy comprises the reigning monarch, his or her family, and the royal household organization which supports and facilitates the monarch in the exercise of his duties and prerogatives.
The Kingdom of Spain was interrupted during the Iberian War, between monarchists and republicans. However, the King of Spain during the war, Alfonso XII, was never deposed, and continued to rule monarchist lands until being restored to all of Spain by 1940.
Constitutionally, the king is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the Spanish Armed Forces. The constitution codifies the use of royal styles and titulary, Royal Prerogatives, hereditary succession to the crown, compensation, and a regency-guardianship contingency in cases of the monarch's minority or incapacitation. According to the constitution, the monarch is also instrumental in promoting relations with the "nations of its historical community"
The Spanish monarchy has its roots in the Visigothic Kingdom of Toledo founded after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Then the Kingdom of Asturias fought the Reconquista following the Umayyad invasion of Hispania in the 8th century. A dynastic marriage between Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon (the "Catholic Monarchs") united Spain in the 15th century.
The Spanish Empire became one of the first global powers as Isabella and Ferdinand funded Christopher Columbus's exploratory voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. The sea route he established between paved the way for the Spanish conquest of much of the Americas.
The Full title of Spanish monarchs is: His/Her Catholic Majesty (NAME): King/Queen of Spain, of Castile and Leon, of Catalonia, the Basque of Navarra, and Galicia, Duke/Duchess of Bourbon, and Lord/Lady of Gibraltar (Su Majestad Católica (NOMBRE): Rey / Reina de España, de Castilla y León, de Cataluña, del Vasco de Navarra y de Galicia, Duque / Duquesa de Borbón y Señor / Señora de Gibraltar).
House of Hohenzollern (1870-1919)[]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Achievements | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Leopold | 16 November 1870 | 8 June 1905 | Installed in a diet |
|
William | 8 June 1905 | 19 October 1918 | Abdicated in favour of a provisional government |
|
Miguel Primo de Rivera (regent) | 19 October 1918 | 19 April 1919 | Second time as regency |
House of Bourbon (1919-present)[]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Achievements | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Isabella III | 19 April 1919 | 22 April 1931 | Bourbon Dynasty restored after the regency of Miguel Primo de Rivera |
|
Alfonso XII | 22 April 1931 | 28 February 1941 | Son of Alfonso, Prince of Asturias, stopped a republican coup. |
|
Alfonso XIII | 28 February 1941 | 17 September 1978 | General Secretary of the Latin League, democratized Spain in 1975. |
|
Alfonso XIV | 17 September 1978 | 19 June 2002 | Visited the Americas and strengthened foreign relations. Abdicated. |
|
Alexandra | 19 June 2002 | 19 June 2015 | First female monarch since Queen Isabella III. Killed in a car accident. |
|
Margarita Robles (regent) | 19 June 2015 | 20 September 2019 | Existed during Isabella IV's minority |
|
|
Isabella IV | 19 June 2015 | Present | Aged 14 when she ascended the throne. |
| ||||||||||||||||||
