title and rank given in the Iberian kingdoms of Spain and Portugal
Infante (Spanish: [iɱˈfante], Portuguese: [ĩˈfɐ̃t(ɨ)]; f. infanta), also anglicised as Infant or translated as Prince, is the title and rank given in the Iberian kingdoms of Spain (including the predecessor kingdoms of Aragon, Castile, Navarre, and León) and Portugal to the sons and daughters (infantas) of the king, regardless of age, sometimes with the exception of the heir apparent or heir presumptive to the throne, who usually bears a unique princely or ducal title.[1] A woman married to a male infante was accorded the title of infanta if the marriage was dynastically approved (e.g., Princess Alicia of Bourbon-Parma), although since 1987 this is no longer automatically the case in Spain (e.g., Princess Anne d'Orléans).[1] Husbands of born infantas did not obtain the title of infante through marriage (unlike most hereditary titles of Spanish nobility), although they were occasionally elevated to the title de gracia ("by grace") at the sovereign's command.[1][2]
While the title belonged by right to all sons and daughters of a monarch (even when they ceased to be children of the reigning sovereign), it was also often accorded to sons-in-law and male-line grandchildren of the sovereign (e.g., Prince Ferdinand of Bavaria, Infante Pedro Carlos of Spain and Portugal), sometimes to other agnates of the ruling dynasty (e.g., Infante Enrique, Duke of Seville), and to female-line relatives of the monarch (e.g. Infante Sebastian of Portugal and Spain, Infante Alfonso de Orléans-Borbón).
History[edit]
Although the title is derived from the same root as "infant", in Romance languages the term may be more broadly interpreted to mean "child" (cf. French enfants de France), and historically indicated that the infante or infanta was the child of the nation's monarch.
Like the enfants de France, all infantes in the various Iberian kingdoms were princes of the blood royal, although since 1987 the Spanish sovereign may also confer the title infantado by decree upon a person (typically the spouse of an infante or infanta) who is not of royal descent.
Portuguese infantes[edit]
See also: Infante of Portugal
Coronet of a Portuguese
infante Infante had no feminine form at first in Portugal and may be compared to the infanções of the lower Portuguese nobility, who were also cadets of their families with no prospect of inheriting the main possessions of the noble families to which they belonged, being distinguished in law by some prerogatives, but little patrimony.
Later, the word infanta emerged in Portugal as a feminised form applied to Portuguese princesses after the 16th and 17th centuries. Also, after Edward, King of Portugal, in the 15th century, the heir apparent and his eldest son, or daughter if there was no son, came to be styled "prince" or "princess". The first prince in Portugal was the future Afonso V, his eldest son, maybe adopting the French royal style by an English influence imported by Philippa of Lancaster's retinue.
After the accession of the House of Braganza to the throne, the honorific of "Most Serene" (Sereníssimo) was prefixed to the title of infante (Sereníssima for an infanta), since the complete appellation of this dynasty was "Most Serene House of Braganza" (Sereníssima Casa de Bragança), a style granted by the Pope. The style, however, does not seem to have been used with the title of Prince Royal.
Current Infantes of Portugal[edit]
Portugal has been a republic since 1910. Close relatives of Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza, head of the Portuguese royal house, using the title are:[1][3]
- Infanta Maria Francisca, Duchess of Coimbra: Duarte Pio's 2nd child;
- Infante Dinis, Duke of Porto: Duarte Pio's 3rd child;
- Infante Miguel, Duke of Viseu: Duarte Pio's 2nd brother;
Afonso, Prince of Beira, Duarte Pio's eldest son and heir apparent, is styled Prince of Beira, not infante.
Spanish infantes[edit]
Heraldic crown of a Spanish
infante In the Spanish royal family, the dynastic children of the monarch and of the heir apparent are entitled to the designation and rank of infante with the style of Royal Highness (infantes by birth). A second category of infantes may be granted that title by royal decree (infantes by grace), but only bear the style of Highness.[4] Previously, the title and rank of infante of Spain was often granted to relatives and in-laws of Spain's monarchs, but unlike those created under the 1987 decree, their dynastic wives were automatically infantas and bearers of the title were Royal Highnesses.
In addition, some distant relatives of Spanish sovereigns, usually children of infantes by grace, were accorded the "honours and treatment" of infante or infanta, but were not granted the title itself,[1][2] Included in this category were the children of Infante Carlos de Borbón-Dos Sicilias' second marriage to Princess Louise d'Orléans, those of Infante Fernando de Bavaria y Borbón's marriage with Infanta Maria Teresa of Spain,[2] and those of Infante Alfonso de Orléans-Borbón's marriage to Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (e.g., Princess María de las Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Countess of Barcelona, Prince Alvaro de Orléans-Borbón, Duke di Galliera).[1]
Current Infantes of Spain[edit]
The current infantes of Spain (by rank) are:
- Infanta Sofía (daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen consort Letizia, younger sister of Leonor, Princess of Asturias, the heir presumptive);
- Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo (elder daughter of former King Juan Carlos I and former Queen consort Sofía);
- Infanta Cristina, former (stripped in 2015) Duchess of Palma (younger sister of above);
- Infanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria (younger sister of former King Juan Carlos I);
See also[edit]
- Cardinal-Infante (disambiguation)
- Portuguese monarchy
- Spanish monarchy
- Crown prince
- Spanish infantes
- Spanish infantas
- Portuguese infantes
- Portuguese infantas
- Leonese infantes
- Leonese infantas
- Castilian infantes
- Castilian infantas
- Aragonese infantes
- Aragonese infantas
[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f de Badts de Cugnac, Chantal. Coutant de Saisseval, Guy. Le Petit Gotha. Nouvelle Imprimerie Laballery, Paris 2002, p. 303, 364-369, 398, 406, 740-742, 756-758 (French) ISBN 2-9507974-3-1
- ^ a b c The style of Infante / Infanta de España at Heraldica
- ^ http://www.casarealportuguesa.org/dynamicdata/familiareal.asp
- ^ Spanish: [1] The Spanish Royal Decree 1368/1987, the regulation of Titles, Styles and Honors of the Royal Family BOE, Spanish Official Journal (accessed on October 27, 2008)
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- King & Queen
- Prince & Princess of Asturias (Prince of Girona, Prince of Viana, Duke of Montblanc, Count of Cervera, Lord of Balaguer)
- Infante & Infanta of Spain
- Duke of Segovia
- Duke of Cádiz
- Duchess of Badajoz
- Duchess of Soria
- Duke & Duchess of Galliera
- Duchess of Lugo
- Duchess of Palma de Mallorca
- Duke of Seville
- Count of Chinchón
- Count of Montemolín
- Count of Molina
- Count of Montizón
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The generations indicate descent from Carlos I, under whom the crowns of Castile and Aragon were united, forming the Kingdom of Spain. Previously, the title Infante had been largely used in the different realms. |
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- Carlos, Prince of Asturias
- Fernando, Prince of Asturias
- Diego, Prince of Asturias
- Felipe III
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- Felipe IV
- Infante Carlos
- Infante Fernando
- Infante Alonso
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- Baltasar Carlos, Prince of Asturias
- Felipe Próspero, Prince of Asturias
- Carlos II
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- Luis I
- Infante Felipe Pedro
- Fernando VI
- Carlos III
- Felipe I, Duke of Parma
- Infante Luis, Count of Chinchón
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- Infante Felipe, Duke of Calabria
- Carlos IV
- Fernando I of the Two Sicilies
- Infante Gabriel
- Infante Antonio Pascual
- Fernando I, Duke of Parma1
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- Fernando VII
- Infante Carlos, Count of Molina
- Infante Francisco de Paula
- Infante Pedro Carlos, Infante of Portugal1
- Luis I of Etruria2
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- Infante Antonio, Duke of Montpensier2
- Infante Carlos, Count of Montemolin1
- Infante Juan, Count of Montizón1
- Infante Fernando1
- Francisco de Asís, King Consort of Spain1
- Infante Enrique, Duke of Seville1
- Infante Sebastián, Infante of Portugal1
- Carlos II, Duke of Parma1
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- Alfonso XII
- Infante Gaetan, Count of Girgenti2
- Infante Antonio, Duke of Galliera1
- Infante Carlos, Duke of Madrid
- Infante Alfonso Carlos, Duke of San Jaime1
- Carlos III, Duke of Parma1
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- Infante Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies2
- Infante Ferdinand of Bavaria2
- Infante Alfonso, Duke of Galliera1
- Infante Luis Fernando of Orléans1
- Infante Jaime, Duke of Madrid1
- Roberto I, Duke of Parma1
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- Alfonso, Prince of Asturias
- Infante Jaime, Duke of Segovia
- Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona
- Infante Gonzalo
- Infante Alfonso, Duke of Calabria1
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- Juan Carlos I
- Infante Alfonso
- Infante Carlos, Duke of Calabria1
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- 1 title granted by Royal Decree
- 2 consort to an Infanta naturalized as a Spanish Infante
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Generations start with the daughters-in-law of Charles I of Spain |
- Maria Manuela, Princess of Portugal
- Mary I of England
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- Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans
- Infanta Barbara of Portugal
- Princess Maria Amalia of Saxony
- Princess Louise Élisabeth of France
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- Princess Maria Luisa of Parma
- Infanta Mariana Victoria of Portugal
- Infanta Maria Amalia of Spain*
- Archduchess Maria Amalia of Austria
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- Princess Maria Antonia of Naples and Sicily
- Infanta Maria Francisca of Portugal
- Infanta Maria Teresa of Portugal, Princess of Beira
- Princess Luisa Carlotta of Naples and Sicily
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- Princess Maria Carolina of the Two Sicilies
- Isabella II of Spain*
- Infanta Maria Cristina of Spain*
- Princess Maria Amalia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
- Princess Maria Teresa of Savoy
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- Infanta Eulalia of Spain*
- Princess Margherita of Bourbon-Parma
- Louise Marie Thérèse of Artois
- Princess Berthe de Rohan
- Infanta Maria das Neves of Portugal
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- Princess Louise of Orléans
- Infanta María Teresa of Spain*
- Maria Luisa de Silva y Fernández de Henestrosa
- Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
- Princess Maria Pia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
- Infanta Maria Antonia of Portugal
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- Princess Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
- Princess Alicia of Bourbon-Parma
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- Princess Sofía of Greece and Denmark
- Anne of Orleans
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Letizia Ortiz |
- *also an Infanta in her own right
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- King and Queen of Portugal
- Prince and Princess Royal of Portugal
- Prince and Princess of Brazil
- Prince and Princess of Portugal
- Prince and Princess of Beira
- Duke and Duchess of Braganza
- Duke and Duchess of Barcelos
- Duke and Duchess of Porto
- Duke and Duchess of Beja
- Infante and Infanta of Portugal
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- Duke and Duchess of Coimbra
- Duke and Duchess of Viseu
- Duke and Duchess of Guimarães
- Duke and Duchess of Guarda
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List of heirs to the Portuguese throne - Portuguese nobility |
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The generations indicate descent from Afonso I, and continues through the House of Aviz, the House of Habsburg through Infanta Isabel, Holy Roman Empress and Queen of Spain, and the House of Braganza through Infanta Catarina, Duchess of Braganza. |
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- Afonso II
- Infante Pedro, Count of Urgell
- Infante Fernando, Count of Flanders
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- Sancho II
- Afonso III
- Infante Fernando, Lord of Serpa
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- Dinis I
- Infante Afonso, Lord of Portalegre
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- Afonso IV
- Infante Afonso, Lord of Leiria
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- Fernando I
- Infante João, Duke of Valencia de Campos
- Infante Dinis, Lord of Cifuentes
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- Duarte I
- Infante Pedro, Duke of Coimbra
- Infante Henrique, Duke of Viseu
- Infante João, Constable of Portugal
- Infante Fernando
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- Afonso V
- Infante Fernando, Duke of Viseu
- Infante Pedro, Constable of Portugal
- Infante João, Prince of Antioch
- Cardinal-Infante Jaime of Coimbra
- Infante Diogo, Constable of Portugal
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- João, Prince of Portugal
- João II
- Infante João, Duke of Viseu
- Infante Diogo, Duke of Viseu
- Manuel I
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- Afonso, Prince of Portugal
- Miguel da Paz, Prince of Portugal and Asturias*
- João III
- Infante Luís, Duke of Beja
- Infante Fernando, Duke of Guarda
- Cardinal-Infante Afonso
- Henrique I (The Cardinal-King)
- Infante Duarte, Duke of Guimarães
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- Afonso, Prince of Portugal
- Manuel, Prince of Portugal
- Filipe, Prince of Portugal
- João Manuel, Prince of Portugal
- Infante Duarte, Duke of Guimarães
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- Sebastião I
- Diogo, Prince of Portugal and Asturias§
- Filipe II§
- Manuel, Hereditary Prince of Portugalƒ
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- Filipe III§
- Infante Carlos§
- Cardinal-Infante Fernando§
- Infante Alonso§
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- Baltasar Carlos, Prince of Portugal and Asturias§
- Teodósio, Prince of Brazil
- Afonso VI
- Pedro II
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- João, Prince of Brazil
- João V
- Infante Francisco, Duke of Beja
- Infante António
- Infante Manuel, Count of Ourém
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- Pedro, Prince of Brazil
- José I
- Infante Carlos
- Pedro III
- Infante Alexandre
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- José, Prince of Brazil
- João VI
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- Francisco António, Prince of Beira
- Pedro I of Brazil & IV of Portugal
- Miguel I
- Infante Pedro Carlos#
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- João Carlos, Prince of Beira
- Pedro II of Brazil‡
- Infante Miguel, Duke of Braganza
- Infante Sebastião#
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- Pedro V¶
- Luís I¶
- Infante João, Duke of Beja¶
- Infante Fernando¶
- Infante Augusto, Duke of Coimbra¶
- Infante Miguel, Duke of Viseu
- Infante Francisco José
- Infante Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza
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- Carlos I¶
- Infante Afonso, Duke of Porto¶
- Infante Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza
- Infante Henrique, Duke of Coimbra
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- Luís Filipe, Prince Royal¶
- Manuel II¶
- Afonso, Prince of Beira
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* also an infante of Castile and León, Aragon, Sicily and Naples, § also an infante of Spain and an archduke of Austria, # also an infante of Spain, ‡ also an imperial prince of Brazil, ¶ also a prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duke in Saxony, ¤ title removed in 1920 as their parents' marriage was deemed undynastic, ƒ claimant infante |