Infante
Encyclopedia
Infante also anglicised as Infant, is the title and rank given in the European kingdoms of Spain (including the predecessor kingdoms of Aragon
, Castile
, Navarre
and León
) and Portugal
to the sons or daughters of the King who were not the heir to the throne. It is also used to denote a grandson or granddaughter in the male line of a reigning monarch
. Female consorts of Princes of the blood, when married, automatically gained the title of nobility
of Infanta. A male consort to a princess of the blood did not have an inherent right to the title, style and rank of Infante upon marriage.
In the European kingdoms of Spain (including the predecessor kingdoms of Aragon
, Castile
, Navarre
and León
) and Portugal
, only the heirs to the throne are Prince
s or Princess
es, while the other children of the monarch are Infants.
The name derives from the same root as "infant
," but this means simply "child" in Romance languages (cfr. French Enfants de France), and in this case indicates that the Infante or Infanta is the child of the monarch.
Like the Enfants de France, all Infantes in the different kingdoms were and are always Royal Princes or Princesses, in the general meaning of the word.
Afterwards, the word Infanta emerged in Portugal as a feminised form applied to the Portuguese princesses after the 16th and 17th centuries. Also, after Edward of Portugal, in the 15th century, the heir apparent and his older son, or daughter, were styled just as "Prince" and "Princess". The first Prince in Portugal was the future Afonso V
, his eldest son, maybe adopting the French royal style by an English influence brought by queen Philippa of England
.
After the ascension of the House of Braganza
to the royalty, it was added the title "Most Serene" (Sereníssimo) to the title of Infante - as well as Sereníssima to Infanta -, since the complete name of this house was "Most Serene House of Braganza" (Sereníssima Casa de Bragança), a style granted by the Pope
. The style, however, does not seem to be used with the title of Prince Royal.
The current Infantes of Portugal (presently a republic) are close relatives of Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza
, head of the Portuguese Royal House:
Afonso de Santa Maria, Prince of Beira
, Duarte Pio eldest son, as heir apparent to the Portuguese Royal House, is styled Prince of Beira
, not Infante.
are also granted the title. Note that infante is also used for a hereditary title of nobility, as in los infantes de Carrión
in The Lay of the Cid
. In the Royal Family the style of Infante is reserved for the children of the Monarch and the heir apparent
(Infantes by birth). A second category of Infantes received the style by Royal Decree (Infantes by grace).
The current Infantas of Spain (by birth). are:
Carlos de Borbón
, Duke of Calabria and King Juan Carlos' cousin, also holds the title of Infante of Spain (by grace).
Alicia of Bourbon-Parma
, mother of Infante Carlos, Infanta of Spain (by grace) from her marriage with Infante Alfonso, Duke of Calabria
.
Prince Felipe, son of King Juan Carlos, as heir apparent
to the Spanish throne, is styled Prince of Asturias
, not Infante.
Spanish infantes
Spanish infantas
Portuguese infantes
Portuguese infantas
Leonese infantes
Leonese infantas
Castilian infantes
Castilian infantas
Aragonese infantes
Aragonese infantas
Crown of Aragon
The Crown of Aragon Corona d'Aragón Corona d'Aragó Corona Aragonum controlling a large portion of the present-day eastern Spain and southeastern France, as well as some of the major islands and mainland possessions stretching across the Mediterranean as far as Greece...
, Castile
Crown of Castile
The Crown of Castile was a medieval and modern state in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and parliaments of the kingdoms of Castile and León upon the accession of the then King Ferdinand III of Castile to the vacant Leonese throne...
, 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....
and León
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
) and Portugal
Kingdom of Portugal
The Kingdom of Portugal was Portugal's general designation under the monarchy. The kingdom was located in the west of the Iberian Peninsula, Europe and existed from 1139 to 1910...
to the sons or daughters of the King who were not the heir to the throne. It is also used to denote a grandson or granddaughter in the male line of a reigning monarch
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
. Female consorts of Princes of the blood, when married, automatically gained the title of nobility
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
of Infanta. A male consort to a princess of the blood did not have an inherent right to the title, style and rank of Infante upon marriage.
In the European kingdoms of Spain (including the predecessor kingdoms of Aragon
Crown of Aragon
The Crown of Aragon Corona d'Aragón Corona d'Aragó Corona Aragonum controlling a large portion of the present-day eastern Spain and southeastern France, as well as some of the major islands and mainland possessions stretching across the Mediterranean as far as Greece...
, Castile
Crown of Castile
The Crown of Castile was a medieval and modern state in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and parliaments of the kingdoms of Castile and León upon the accession of the then King Ferdinand III of Castile to the vacant Leonese throne...
, 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....
and León
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
) and Portugal
Kingdom of Portugal
The Kingdom of Portugal was Portugal's general designation under the monarchy. The kingdom was located in the west of the Iberian Peninsula, Europe and existed from 1139 to 1910...
, only the heirs to the throne are Prince
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
s or Princess
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
es, while the other children of the monarch are Infants.
The name derives from the same root as "infant
Infant
A newborn or baby is the very young offspring of a human or other mammal. A newborn is an infant who is within hours, days, or up to a few weeks from birth. In medical contexts, newborn or neonate refers to an infant in the first 28 days after birth...
," but this means simply "child" in Romance languages (cfr. French Enfants de France), and in this case indicates that the Infante or Infanta is the child of the monarch.
Like the Enfants de France, all Infantes in the different kingdoms were and are always Royal Princes or Princesses, in the general meaning of the word.
Portuguese infantes
Infante had no feminine form at first in Portugal, and may be related in Portuguese to the Portuguese lower nobility, the infanções, who were also the younger children with no prospects of heritage in the noble houses they were born to, just distinguished in law by some prerogatives, but almost no patrimony.Afterwards, the word Infanta emerged in Portugal as a feminised form applied to the Portuguese princesses after the 16th and 17th centuries. Also, after Edward of Portugal, in the 15th century, the heir apparent and his older son, or daughter, were styled just as "Prince" and "Princess". The first Prince in Portugal was the future Afonso V
Afonso V of Portugal
Afonso V KG , called the African , was the twelfth King of Portugal and the Algarves. His sobriquet refers to his conquests in Northern Africa.-Early life:...
, his eldest son, maybe adopting the French royal style by an English influence brought by queen Philippa of England
Philippa of Lancaster
Philippa of Lancaster, LG was a Queen consort of Portugal. Born into the royal family of England, her marriage with King John I secured the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance and produced several famous children who became known as the "Illustrious Generation" in Portugal...
.
After the ascension of the House of Braganza
House of Braganza
The Most Serene House of Braganza , an important Portuguese noble family, ruled the Kingdom of Portugal and its colonial Empire, from 1640 to 1910...
to the royalty, it was added the title "Most Serene" (Sereníssimo) to the title of Infante - as well as Sereníssima to Infanta -, since the complete name of this house was "Most Serene House of Braganza" (Sereníssima Casa de Bragança), a style granted by the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
. The style, however, does not seem to be used with the title of Prince Royal.
The current Infantes of Portugal (presently a republic) are close relatives of Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza
Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza
Dom Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza , is the 24th Duke of Braganza and a pretender to the throne of Portugal.-Birth and education:...
, head of the Portuguese Royal House:
- Maria Francisca, Infanta de PortugalInfanta Maria Francisca Isabel of PortugalThe Infanta Maria Francisca born 3 March 1997, is a Portuguese infanta and the only daughter of Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza and his wife Isabel de Herédia...
- Duarte Pio 2nd child; - Infante Dinis, Duke of PortoInfante Dinis, Duke of PortoThe Infante Dinis, Duke of Porto is a Portuguese infante and the second son and youngest child of Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza and his wife Isabel de Herédia...
- Duarte Pio 3rd child; - Infante Miguel, Duke of ViseuInfante Miguel, Duke of ViseuThe Infante Miguel, Duke of Viseu is the second son of Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza and his wife Princess Maria Francisca of Orleans-Braganza...
- Duarte Pio 2nd brother; - Infante Henrique, Duke of CoimbraInfante Henrique, Duke of CoimbraThe Infante Henrique, Duke of Coimbra , born 6 November 1949, is the third son and youngest child of Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza and his wife Princess Francisca of Orléans-Braganza...
- Duarte Pio 3rd brother; - Infanta Maria Adelaide - Duarte Pio aunt;
Afonso de Santa Maria, Prince of Beira
Infante Afonso, Prince of Beira
Dom Afonso, Prince of Beira , is the eldest son of Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza, who is the current pretender to the former Portuguese throne and head of the House of Braganza.-Biography:...
, Duarte Pio eldest son, as heir apparent to the Portuguese Royal House, is styled Prince of Beira
Prince of Beira
Prince of Beira is a title in Portugal, normally given to the second heirs to the throne and/or to the eldest daughter of the monarch. It was thus attributed to persons of the royal family especially esteemed by the sovereign...
, not Infante.
Spanish infantes
In contemporary Spain, distantly related princes of the blood of the Spanish royal familyRoyal family
A royal family is the extended family of a king or queen regnant. The term imperial family appropriately describes the extended family of an emperor or empress, while the terms "ducal family", "grand ducal family" or "princely family" are more appropriate to describe the relatives of a reigning...
are also granted the title. Note that infante is also used for a hereditary title of nobility, as in los infantes de Carrión
Carrión de los Condes
Carrión de los Condes is a municipality in the province of Palencia, part of the Autonomous Community of Castile and León, Spain.It is 40 kilometers from Palencia, on the Way of Saint James.-History:...
in The Lay of the Cid
Cantar de Mio Cid
El Cantar de Myo Çid , also known in English as The Lay of the Cid and The Poem of the Cid is the oldest preserved Spanish epic poem...
. In the Royal Family the style of Infante is reserved for the children of the Monarch and the 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....
(Infantes by birth). A second category of Infantes received the style by Royal Decree (Infantes by grace).
The current Infantas of Spain (by birth). are:
- Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo (eldest daughter of Juan Carlos and SofíaQueen Sofía of SpainQueen Sofía of Spain is the wife of King Juan Carlos I of Spain.-Early life and family:Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark was born in Psychiko, Athens, Greece on 2 November 1938, the eldest child of the King Paul of Greece and his wife, Queen Frederika , a former princess of Hanover...
, King and Queen of Spain); - Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca (youngest daughter of Juan Carlos and SofíaQueen Sofía of SpainQueen Sofía of Spain is the wife of King Juan Carlos I of Spain.-Early life and family:Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark was born in Psychiko, Athens, Greece on 2 November 1938, the eldest child of the King Paul of Greece and his wife, Queen Frederika , a former princess of Hanover...
, King and Queen of Spain); - Infanta Leonor of SpainInfanta Leonor of SpainThe Infanta Leonor of Spain is the first child of Felipe, Prince of Asturias, and his wife Letizia. Her father has no sons and she is thus second in the line of succession to the Spanish throne after her father...
(eldest daughter of FelipeFelipe, Prince of AsturiasFelipe, 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....
and LetiziaLetizia, Princess of AsturiasLetizia, Princess of Asturias , is the wife of Felipe, Prince of Asturias, the heir apparent to the Spanish throne...
, Princes of AsturiasPrince of AsturiasPrince of Asturias is the historical title given to the heir to the Spanish throne. It was also the title under the earlier Kingdom of Castile. The current Prince of Asturias is Felipe, son of King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Sofía...
); - Infanta Sofia of SpainInfanta Sofía of SpainThe Infanta Sofía of Spain is the second child of Felipe, Prince of Asturias and his wife Princess Letizia. As the daughter of the heir-apparent to the throne, she is styled and titled Her Royal Highness, Infanta of Spain...
(younger daughter of FelipeFelipe, Prince of AsturiasFelipe, 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....
and LetiziaLetizia, Princess of AsturiasLetizia, Princess of Asturias , is the wife of Felipe, Prince of Asturias, the heir apparent to the Spanish throne...
, Princes of AsturiasPrince of AsturiasPrince of Asturias is the historical title given to the heir to the Spanish throne. It was also the title under the earlier Kingdom of Castile. The current Prince of Asturias is Felipe, son of King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Sofía...
); - Infanta Pilar, Duchess of BadajozInfanta Pilar, Duchess of BadajozInfanta Pilar of Spain, Duchess of Badajoz, Grandee of Spain, Dowager Viscountess de la Torre is the elder daughter of Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona and Princess Maria Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, and older sister of reigning King Juan Carlos of...
(eldest sister of King Juan Carlos of Spain); - Infanta Margarita, Duchess of SoriaInfanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria-Ancestry:-External links:*...
(youngest sister of King Juan Carlos of Spain);
Carlos de Borbón
Infante Carlos, Duke of Calabria
Infante Carlos of Spain, Prince of the Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria, KOGF, KGCHS is the son of Don Alfonso of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria and Princess Alicia of Bourbon-Parma .-Biography:Infante Carlos is one of two claimants of the dignity of...
, Duke of Calabria and King Juan Carlos' cousin, also holds the title of Infante of Spain (by grace).
Alicia of Bourbon-Parma
Princess Alicia of Bourbon-Parma
Infanta Alicia, Dowager Duchess of Calabria is a daughter of Elias, Duke of Parma and Piacenza and his wife Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria. Alicia was Duchess of Calabria through her marriage to Infante Alfonso, Duke of Calabria...
, mother of Infante Carlos, Infanta of Spain (by grace) from her marriage with Infante Alfonso, Duke of Calabria
Infante Alfonso, Duke of Calabria
Infante Alfonso, Duke of Calabria was one of two claimants to the title of the head of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies from 1960 until his death in 1964...
.
Prince Felipe, son of King Juan Carlos, as 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....
to the Spanish throne, is styled Prince of Asturias
Prince of Asturias
Prince of Asturias is the historical title given to the heir to the Spanish throne. It was also the title under the earlier Kingdom of Castile. The current Prince of Asturias is Felipe, son of King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Sofía...
, not Infante.
See also
- Cardinal-InfanteCardinal-InfanteThe title Cardinal-Infante may refer to any one of the following, each of them both an infante and a cardinal:* Infante Jaime of Coimbra * Cardinal-Infante Afonso of Portugal...
- Portuguese monarchy
- Spanish monarchySpanish monarchyThe Monarchy of Spain, constitutionally referred to as The Crown and commonly referred to as the Spanish monarchy or Hispanic Monarchy, is a constitutional institution and an historic office of Spain...
- Crown PrinceCrown PrinceA crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
Spanish infantes
Spanish infantas
Portuguese infantes
Portuguese infantas
Leonese infantes
Leonese infantas
Castilian infantes
Castilian infantas
Aragonese infantes
Aragonese infantas
- Infantes that held title of Prince
- Prince of AsturiasPrince of AsturiasPrince of Asturias is the historical title given to the heir to the Spanish throne. It was also the title under the earlier Kingdom of Castile. The current Prince of Asturias is Felipe, son of King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Sofía...
- Prince of GironaPrince of GironaThe 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...
- Prince of VianaPrince of VianaThe 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....
- Prince of Portugal
- Prince of BrazilPrince of BrazilPrince of Brazil was a title used in the Kingdom of Portugal, for the heir of the royal House of Braganza.The title was created by King John IV of Portugal on 27 October 1645 in favor of his eldest son and heir prince Teodósio, soon after Portugal had got rid of its Spanish rulers...
- Prince of BeiraPrince of BeiraPrince of Beira is a title in Portugal, normally given to the second heirs to the throne and/or to the eldest daughter of the monarch. It was thus attributed to persons of the royal family especially esteemed by the sovereign...
- Prince Royal of PortugalPrince Royal of PortugalPrince Royal of Portugal is the official title attributed to the heirs presumptive of the Crown of Portugal...
- Prince of Asturias