The Prince or Princess of Girona (, ) is one of the titles of the heir of the Crown of Spain. The title was historically accorded to the heir apparent or heir presumptive to the Crown of Aragon. Current legislation mandates the title of Prince of Asturias to the heir of the Spanish throne but allows for the use of other traditional titles; the current title-holder, therefore, is Leonor, Princess of Girona.
Origin of the title 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 and Ausona.
In part I of the Constitucions i Altres Drets de Cathalunya, the section headed Genealogia dels Reys d'Aragó i Comtes de Barcelona speaks of the genealogy of John I of Aragon, son of Peter IV, saying that John and Violant had a son named James, "lo qual intitularen Delphi [Dauphin] de Girona". On 19 February 1416, Ferdinand I of Aragon, considering the title of duke insufficient, raised it to the rank of Principality of Girona.Thus, there has never been a "Principality of Girona" independent of the Crown of Aragon. The city of Girona and its surroundings were part of the Principality of Catalonia. However, these titles fell into gradual disuse until the 20th century as the heir of the King of Spain became better known by the hereditary title of the Crown of Castile, "Prince of Asturias."
Modern usage In 1961, when announcing the wedding the future Juan Carlos I of Spain and Sofia of Greece, the Spanish Royal House issued the young prince, as titles of pretense, the style of "Prince of Asturias," "Prince of Girona," and "Prince of Viana" — these three titles referring to his status as heir apparent to the kingdoms of Castile, Aragon and Navarre respectively. He started using the titles of "Prince of Girona" on his passport during the rule of caudillo Franco, to avoid the more contentious title Prince of Asturias which was well known to be reserved for the heir of the throne of Spain. His father had adopted a similar tactic, styling himself Juan, Count of Barcelona; using the title of King of Spain would have been seen as directly subversive of the Francoist state. However, calling himself Count of Barcelona was a clear attempt at asserting his hereditary rights to then defunct Spanish throne, as there had been no Count of Barcelona who was not either King of Aragon or of Spain since the Middle Ages.
When Juan Carlos was finally given an official capacity in the Spanish state as heir to the kingdom by General Franco, he received the title of "Prince of Spain" and thus began to use this until he became King of Spain. On 21 January 1977 his son, Felipe, would be the first to use all of these titles in any official capacity for over 250 years.
With the accession of Felipe to the throne in 2014, his elder daughter Leonor became Princess of Girona, as heiress presumptive to the throne of Aragon. The Princess of Girona Foundation was created in 2009 and is now run on behalf of Princess Leonor: it funds programmes to aid young people.
Holders
PictureNameHeir ofBirthBecame heir to the CrownCreated Duke of GironaCeased to be Duke of GironaDeathOther titles before/whilst DukePrincess of GironaInfante Juanlater John IPeter IV27 December 135013516 January 1387became King19 May 1396Count of CerveraMartha of ArmagnacYolande of BarInfante JamesJohn I13826 January 13871388Count of CerveraInfante Ferdinand1389October 1389Count of CerveraInfante Peter13941394Count of CerveraInfante Alfonsolater Alfonso VFerdinand I139625 June 1412January 141419 February 1416Raised to Principality 27 June 1458Count of CerveraMaria of CastilePrince CharlesJohn II29 May 142127 June 145823 September 1461Prince of VianaDuke of GandiaDuke of MontblancCount of CerveraPrince Ferdinandlater Ferdinand II10 March 145223 September 1461brother's death20 January 1479became King23 January 1516Duke of MontblancCount of CerveraLord of BalaguerDuke of GandiaCount of RibagorzaKing of SicilyKing of Castile and LeónKing of Upper NavarreIsabella I of CastilePrince John, Duke of Lorraine (claimant)René2 August 1424146616 December 1470Duke of LorraineDuke of CalabriaMarquis of Pont-à-MoussonDuke of MontblancCount of CerveraMarie of BourbonPrince Nicholas, Duke of Lorraine (claimant)7 July 144816 December 147027 July 1473Duke of LorraineTitular Duke of CalabriaMarquis of Pont-à-MoussonDuke of MontblancCount of Cervera-Prince JuanFerdinand II28 June 147820 January 14794 October 1497Prince of AsturiasPrince of VianaDuke of MontblancCount of CerveraLord of BalaguerMargaret of AustriaPrince Miguel24 August 1498 28 August 1498 19 July 1500Prince of PortugalPrince of AsturiasPrince of VianaDuke of MontblancCount of CerveraLord of Balaguer-Infanta Joannalater Joanna I6 November 14791502recognized by the Aragonese Cortes at Zaragoza3 May 1509brother's birth12 April 1555Princess of AsturiasPrincess of VianaDuchess of MontblancCountess of CerveraLady of BalaguerDuchess consort of Burgundy, Brabant, Limburg, Lothier, Luxembourg; Countess consort of Artois, Flanders, Charolais, Hainaut, Holland, Zeeland, Burgundy; Margravine consort of NamurPhilip, Duke of Burgundy and Lord of the NetherlandsPrince John3 May 1509Duke of MontblancCount of CerveraLord of Balaguer-Infanta Joannalater Joanna I6 November 14793 May 1509brother's death23 January 1516became Queen-regnant12 April 1555Queen of Castile and LeónDuchess of MontblancCountess of CerveraLady of BalaguerDuchess consort of Burgundy, Brabant, Limburg, Lothier, Luxembourg; Countess consort of Artois, Flanders, Charolais, Hainaut, Holland, Zeeland, Burgundy; Margravine consort of Namur-Prince Charleslater Charles IJoanna I24 February 150023 January 151614 March 1516became King21 September 1558Prince of AsturiasPrince of VianaDuke of MontblancCount of CerveraLord of BalaguerPrince of VianaDuke of Burgundy, Brabant, Limburg, Lothier and Luxembourg,Count of Artois, Burgundy, Flanders, Hainaut,Holland, Namur and Zeeland-Prince Philiplater Philip IICharles I21 May 152716 January 1556became King13 September 1598Prince of AsturiasPrince of VianaDuke of MontblancCount of CerveraLord of BalaguerKing of NaplesKing of England and IrelandDuke of MilanMaria Manuela, Princess of PortugalMary I of EnglandPrince CarlosPhilip II8 July 154516 January 155624 July 1568Prince of AsturiasPrince of VianaDuke of MontblancCount of CerveraLord of Balaguer-Prince Ferdinand4 December 157118 October 1578Prince of AsturiasPrince of VianaDuke of MontblancCount of CerveraLord of Balaguer-Prince Diego15 August 157518 October 1578brother's death21 November 1582Prince of AsturiasPrince of VianaDuke of MontblancCount of CerveraLord of BalaguerPrince of Portugal-Prince Philiplater Philip III14 April 157821 November 1582brother's death14 April 1598became King31 March 1621Prince of AsturiasPrince of VianaDuke of MontblancCount of CerveraLord of BalaguerPrince of Portugal-Prince Philiplater Philip IVPhilip III8 April 160531 March 1621became King17 September 1665Prince of AsturiasPrince of VianaDuke of MontblancCount of CerveraLord of BalaguerPrince of PortugalElisabeth of BourbonPrince Baltasar CarlosPhilip IV17 October 16299 October 1646Prince of AsturiasPrince of VianaDuke of MontblancCount of CerveraLord of BalaguerPrince of Portugal-Prince Philip Prospero20 November 16571 November 1661Prince of AsturiasPrince of VianaDuke of MontblancCount of CerveraLord of Balaguer-Prince Charleslater Charles II 6 November 166117 September 1665became King1 November 1700Prince of AsturiasPrince of VianaDuke of MontblancCount of CerveraLord of Balaguer-Prince Felipelater Felipe VIJuan Carlos I30 January 196822 November 197521 January 197719 June 2014livingPrince of AsturiasPrince of VianaDuke of MontblancCount of CerveraLord of BalaguerLetizia Ortiz RocasolanoPrincess LeonorFelipe VI31 October 200519 June 201419 June 2014IncumbentlivingPrincess of AsturiasPrincess of VianaDuchess of MontblancCountess of CerveraLady of Balaguer
See also Count of Girona Princess of Girona List of titles and honours of the Heir Apparent to the Spanish Throne
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