Heir apparent

Person who is first in line of succession

For other uses, see Heir apparent (disambiguation).

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An heir apparent is a person who is first in the order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person.[note 1] A person who is first in the current order of succession but could be displaced by the birth of a more eligible heir is known as an heir presumptive.

Today these terms most commonly describe heirs to hereditary titles (e.g. titles of nobility) or offices, especially when only inheritable by a single person. Most monarchies refer to the heir apparent of their thrones with the descriptive term of crown prince or crown princess, but they may also be accorded with a more specific substantive title:[note 2] such as Prince of Orange in the Netherlands, Duke of Brabant in Belgium, Prince of Asturias in Spain (also granted to heirs presumptive), or the Prince of Wales in England and Wales; former titles include Dauphin in the Kingdom of France, and Tsesarevich in Imperial Russia.

The term is also applied metaphorically to an expected successor to any position of power, e.g. a political or corporate leader.

This article primarily describes the term heir apparent in a hereditary system regulated by laws of primogeniture—it may be less applicable to cases where a monarch has a say in naming the heir (performed either while alive, e.g. crowning the heir as a rex iunior, or through the monarch's will).

## Heir apparent versus heir presumptive

[edit]

Throngs before the Imperial Palace in Japan awaiting the appearance of the Crown Prince Hirohito for the recent proclamation of his official recognition as the heir apparent to the Japanese Imperial Throne – New York Times, 1916.

In a hereditary system governed by some form of primogeniture, an heir apparent is easily identifiable as the person whose position as first in the line of succession to a title or office is secure, regardless of future births. An heir presumptive, by contrast, can always be "bumped down" in the succession by the birth of somebody more closely related in a legal sense (according to that form of primogeniture) to the current title-holder.

The clearest example occurs in the case of a childless bearer of a hereditary title that can only be inherited by one person. If at any time the title bearer were to produce children, those children would rank ahead of any person who had formerly been heir presumptive.

Many legal systems assume childbirth is always possible regardless of age or health. In such circumstances a person may be, in a practical sense, the heir apparent but still, legally speaking, heir presumptive. Indeed, when Queen Victoria succeeded her uncle King William IV, the wording of the proclamation even gave as a caveat:

> ...saving the rights of any issue of his late Majesty King William IV, which may be born of his late Majesty's consort.

This provided for the possibility that William's wife, Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, was pregnant at the moment of his death, since such a posthumous child, regardless of its sex, would have displaced Victoria from the throne.[1] Adelaide was 44 at the time, so pregnancy was possible even if unlikely.

### Daughters in male-preference primogeniture

[edit]

Main articles: Male heir and Son preference

Daughters (and their lines) may inherit titles that descend according to male-preference primogeniture, but only in default of sons (and their heirs). That is, both female and male offspring have the right to a place somewhere in the order of succession, but when it comes to what that place is, a female will rank behind her brothers regardless of their ages or her age.

Thus, normally, even an only daughter will not be an heiress apparent, since at any time a brother might be born who, though younger, would assume that position. Hence, she is an heiress presumptive. For example, Queen Elizabeth II was the heiress presumptive during the reign of her father, King George VI; had George fathered a legitimate son, then that child would have displaced Elizabeth in the line of succession and become heir apparent.

However, a granddaughter could for example be an heiress apparent if she were the only daughter of the deceased eldest son of the sovereign (e.g. Queen Elizabeth II would have been the heiress apparent to George V if her oldest uncle and father both had died before their father).

### Women as heirs apparent

[edit]

In a system of absolute primogeniture that disregards gender, female heirs apparent occur. As succession to titles, positions, or offices in the past most often favoured males, females considered to be an heir apparent were rare. Absolute primogeniture was not practised by any modern monarchy for succession to their thrones until the late twentieth century, with Sweden being the first to adopt absolute primogeniture in 1980 and other Western European monarchies following suit.

Since the adoption of absolute primogeniture by most of the Western European monarchies, examples of female heirs apparent include Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, and Princess Elisabeth of Belgium; they are, respectively, the oldest children of Kings Carl XVI Gustaf, Willem-Alexander, and Philippe. Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway is heir apparent to her father, who is heir apparent to the Norwegian throne, and Victoria herself has a female heir apparent in her elder child, Princess Estelle. Victoria was not heir apparent from birth (in 1977), but gained the status in 1980 following a change in the Swedish Act of Succession. Her younger brother Carl Philip (born 1979) was thus heir apparent for a few months (and is a rare example of an heir apparent losing this status without a death occurring).

In 2015, pursuant to the 2011 Perth Agreement, the Commonwealth realms changed the rules of succession to the 16 thrones of Elizabeth II to absolute primogeniture, except for male heirs born before the Perth Agreement. The effects are not likely to be felt for many years; the first two heirs at the time of the agreement (Charles, Prince of Wales, later Charles III, and his son William, Prince of Wales) were already eldest born children, and in 2013 William's first-born son Prince George of Wales became the next apparent successor.

But even in legal systems that apply male-preference primogeniture, female heirs apparent are by no means impossible: if a male heir apparent dies leaving no sons but at least one daughter, then the eldest daughter would replace her father as heir apparent to whatever throne or title is concerned, but only when it has become clear that the widow of the deceased is not pregnant. Then, as the representative of her father's line she would assume a place ahead of any more distant relatives. For example, if George, Prince of Wales (the future George IV) were to have died between 1796 and 1817, his daughter, Princess Charlotte, would have become heiress apparent to the British throne, as with her father dead, there would be no possibility she could be displaced by the birth of a younger brother. Such a situation has not to date occurred with the English or British throne; several times an heir apparent has died, but each example has either been childless or left a son or sons. However, there have been several female heirs apparent to British peerages (e.g. Frances Ward, 6th Baroness Dudley, and Henrietta Wentworth, 6th Baroness Wentworth).

In one special case, however, England and Scotland had a female heir apparent. The Revolution settlement that established William and Mary as joint monarchs in 1689 only gave the power to continue the succession through issue to Mary II, elder daughter of the previous king, James II. William, by contrast, was to reign for life only, and his (hypothetical) children by a wife other than Mary would be placed in his original place (as Mary's first cousin) in the line of succession—after Mary's younger sister Anne. Thus, after Mary's death William continued to reign, but he had no power to beget direct heirs,[2] and Anne became the heir apparent for the remainder of William's reign. She eventually succeeded him as Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

## Displacement of heirs apparent

[edit]

The position of an heir apparent is normally unshakable: it can be assumed they will inherit. Sometimes, however, extraordinary events—such as the death or the deposition of the parent—intervene.

### People who lost heir apparent status

[edit]

* On 30 April 892, Al-Mufawwid was removed from the succession to the Abbasid Caliphate.[3] When al-Mu'tamid died in October 892, he was succeeded by Al-Mu'tadid.[4]
* Parliament deposed James Francis Edward Stuart, the infant son of King James VII & II (of Scotland and of England and Ireland respectively) whom James II was rearing as a Catholic, as the King's legal heir apparent—declaring that James had, de facto, abdicated—and offered the throne to James II's elder daughter, the young prince's much older Protestant half-sister, Mary (along with her husband, Prince William of Orange). When the exiled King James died in 1701, his Jacobite supporters proclaimed the exiled Prince James Francis Edward as King James VIII of Scotland and James III of England and Ireland; but neither he nor his descendants (the last of whom died in 1807) were ever successful in their bids for the throne.
* Crown Prince Gustav (later known as Gustav, Prince of Vasa), son of Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden, lost his place when his father was deposed and replaced by Gustav IV Adolf's aged uncle, the Duke Carl, who became Charles XIII of Sweden in 1809. The aged King Charles XIII did not have surviving sons, and Prince Gustav was the only living male of the whole dynasty (besides his deposed father), but the prince was never regarded as heir of Charles XIII, although there were factions in the Riksdag and elsewhere in Sweden who desired to preserve him, and, in the subsequent constitutional elections, supported his election as his grand-uncle's successor. Instead, the government proceeded to have a new crown prince elected (which was the proper constitutional action, if no male heir was left in the dynasty), and the Riksdag elected first August, Prince of Augustenborg, and then, after August's death, the Prince of Ponte Corvo (Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, who acceded as Charles XIV John in 1818). The two lines united later, when Charles XIV John's great-grandson Crown Prince Gustaf (who acceded as Gustaf V in 1907) married Gustav IV Adolf's great-granddaughter Victoria of Baden, who became Crown Princess of Sweden. Thus, from Gustav VI Adolf onward, the kings of Sweden are direct descendants of both Gustav IV Adolf and his son's replacement as crown prince, Charles XIV John.
* Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, at his birth in 1979, was heir apparent to the throne of Sweden. Less than eight months later, a change in that country's succession laws instituted absolute primogeniture, and Carl Philip was supplanted as heir apparent by his elder sister Victoria.
* Muqrin bin Abdulaziz became Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia in January 2015 upon the death of his half-brother King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the accession of another half-brother, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to the Saudi throne. In April of that year, Salman removed Muqrin as Crown Prince, replacing him with their nephew Muhammad bin Nayef. Muhammad bin Nayef himself was later replaced as Crown Prince by the king's son Mohammad bin Salman.

### Breaching legal qualification of heirs apparent

[edit]

In some jurisdictions, an heir apparent can automatically lose that status by breaching certain constitutional rules. Today, for example:

* A British heir apparent would lose this status if he or she became a Catholic. This is the only religion-based restriction on the heir apparent. Previously, marrying a Catholic also equated to losing this status. However, in October 2011 the governments of the then-16 Commonwealth realms (now 15), of which King Charles III is monarch, agreed to remove the restriction on marriage to a Catholic. All of the Commonwealth realms subsequently passed legislation to implement the change, which fully took effect in March 2015.
* Swedish Crown Princes and Crown Princesses would lose heir apparent status, according to the Act of Succession, if they married without approval of the monarch and the Government, abandoned the "pure Evangelical faith", or accepted another throne without the approval of the Riksdag.
* Dutch Princes and Princesses of Orange would lose status as heir to the throne if they married without the approval of the States-General, or simply renounced the right.
* Spanish Princes and Princesses of Asturias would lose status if they married against the express prohibition of the monarch and the Cortes.
* Belgian Dukes and Duchesses of Brabant would lose heir apparent status if they married without the consent of the monarch, or became monarch of another country.
* Danish Crown Princes and Princesses would lose status if they married without the permission of the monarch. When the monarch grants permission for a dynast to enter marriage, he may set conditions that must be met for the dynasts and/or their children to gain or maintain a place in the line of succession; this also applies for Crown Princes and Princesses.

## Current heirs apparent

[edit]

Country  | Picture  | Name of heir apparent  | Title  | Date of birth (age)  | Relation to monarch

|
|
|
|
|

Bahrain |  | Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa | Crown Prince of Bahrain  |  (1969-10-21) October 21, 1969 (age 55) | eldest son
Belgium |  | Elisabeth | Princess,
Duchess of Brabant |  (2001-10-25) October 25, 2001 (age 23) | eldest child
Bhutan |  | Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck | Dragon Prince of Bhutan,
Druk Gyalsey of Bhutan  |  (2016-02-05) February 5, 2016 (age 9) | eldest child
Brunei |  | Al-Muhtadee Billah | Crown Prince of Brunei Darussalam  |  (1974-02-17) February 17, 1974 (age 51) | eldest son
Denmark |  | Christian | Crown Prince of Denmark,
Count of Monpezat |  (2005-10-15) October 15, 2005 (age 19) | eldest child
Jordan |  | Hussein bin Abdullah | Crown Prince of Jordan  |  (1994-06-28) June 28, 1994 (age 31) | elder son
Kuwait |  | Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah | Crown Prince of Kuwait  |  (1953-03-03) March 3, 1953 (age 72) | maternal half-nephew and paternal second cousin
Lesotho |  | Lerotholi Seeiso | Crown Prince of Lesotho  |  (2007-04-18) April 18, 2007 (age 18) | only son
Liechtenstein |  | Alois | Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg |  (1968-06-11) June 11, 1968 (age 57) | eldest son
Luxembourg |  | Guillaume | Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg  |  (1981-11-11) November 11, 1981 (age 43) | eldest child
Monaco |  | Jacques | Hereditary Prince of Monaco, Marquis of Baux |  (2014-12-10) December 10, 2014 (age 10) | only legitimate son
Morocco |  | Moulay Hassan | Crown Prince of Morocco  |  (2003-05-08) May 8, 2003 (age 22) | only son
Netherlands |  | Catharina-Amalia | Princess of Orange |  (2003-12-07) December 7, 2003 (age 21) | eldest child
Norway |  | Haakon Magnus | Crown Prince of Norway  |  (1973-07-20) July 20, 1973 (age 52) | only son
Oman |  | Theyazin bin Haitham | Sayyid,
Crown Prince of Oman |  (1990-08-21) August 21, 1990 (age 34) | eldest son
Saudi Arabia |  | Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud | Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia  |  (1985-08-31) August 31, 1985 (age 39) | child
Sweden |  | Victoria | Crown Princess of Sweden,
Duchess of Västergötland |  (1977-07-14) July 14, 1977 (age 48) | eldest child
Tonga |  | Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala | Crown Prince of Tonga  |  (1985-09-17) September 17, 1985 (age 39) | elder son
United Kingdom
and 14 other Commonwealth realms |  | William | Prince of Wales,
Earl of Chester,
Duke of Cornwall,
Duke of Rothesay,
Earl of Carrick,
Baron of Renfrew,
Lord of the Isles,
Prince and Great Steward of Scotland |  (1982-06-21) June 21, 1982 (age 43) | elder son

## Heirs apparent who never inherited the throne

[edit]

### Heirs apparent who predeceased the monarch

[edit]

Heir apparent  | Lived  | Heir of  | Cause of death

|
|
|

Kawab | Died before 2566 BC  | Khufu | Unknown causes
Setka | Died before 2558 BC  | Djedefre
Yanassi | Died before 1580 BC  | Khyan
Ahmose-ankh | Died before 1525 BC  | Ahmose I
Amenemhat | Died c. 1455 BC  | Thutmose III | Plague
Amenmose | Died before 1493 BC  | Thutmose I | Unknown causes
Amenhotep | Died before 1401 BC  | Amenhotep II
Thutmose | Died before 1353 BC  | Amenhotep III
Nakhtmin | Died before 1323 BC  | Ay | Either died of unknown causes or was killed by Horemheb
Amun-her-khepeshef | Died c. 1254 BC  | Ramesses II | Unknown causes
Ramesses | Died c. 1229 BC
Khaemweset | Died c. 1224 BC
Amun-her-khepeshef | Died before 1155 BC  | Ramesses III
Crown Prince Mian | Died 707 BC  | Duke Huan of Chen | Killed by uncle Chen Tuo
Yukou | BC 672  | Duke Xuan of Chen | Killed
Fusu | Died 210 BC  | Qin Shi Huang | Forced to commit suicide
Liu Ju | BC 128–BC 91  | Emperor Wu of Han | Killed
Pacorus I | Died BC 38  | Orodes II of Parthia | Killed in battle
Gaius Caesar | BC 20–4 AD  | Augustus | Wounds
Lucius Caesar | BC 17–2 AD  | Sudden illness
Germanicus | BC 15–19 AD  | Tiberius | Mysterious illness
Drusus Julius Caesar | BC 13–23 AD  | Suspected poisoning
Nero Julius Caesar | 6–31  | Starvation
Drusus Caesar | 7–33
Tiberius Gemellus | 19–37  | Caligula | Killed
Lucius Aelius Caesar | 101–138  | Hadrian | Hemorrhage
Marcus Annius Verus Caesar | 162–169  | Marcus Aurelius | Natural causes
Cao Ang | Died in 197  | Cao Cao | Killed in battle
Sun Deng | 209–241  | Emperor Da of Wu | Illness
Valerian II | Died 258  | Gallienus | Died under mysterious circumstances
Liu Xuan | 224–264  | Liu Shan | Killed in Disaster of Yongjia
Sima Yu | 278–300  | Emperor Hui of Jin | Killed by Empress Jia Nanfeng
Nigrinian | Died 284/285  | Carinus | Unknown causes
Tuoba Huang | 428–451  | Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei
Xiao Zhangmao | 458–493  | Emperor Wu of Southern Qi | Illness
Xiao Tong | 501–531  | Emperor Wu of Liang
Yang Zhao | 584–606  | Emperor Yang of Sui
Li Jiancheng | 589–626  | Emperor Gaozu of Tang | Killed during the Xuanwu Gate Incident
Mardanshah | Died 628  | Khosrow II | Killed
Li Hong | 652–675  | Emperor Gaozong of Tang | Illness
Prince Kusakabe | 662–689  | Empress Jitō
Li Chongrun | 682–701  | Emperor Zhongzong of Tang | Executed by Empress Wu Zetian
Li Chongjun | 683–707  | Killed after coup
Li Ying | Died in 737  | Emperor Xuanzong of Tang | Killed
Li Ning | 793–812  | Emperor Xianzong of Tang | Illness
Li Yong | Died in 838  | Emperor Wenzong of Tang | Unknown cause
Liudolf, Duke of Swabia | 930–957  | Otto the Great | Fever
Saint Emeric of Hungary | 1007–1031  | Stephen I of Hungary | Hunting accident
Edward the Exile | 1016–1057  | Edward the Confessor | Unknown cause
Henry of Burgundy | 1035–1070  | Robert I, Duke of Burgundy
Sancho Alfónsez | 1093–1108  | Alfonso VI of León and Castile | Killed at the Battle of Uclés
William Adelin | 1103–1120  | Henry I of England | Drowned in the White Ship disaster
Zhao Fu | 1127–1129  | Emperor Gaozong of Song | Illness
Henry of Scotland | 1114–1152  | David I of Scotland
Roger III, Duke of Apulia | 1118–1148  | Roger II of Sicily | Unknown causes
Eustace IV, Count of Boulogne | 1127–1153  | Stephen, King of England | Sudden death
Henry Berengar | 1136–1150  | Conrad III of Germany | Illness
Peter of Barcelona  | 1152–1157  | Petronilla of Aragon and Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona | Unknown cause
Roger IV, Duke of Apulia | 1152–1161  | William I of Sicily | Arrow to the eye
William IX, Count of Poitiers | 1153–1156  | Henry II of England | Seizure
Henry the Young King | 1155–1183  | Dysentery
Ferdinand of Castile | 1189–1211  | Alfonso VIII of Castile | Fever
Ferdinand of León | 1192–1214  | Alfonso IX of León | Unknown cause
Naratheinga Uzana | 1197–1235  | Htilominlo
Sigurd Lavard | Died 1200  | Sverre of Norway
Alexios Palaiologos | Died 1203  | Alexios III Angelos | Natural causes
Valdemar the Young | 1209–1231  | Valdemar II of Denmark | Hunting accident
Andronikos Palaiologos | Died 1216  | Theodore I Laskaris | Disease
Vladislaus III of Moravia | 1228–1247  | Wenceslaus I of Bohemia | Illness
Thihathu of Pagan | 1230s–1256  | Uzana of Pagan | Assassinated
Odo, Count of Nevers | 1230–1266  | Hugh IV, Duke of Burgundy | Died during Crusades
John, Count of Charolais | 1231–1268  | Illness
Haakon the Young | 1232–1257  | Haakon IV of Norway
Zhenjin | 1243–1286  | Kublai Khan
Louis of France | 1244–1260  | Louis IX of France
George | 1250–1268  | David VII of Georgia | Bowel disease
Fernando de la Cerda | 1255–1275  | Alfonso X of Castile | Unexpected causes
Louis of France | 1264–1276  | Philip III of France | Illness
Alexander, Prince of Scotland | 1264–1284  | Alexander III of Scotland
Henry, son of Edward I | 1268–1274  | Edward I of England
Theingapati | 1270s–1299  | Kyawswa of Pagan | Assassinated
Charles Martel of Anjou | 1271–1295  | Charles II of Naples | Plague
Louis I, Count of Nevers | 1272–1322  | Robert III, Count of Flanders | Illness
Alphonso, Earl of Chester | 1273–1284  | Edward I of England | Illness
Charles, Duke of Calabria | 1298–1328  | Robert, King of Naples
Eric Christoffersen of Denmark | 1307–1332  | Christopher II of Denmark | Died in battle
Otto the Younger | 1322–1366  | Henry II, Landgrave of Hesse | Illness
Philip I, Count of Auvergne | 1323–1346  | Odo IV, Duke of Burgundy and Joan III, Countess of Burgundy | Fell from horse during siege
Edward, the Black Prince | 1330–1376  | Edward III of England | A long lasting illness
Christopher, Duke of Lolland | 1341–1363  | Valdemar IV of Denmark | Illness
Charles Martel, Duke of Calabria | 1345–1348  | Joanna I of Naples
Zhu Biao | 1355–1392  | Hongwu Emperor
Martin I of Sicily | 1374–1409  | Martin of Aragon | Malaria
David Stewart, Duke of Rothesay | 1378–1402  | Robert III of Scotland | Starvation
Henry V of England | 1387–1422  | Charles VI of France (by the Treaty of Troyes)  | Dysentery
Minye Kyawswa | 1391–1415  | Minkhaung I | Killed in battle
Peter of Aragon | 1394–1400  | Martin I of Sicily and Maria, Queen of Sicily | Wound from spear
Louis, Duke of Guyenne | 1397–1415  | Charles VI of France | Dysentery
John, Duke of Touraine | 1398–1417  | Abscess to the head
Martin of Aragon | 1406–1407  | Martin I of Sicily | Illness
Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York | 1411–1460  | Henry VI of England (by Act of Accord)  | Killed in battle
Charles, Prince of Viana | 1421–1461  | John II of Aragon and Navarre | Unknown causes
Alexander Stewart, Duke of Rothesay | 1430  | James I of Scotland | Illness
Crown Prince Uigyeong | 1438–1457  | Sejo of Joseon | Illness
Gaston, Prince of Viana | 1444–1470  | Gaston IV, Count of Foix | Wounds in jousting tournament
Zhu Jianji | 1448–1453  | Jingtai Emperor | Illness
John, Prince of Portugal | 1451  | Afonso V of Portugal | Sudden death
Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales | 1453–1471  | Henry VI of England | Killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury
Ivan the Young | 1458–1490  | Ivan III of Russia | Gout
Zhu Youji | 1469–1472  | Chenghua Emperor | Illness
Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales | 1473–1484  | Richard III of England | Unknown
Afonso, Prince of Portugal | 1475–1491  | John II of Portugal | Horse riding accident
John, Prince of Asturias | 1478–1497  | Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon | Tuberculosis
Philip I of Castile | 1478–1506  | Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor | Typhoid fever
Arthur, Prince of Wales | 1486–1502  | Henry VII of England | Unknown illness
Charles Orlando, Dauphin of France | 1492–1495  | Charles VIII of France | Measles
Miguel da Paz, Prince of Portugal | 1498–1500  | Manuel I of Portugal | Illness
John, Hereditary Prince of Saxony | 1498–1537  | George, Duke of Saxony
Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Saxony | 1504–1539
James, Duke of Rothesay | 1507–1508  | James IV of Scotland
Arthur Stewart, Duke of Rothesay | 1509–1510
Magnus III of Mecklenburg-Schwerin | 1509–1550  | Henry V, Duke of Mecklenburg
Henry, Duke of Cornwall | 1511  | Henry VIII of England | Sudden death
Şehzade Mustafa | 1515–1553  | Suleiman the Magnificent | Executed
Francis III, Duke of Brittany | 1518–1536  | Francis I of France | Tuberculosis
Bhoj Raj | Died 1526  | Rana Sanga | Died in battle
Afonso, Prince of Portugal | 1526  | John III of Portugal | Illness
Prince George of Kakheti | 1529–1561  | Levan of Kakheti | Died in battle
Manuel, Prince of Portugal | 1531–1537  | John III of Portugal | Illness
Philip, Prince of Portugal | 1533–1539
João Manuel, Hereditary Prince of Portugal | 1537–1554  | Tuberculosis or diabetes
Crown Prince Sunhoe | 1551–1563  | Myeongjong of Joseon | Illness
Tsarevich Dmitry Ivanovich of Russia | 1552–1553  | Ivan IV of Russia | Drowned
Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich of Russia | 1554–1581  | Wounds to the head inflicted by his father during a dispute
Karl Friedrich of Jülich-Cleves-Berg | 1555–1575  | William, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg | Smallpox
Mingyi Swa | 1558–1593  | Nanda Bayin | Killed in battle
Prince George of Kakheti | 1570–1605  | Alexander II of Kakheti | Killed alongside his father
Ferdinand, Prince of Asturias | 1571–1578  | Philip II of Spain | Dysentery
Diego, Prince of Asturias | 1575–1582  | Smallpox
Philip de' Medici | 1577–1582  | Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany | Hydrocephalus
John Ernest, Hereditary Count of Nassau-Siegen | 1582–1617  | John VII, Count of Nassau-Siegen | Dysentery
Philip Emmanuel, Prince of Piedmont | 1586–1605  | Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy | Smallpox
Khusrau Mirza | 1587–1622  | Jahangir | Killed by his brother Shah Jahan
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales | 1594–1612  | James I of England | Typhoid fever
Otto, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel | 1594–1617  | Maurice, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel | Accidentally shot himself
Christian, Prince-Elect of Denmark | 1603–1647  | Christian IV of Denmark | Illness
Louis of Anhalt-Köthen (the Younger) | 1607–1624  | Louis I, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Charles Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers | 1609–1631  | Charles Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat
Crown Prince Sohyeon | 1612–1645  | Injo of Joseon | Bleeding from the head
Henry Frederick, Hereditary Prince of the Palatinate | 1614–1629  | Frederick V, Elector Palatine | Drowned
Erdmann August, Hereditary Prince of Brandenburg-Bayreuth | 1615–1651  | Christian, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth | Illness
Dara Shikoh | 1615–1659  | Shah Jahan | Killed by his brother Aurangzeb
George Louis, Prince of Nassau-Dillenburg | 1618–1656  | Louis Henry, Prince of Nassau-Dillenburg | Illness
Maurice Frederick of Nassau-Siegen | 1621–1638  | William, Count of Nassau-Siegen | Died in the Battle of Kallo
Ercole, Marquis of Baux | 1623–1651  | Honoré II, Prince of Monaco | Gunshot wound
Ferdinand Maximilian, Hereditary Prince of Baden-Baden | 1625–1669  | William, Margrave of Baden-Baden | Hunting accident
Balthasar Charles, Prince of Asturias | 1626–1646  | Philip IV of Spain | Smallpox
Ferdinand IV, King of the Romans | 1633–1654  | Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Theodosius III, Duke of Braganza and Prince of Brazil  | 1634–1653  | John IV of Portugal | Tuberculosis
Sigismund Casimir | 1640–1647  | Władysław IV Vasa | Dysentery
Tsarevich Dmitry Alexeyevich of Russia | 1648–1649  | Alexis of Russia | Illness
Prince Luarsab of Kartli | Died 1652  | Rostom of Kartli | Gunshot wound
Tsarevich Alexei Alexeyevich of Russia | 1654–1670  | Alexis of Russia | Illness
Leopold George, Hereditary Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg | 1654–1675  | William Christoph, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg
Prince Mamuka of Imereti | Died 1654  | Rostom of Kartli | Died in captivity
Charles, Electoral Prince of Brandenburg | 1655–1674  | Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg | Dysentery
Philip Prospero, Prince of Asturias | 1657–1661  | Philip IV of Spain | Epileptic attack
Louis, le grand Dauphin | 1661–1711  | Louis XIV of France | Smallpox
Ferdinando de' Medici, Grand Prince of Tuscany | 1663–1713  | Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany | Illness
Charles of Mecklenburg-Güstrow | 1664–1688  | Gustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow | Smallpox
Odoardo Farnese, Hereditary Prince of Parma | 1666–1693  | Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma | Illness
Archduke Leopold Joseph of Austria | 1682–1684  | Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
Louis, Dauphin and Duke of Burgundy | 1682–1712  | Louis XIV of France | Measles
João, Prince of Brazil | 1688  | Peter II of Portugal | Illness
Birbhadra Shah | Died c.1697  | Prithvipati Shah
Joseph Ferdinand, Electoral Prince of Bavaria | 1692–1699  | Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria | Sudden illness
Count Palatine Joseph Charles of Sulzbach | 1694–1729  | Theodore Eustace, Count Palatine of Sulzbach | Illness
Crown Prince Friedrich Ludwig | 1698–1731  | Eberhard Louis, Duke of Württemberg
Victor Amadeus, Prince of Piedmont | 1699–1715  | Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia | Smallpox
Archduke Leopold Joseph of Austria | 1700–1701  | Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor | Hydrocephalus
Frédéric Maurice Casimir de La Tour d'Auvergne | 1702–1723  | Emmanuel Théodose de La Tour d'Auvergne | Illness
Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Baden-Durlach | 1703–1732  | Charles III William, Margrave of Baden-Durlach
Louis, Hereditary Prince of Lorraine | 1704–1711  | Leopold, Duke of Lorraine | Smallpox
Joseph, Hereditary Prince of Hesse-Rotenburg | 1705–1744  | Ernest Leopold, Landgrave of Hesse-Rotenburg | Illness
Ludwig Gruno of Hesse-Homburg | 1705–1745  | Frederick III, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg
Louis, Dauphin and Duke of Brittany | 1707–1712  | Louis XIV of France | Measles
Léopold Clément, Hereditary Prince of Lorraine | 1707–1723  | Leopold, Duke of Lorraine | Smallpox
Frederick, Prince of Wales | 1707–1751  | George II of Great Britain | A burst abscess in the lung
Pedro, Prince of Brazil | 1712–1714  | John V of Portugal | Unknown disease
Peter Petrovich | 1715–1719  | Peter the Great | Unknown causes
Crown Prince Hyojang | 1719–1728  | Yeongjo of Joseon | Illness
Louis, Dauphin of France | 1729–1765  | Louis XV of France | Tuberculosis
Yonglian | 1730–1738  | Qianlong Emperor | Illness
Crown Prince Sado of Joseon (Korea) | 1735–1762  | Yeongjo of Joseon (Korea)  | His father killed him by locking him in a rice chest
Lê Duy Vĩ | 1745–1772  | Lê Hiển Tông | Executed[5]
Charles Louis, Hereditary Prince of Baden | 1755–1801  | Charles Frederick, Margrave of Baden | Illness
Shō Tetsu | 1759–1788  | Shō Boku | Unknown cause
José, Prince of Brazil | 1761–1788  | Maria I of Portugal | Smallpox
Thado Minsaw | 1762–1808  | Bodawpaya | Illness
Karl Georg August, Hereditary Prince of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel | 1766–1806  | Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick
Charles August, Crown Prince of Sweden | 1768–1810  | Charles XIII of Sweden | Stroke
Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Anhalt-Dessau | 1769–1814  | Leopold III, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau | Illness
Carlo, Duke of Calabria | 1775–1778  | Ferdinand IV of Naples | Smallpox
Frederick Louis, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin | 1778–1819  | Frederick Francis I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin | Illness
Nguyễn Phúc Cảnh | 1780–1801  | Gia Long Emperor | Smallpox
Louis Joseph, Dauphin of France | 1781–1789  | Louis XVI of France | Tuberculosis
Crown Prince Munhyo | 1782–1788  | Jeongjo of Joseon | Illness
Abbas Mirza | 1789–1833  | Fath-Ali Shah Qajar
Mirza Dara Bakht | 1790–1841  | Bahadur Shah Zafar
Crown Prince Hyomyeong | 1809–1830  | Sunjo of Joseon
Prince Ferdinand Philippe, Duke of Orléans | 1810–1842  | Louis-Philippe I of France | Carriage accident
Mirza Fath-ul-Mulk Bahadur | 1816–1856  | Bahadur Shah Zafar | Cholera
Kanaung Mintha | 1820–1866  | Mindon Min | Assassinated
Tēvita ʻUnga | 1824–1879  | George Tupou I | Liver ailment
Louis Philippe, Crown Prince of Belgium | 1833–1834  | Leopold I of Belgium | Inflammation of mucous membrane
Victoria Kamāmalu | 1838–1866  | Kamehameha V | Illness
Keaweaweulaokalani I | 1839  | Kamehameha III
William, Prince of Orange | 1840–1879  | William III of the Netherlands | Debauchery
Keaweaweulaokalani II | 1842  | Kamehameha III | Illness
Nicholas Alexandrovich, Tsarevich of Russia | 1843–1865  | Alexander II of Russia | Meningitis
Vuna Takitakimālohi | 1844–1862  | George Tupou I | Illness
Raja Musa ibni Sultan Abdul Samad  | 1844–1884  | Abdul Samad of Selangor | Unknown causes
Charles Augustus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach | 1844–1894  | Charles Alexander, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach | Illness
Afonso, Prince Imperial of Brazil | 1845–1847  | Pedro II of Brazil | Epilepsy
Trailokya, Crown Prince of Nepal | 1847–1878  | Surendra of Nepal | Unknown causes
Pedro Afonso, Prince Imperial of Brazil | 1848–1850  | Pedro II of Brazil | Fever
ʻElisiva Fusipala Taukiʻonetuku | 1850–1889  | George Tupou I | Illness
Alexander, Prince of Orange | 1851–1884  | William III of the Netherlands | Typhus
Leleiohoku II | 1854–1877  | Kalākaua | Rheumatic fever
ʻUelingatoni Ngū | 1854–1885  | George Tupou I | Illness
Ludvonga | 1855–1872  | Mswati II | Poisoned
Leopold, Hereditary Prince of Anhalt | 1855–1886  | Frederick I, Duke of Anhalt | Illness
Şehzade Yusuf Izzeddin | 1857–1916  | Mehmed V | Suicide (disputed)
Albert Kamehameha | 1858–1862  | Kamehameha IV | Meningitis
Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria | 1858–1889  | Franz Joseph I of Austria | Suicide (disputed)
Prince Leopold, Duke of Brabant | 1859–1869  | Leopold II of Belgium | Pneumonia, after falling into a pond
Nalesoni Laifone | 1859–1889  | George Tupou I | Illness
Araya Selassie Yohannes | 1869/1870–1888  | Yohannes IV | Smallpox
Alfred, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha | 1874–1899  | Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha | Unclear circumstances
Maha Vajirunhis, Crown Prince of Siam | 1878–1895  | Rama V | Typhoid
Luís Filipe, Prince Royal of Portugal | 1887–1908  | Carlos I of Portugal and the Algarves | Jointly assassinated with his father
Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani | 1896–1948  | Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani | Illness
Turki I bin Abdulaziz Al Saud | 1900–1919  | Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia | Flu
Sultan, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia | 1925–2011  | Abdullah of Saudi Arabia | Illness
Muhammed Akbar Khan, Crown Prince of Afghanistan | 1933–1941  | Mohammed Zahir Shah
Nayef, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia | 1934–2012  | Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
Muhammad bin Sultan Al Qasimi  | 1974–1999  | Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi | Heroin overdose
Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi | 1980–2019  | Drug overdose

### Heirs apparent who abandoned or were forced to abandon their claims

[edit]

Heir apparent  | Birth/death  | Heir to  | Reason for abandoning claim

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|
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Darius | Died 465 BC  | Xerxes I | Upon the murder of Xerxes I, Darius was framed for the murder and subsequently executed
Liu Rong | Died 148 BC  | Emperor Jing of Han | Disinherited after his mother angered the emperor by requesting the position of empress and refusing to allow the marriage of Liu Rong to Chen Jiao
Kunala | Born 263 BC  | Ashoka | Blinded
Antipater | 46–4 BC  | Herod the Great | Disinherited after being charged with intended murder. Subsequently executed.
Alexander | 35–7 BC  | Disinherited and executed
Aristobulus IV | 31–7 BC
Herod II | 27 BC–AD 33  | Disinherited
Agrippa Postumus | 12 BC–AD 14  | Augustus | Banished. Later executed by his own guards after the accession of Tiberius
Liu Jiang | 25–58  | Emperor Guangwu of Han | Disinherited after his mother lost the position of empress
Sun He | 224–253  | Sun Quan | Replaced with his brother Sun Liang
Sima Ying | 279–306  | Emperor Hui of Jin | Replaced as heir by Emperor Huai of Jin
Crispus | 295–326  | Constantine the Great | Executed by his father
Prince Kinashi no Karu | Died 453  | Emperor Ingyō | His brother Emperor Ankō took the throne instead
Yuan Xun | 483–497  | Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei | Disagreement of his father's policy
Hermenegild | Died 585  | Liuvigild | Disinherited for rebellion
Yang Yong | Died 604  | Emperor Wen of Sui | Forced to abdicate and killed by younger brother Yang Guang
Li Chengqian | 619–645  | Emperor Taizong of Tang | Attempted to overthrow his father and kill his brother by coup. Exiled for immorality and treason
Li Zhong | 642–665  | Emperor Gaozong of Tang | Empress Wu Zetian got the favor from Gaozong and his position was taken by his half brother Li Hong
Li Xian | 655–684  | Exiled by Empress Wu Zetian from rumors. Was later forced to commit suicide after Gaozong's death
Prince Kusakabe | 662–689  | Emperor Tenmu | Did not assume throne
Abd al-Aziz ibn Marwan | Died 705  | Marwan I | Removed from line of succession
Li Chengqi | 679–742  | Emperor Ruizong of Tang | Gave up the claim because he thought that he did not have the strength to be a wise emperor and his position was taken by his half brother Li Longji
Alexios Mosele | 9th century  | Theophilos | Disinherited for rebellion
Al-Mufawwid | Died 890s  | Al-Mu'tamid (Abbasid caliph)  | On 30 April 892, Al-Mufawwid was removed from the succession by his cousin, al-Mu'tadid and when al-Mu'tamid died in October 892, he was succeeded by al-Mu'tadid.
Al-Abbas ibn Ahmad ibn Tulun | Died 884  | Ahmad ibn Tulun | Disinherited for attempting to overthrow his father
Li Yu | Died in 904  | Emperor Zhaozong of Tang | Actually inherited the throne in fact, but not recognized as an emperor. Became crown prince again after two months and killed by Zhu Wen
Prince Tsunesada | 825–884  | Emperor Ninmyō | Disinherited in the Jōwa Incident
Yelü Bei | 899–937  | Emperor Taizu of Liao | Kept the favor away from her mother Empress Shulü Ping, because he thought their political view were totally opposite and his position was taken by his brother Yelü Deguang.
Fujiwara no Korechika | 974–1010  | Fujiwara no Michitaka | Lost in Chōtoku Incident to his uncle Fujiwara no Michinaga who seize the power and lost the position to inherent Kampaku.
Prince Atsuyasu | 999–1019  | Emperor Ichijō | Kugyō Fujiwara no Yukinari and Fujiwara no Michinaga forced him to give up the status and his half brother Prince Atsuhira took his position.
Abd al-Rahim ibn Ilyas | Died 1020s  | Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah | Sidelined upon Al-Hakim's death in favor of Al-Zahir li-i'zaz Din Allah, who had him arrested and imprisoned.
Al-Malik al-Aziz | Died 1049  | Jalal al-Dawla | Late ruler's nephew Abu Kalijar took the throne instead
Peter Raymundi | Born 1050  | Ramon Berenguer I, Count of Barcelona | Disinherited and exiled for killing his stepmother Almodis of La Marche
Conrad II of Italy | 1074–1101  | Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor | Disinherited for rebellion
Min Shin Saw | 1117–1167  | Alaungsithu | Exiled
William I, Count of Boulogne | 1137–1159  | Stephen, King of England | Treaty of Wallingford dictated the succession of Henry II of England
Demna of Georgia | 1155–1178  | David V of Georgia | Imprisoned, blinded and castrated by his uncle, King George III of Georgia
Zhao Hong | Died 1225  | Emperor Ningzong | Shi Miyuan and Empress Yang faked the edict of emperor.
Henry (VII) of Germany | 1211–1242  | Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor | Disinherited for rebellion
Louis of Toulouse | 1274–1297  | Charles II of Naples | Renounced rights to become a clergyman. His position of crown prince was taken by his brother Robert.
James of Majorca | 1275–1330  | James II of Majorca | Renounced rights to become a monk. His position of crown prince was taken by his brother Sancho.
Charles Robert of Anjou | 1288–1342  | Charles II of Naples | His uncle Robert was made heir instead on 13 February 1296
James of Aragon | 1296–1334  | James II of Aragon | Renounced rights to become a monk. His position of crown prince was taken by his brother Alfonso.
Otto, Duke of Lolland and Estonia | 1310–1346  | Christopher II of Denmark | Forced to surrender claim to the throne in favor of his brother Valdemar IV of Denmark
Prince Narinaga | 1326–c. 1337–44  | Emperor Kōmyō | Killed or deposed by Ashikaga Takauji
Eric XII of Sweden | 1339–1359  | Magnus VII of Norway | Renounced rights to become King of Sweden, with his brother Haakon VI of Norway taking the throne of Norway
Baw Ngan-Mohn | 1370–1390  | Binnya U | Imprisoned
Grand Prince Yangnyeong | 1394–1462  | Taejong of Joseon | Removed due to an affair
Vladislaus Jagiellon | 1456–1516  | Casimir IV Jagiellon of Poland-Lithuania  | Renounced rights after being elected King of Bohemia, with his brother Alexander Jagiellon taking the throne of Poland-Lithuania
Dmitry Ivanovich | 1483–1509  | Ivan III of Russia | Disinherited in favor of uncle Vasili III of Russia
Carlos, Prince of Asturias | 1545–1568  | Philip II of Spain | Arrested and imprisoned by his father; died in prison six months later
Minye Kyawswa II of Ava | 1567–1599  | Nanda Bayin | Defected
Cuyen | 1580–1615  | Nurhaci | Political conflict with his father; replaced by his brother Hong Taiji
Yinreng | 1674–1725  | The Kangxi Emperor | Imprisoned for life by Kangxi for immorality and treason; replaced by his brother Yinzhen
Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia | 1690–1718  | Peter the Great of Russia  | Imprisoned by his father and forced to relinquish his claim in favor of his half-brother Peter Petrovich. Died in prison.
Philip, Duke of Calabria | 1747–1777  | Charles III of Spain | Intellectually disabled; removed from the line of succession in favor of his brothers Charles and Ferdinand, who took the thrones of Spain and Naples and Sicily, respectively
Louis, Prince of Piacenza | 1773–1803  | Ferdinand I, Duke of Parma | The Treaty of Aranjuez forced Ferdinand to relinquish the Duchy of Parma to France upon his death. Louis was compensated by being made King of Etruria.
Pedro, Prince Imperial of Brazil | 1825–1891  | Pedro IV of Portugal | Became heir solely to Brazil, with his sister Maria becoming heir presumptive to Portugal
Mustafa Fazıl Pasha | 1830–1875  | Isma'il Pasha | Succession law changed to pass from father to son instead of brother to brother; replaced by Tewfik Pasha
Tengku Alam Shah | 1846–1891  | Sultan Ali of Johor | Throne given to kinsman Abu Bakar of Johor instead
Khalifa bin Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan | c.1856–?  | Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan | Refused throne, with his brother Tahnoun bin Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan becoming ruler instead
George, Crown Prince of Serbia | 1887–1972  | Peter I of Serbia | Abdicated his succession rights in 1909; replaced by his brother Alexander
Muhammad of Saudi Arabia | 1910–1988  | King Faisal ibn Abdul-Aziz | Forced to abdicate in 1965; replaced by his brother Khalid
Abdullah Mubarak Al-Sabah | 1914–1991  | Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah | Resigned as Vice Ruler in 1961
Tunku Abdul Rahman of Johor | 1933–1989  | Ismail of Johor | His elder brother Iskandar of Johor was reinstated after previously being forced to renounce his rights
Khalid bin Saqr Al Qasimi | Born 1940  | Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi | Disinherited in favor of his half-brother Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi
Muqrin of Saudi Arabia | Born 1945  | King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud | Removed as Crown Prince in April 2015; replaced by his nephew Muhammad bin Nayef
Hassan of Jordan | Born 1947  | King Hussein of Jordan | He was replaced by his nephew Abdullah only days before the king died in 1999
Muhammad bin Nayef of Saudi Arabia | Born 1959  | King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud | Removed as Crown Prince in June 2017; replaced by his cousin Mohammad bin Salman
Mishaal bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani | Born 1972  | Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani | Renounced his claim in 1996 in favor of his younger half-brother, Sheikh Jasim
Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani | Born 1978  | Renounced his claim in 2003 in favor of his younger brother, Sheikh Tamim
Prince Carl Philip of Sweden | Born 1979  | Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden | Swedish succession laws were changed in 1980. Carl Philip was supplanted by his elder sister Victoria
Prince Hamzah of Jordan | Born 1980  | Abdullah II of Jordan | Title of Crown Prince removed in 2004. Hamzah was supplanted by his half-nephew Hussein

### Heirs apparent of monarchs who themselves abdicated or were deposed

[edit]

Heir apparent  | Lived  | Heir to  | End of line/monarchy

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|
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Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus | 38–69  | Galba, Roman emperor  | Assassinated in 69 under orders of Otho
Gaius Julius Verus Maximus | 217–238  | Maximinus Thrax, Roman emperor  | Assassinated in 238
Publius Licinius Egnatius Marinianus | 249–268  | Gallienus, Roman emperor  | Killed in 268
Licinius II | 315–326  | Licinius, Roman emperor  | Both father and son were executed by Licinius' co-emperor Constantine the Great
Victor | Died 388  | Magnus Maximus, Western Roman emperor  | Both executed
Constans II | Died 411  | Constantine III (Western Roman emperor) | Both killed in revolts
Chen Yin | 573–618  | Chen Shubao | Chen dynasty fell
Theodosius | 583/585–602  | Maurice (Eastern Roman emperor)  | Both father and son executed by supporters of Phocas
Niketas the Persian | Died 636  | Shahrbaraz (Sassanian Empire)  | Shahrbaraz was killed after 40 days of rule
Tiberius IV | 705–711  | Justinian II | Both father and son overthrown and executed
Theophylact | 793–849  | Michael I Rangabe | Michael I abdicated in the face of a military revolt
Constantine | 800 and 810–?  | Leo V the Armenian | Leo V was assassinated and his heirs banished
Crown Prince Maui | 912–?  | Gyeongsun of Silla | Gyeongsun surrendered his throne to Taejo of Goryeo
Meng Xuanzhe | 937–991  | Meng Chang | Later Shu was defeated by the Song dynasty
William fitz Duncan | 1090–1147  | Duncan II of Scotland | Duncan II was killed in battle in 1094 and his uncle Donald III retook the throne
Daoud ibn al-Adid | Died 1207  | Al-Adid | The Ayyubid dynasty took power
Edward Balliol | 1283–1367  | John Balliol (king of Scotland)  | Abdicated following defeat in First War of Scottish Independence
Crown Prince Jeongseong | Died 1394  | Gongyang of Goryeo | Father and son were exiled and assassinated
Zhu Wenkui | Disappeared in 1402  | Jianwen Emperor | Prince Yan sacked Nanjing. Disappeared with his father Jianwen Emperor.
Ferdinand, Duke of Calabria | 1488–1550  | Frederick of Naples | Frederick was deposed in 1501 by Louis XII and Ferdinand II of Aragon
Deposed Crown Prince Yi Hwang | 1498–1506  | Yeonsangun of Joseon | Yeonsangun was deposed in 1506 in favor of his half-brother Jungjong of Joseon
John of Denmark | 1518–1532  | Christian II of Denmark | Christian II was deposed in 1523 in favor of his uncle Frederick I
Gustav of Sweden | 1568–1607  | Eric XIV of Sweden | Eric XIV was deposed in 1568 in favor of his half-brother John III
Gustav of Saxe-Lauenburg | 1570–1597  | Magnus II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg | Magnus' father Francis I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg reascended
Władysław Vasa | 1595–1648  | Sigismund of Sweden | Sigismund was deposed in 1599 in favor of his uncle Charles IX
Deposed Crown Prince Yi Ji | 1598–1623  | Gwanghaegun of Joseon | Gwanghaegun was deposed in 1623 in favor of his nephew Injo of Joseon
Zhu Cilang | 1629–1644  | Chongzhen Emperor | Ming conquered by Manchu and founded the Qing dynasty
Yunreng, Prince Limi of the First Rank | 1674–1725  | Kangxi Emperor | He was demoted by his father.
James Francis Edward Stuart | 1688–1766  | James II of England | James II was deposed in favor of his daughter and son-in-law Mary II and William III and II on 11 April 1689 for being Catholic
Yonglian, Crown Prince Duanhui | 1730–1738  | Qianlong Emperor | Died of smallpox aged 8.
Emich Karl, Hereditary Prince of Leiningen | 1763–1814  | Karl Friedrich Wilhelm, Prince of Leiningen | German mediatisation
Prince David of Georgia | 1767–1819  | George XII of Georgia | Annexation by Russia
Franz Joseph, Hereditary Prince of Dietrichstein | 1767–1854  | Karl Johann Baptist, Prince of Dietrichstein | German mediatisation
Henry, Hereditary Count of Stolberg-Wernigerode | 1772–1854  | Christian Frederick, Count of Stolberg-Wernigerode
Louis-Antoine, Dauphin and Duke of Angoulême | 1775–1844  | Charles X of France | Abdicated jointly with his father on 2 August 1830
Alexius, Hereditary Count of Bentheim and Steinfurt | 1781–1866  | Louis William Geldricus Ernest, Prince of Bentheim and Steinfurt | German mediatisation
Charles Thomas, Hereditary Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort | 1783–1849  | Dominic Constantine, Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort
Louis-Charles, Dauphin of France | 1785–1795  | Louis XVI of France | French Revolution
Duke Pius August in Bavaria | 1786–1837  | Wilhelm, Count Palatine of Birkenfeld-Gelnhausen | Annexation by Bavaria
Prince Constantine of Imereti | 1789–1844  | Solomon II of Imereti | Annexation by Russia
Ernst, Hereditary Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg | 1794–1860  | Karl Ludwig, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg | German mediatisation
Gustav, Prince of Vasa | 1799–1877  | Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden | Gustav's whole family was excluded from the line of royal succession on 10 May 1809 by the Riksdag of the Estates, after the deposition of Gustav IV Adolf in favor of his uncle Charles XIII
Maximilian Karl, Hereditary Prince of Thurn and Taxis | 1802–1871  | Karl Alexander, 5th Prince of Thurn and Taxis | German mediatisation
Jacques-Victor Henry | 1804–1820  | Henri Christophe (Haiti)  | Fearing a coup, Henri Christophe committed suicide and Jacques-Victor Henry was assassinated
Agustín Jerónimo, Prince Imperial of Mexico | 1807–1866  | Agustín I of Mexico | Deposed in 1823
Auguste de Beauharnais | 1810–1835  | Eugène de Beauharnais, Grand Duke of Frankfurt | Frankfurt again became a free city
Charles, Hereditary Prince of Lucca | 1823–1854  | Charles I, Duke of Lucca | Per the stipulations of the Congress of Vienna, upon the death of Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma, Lucca was traded for the Duke's ancestral land of Parma
Leopold, Prince of Hohenzollern | 1835–1905  | Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern | Annexed by Prussia on 7 December 1849
Prince Philippe, Count of Paris | 1838–1894  | Louis Philippe I of France | Declaration of the Second Republic on 24 February 1848
Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover | 1845–1923  | George V of Hanover | Annexation by Prussia in 1866
Ernest, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal | 1846–1925  | Charles II, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal
Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil | 1846-1921  | Pedro II of Brazil | Pedro II was deposed in 1889 by Coup of the Republic
Marama Teururai | 1851–1909  | Ari'imate | Ari'imate was deposed in 1868 in favor of his wife Tehaapapa II
William, Hereditary Prince of Nassau | 1852–1912  | Adolphe, Duke of Nassau | Annexation by Prussia in 1866
Louis Napoléon, Prince Imperial | 1856–1879  | Napoleon III of France | Napoleon III was deposed 4 September 1870 by the forces of the Third Republic
Crown Prince Gustaf of Norway | 1858–1950  | Oscar II of Norway | Dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905
Agustín, Prince of Iturbide | 1863–1925  | Maximilian I of Mexico | Monarchy abolished in 1867
Shō Ten | 1864–1920  | Shō Tai | Ryukyu Kingdom was annexed by Japan in 1872
Abdulmejid II | 1868–1944  | Mehmed VI | Ottoman Empire dissolved in 1922.
Teriivaetua | 1869–1918  | Pōmare V | Tahiti was annexed by France in 1880
Prince Emanuele Filiberto, Duke of Aosta | 1869–1931  | Amadeo I of Spain | Abdicated in 1873
Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria | 1869–1955  | Ludwig III of Bavaria | German monarchies abolished in November 1918
Danilo, Crown Prince of Montenegro | 1871–1939  | Nicholas I of Montenegro | Annexed by Serbia
Kaʻiulani | 1875–1899  | Liliʻuokalani | Annexation by the United States
Yuan Keding | 1878–1958  | Yuan Shikai | Short lived Empire abolished in March 1916
Wilhelm, German Crown Prince | 1882–1951  | Wilhelm II, German Emperor | Wilhelm was deposed by the German government on 9 November 1918
Georg, Crown Prince of Saxony | 1893–1943  | Frederick Augustus III of Saxony | German monarchies abolished in November 1918
Husain Bey, Crown Prince of Tunisia | 1893–1969  | Muhammad VIII al-Amin | Deposed in 1957
Heinrich XLV, Hereditary Prince Reuss Younger Line | 1895–1945  | Heinrich XXVII, Prince Reuss Younger Line | German monarchies abolished in November 1918
Josias, Hereditary Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont | 1896–1967  | Friedrich, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont
Wolfgang, Crown Prince of Finland | 1896–1989  | Fredrik Kaarle, King-elect of Finland | Monarchy abolished in 1918
Prince Wilhelm of Urach | 1897–1957  | Mindaugas II of Lithuania
Yi Un | 1897–1970  | Sunjong of Korea | Annexation by Korea in 1910
Nikolaus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg | 1897–1970  | Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg | German monarchies abolished in November 1918
Crown Prince Friðrik of Iceland | 1899–1972  | Kristján X of Iceland | Monarchy abolished on 17 June 1944
Muhammad Abdel Moneim | 1899–1979  | Abbas II of Egypt | Abbas II was deposed by the British for supporting the Ottomans in World War I
Georg Moritz, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Altenburg | 1900–1991  | Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg | German monarchies abolished in November 1918
Ernst, Hereditary Prince of Lippe  | 1902–1987  | Leopold IV, Prince of Lippe
Alexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of Russia | 1904–1918  | Nicholas II of Russia | Nicholas abdicated on 2/15 March 1917 on behalf of both himself and his son. The monarchy was abolished 1 September 1917
Umberto, Prince of Piedmont | 1904–1983  | Victor Emmanuel III of Ethiopia and Albania | Victor Emmanuel was only partially recognized in those countries, renounced claims in 1943 in favor of previous holders
Georg Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse | 1906–1937  | Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse | German monarchies abolished in November 1918
Johann Leopold, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha | 1906–1972  | Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Alfonso, Prince of Asturias | 1907–1938  | Alfonso XIII of Spain | Alfonso XIII was deposed by the formation of the Second Spanish Republic on April 14, 1931. Prince Alfonso renounced his claim on 21 June 1933 so he could marry a commoner
Friedrich Franz, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin | 1910–2001  | Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin | German monarchies abolished in November 1918
Ghazi bin Faisal | 1912–1939  | Faisal I of Syria | Deposed in 1920
Charles Augustus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach | 1912–1988  | William Ernest, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach | German monarchies abolished in November 1918
Archduke Otto, Crown Prince of Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia | 1912–2011  | Charles I of Austria | Austria and Hungary abolished the monarchy in 1918.
Abd al-Ilah | 1913–1958  | Ali of Hejaz | Deposed in 1925
Carol Victor, Hereditary Prince of Albania | 1913–1973  | Wilhelm, Prince of Albania | Fled into exile in 1914
Prince Ernest Augustus of Hanover | 1914–1987  | Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick | German monarchies abolished in November 1918
Amha Selassie | 1916–1997  | Haile Selassie of Ethiopia | Haile Selassie was overthrown in 1974 after being taken by communist Derg power
Hasan as-Senussi | 1928–1992  | Idris of Libya | Deposed in 1969
Vong Savang | 1931–1978  | Sisavang Vatthana | Monarchy abolished after Laotian Civil War
Ahmad Shah Khan, Crown Prince of Afghanistan | 1934–2024  | Mohammed Zahir Shah | Deposed in 1973
Bảo Long | 1936–2007  | Bảo Đại | 1955 State of Vietnam referendum
Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples | 1937–2024  | Umberto II of Italy | Italy abolished the monarchy on 12 June 1946, after Umberto II had reigned 33 days
Leka, Crown Prince of Albania | 1939–2011  | Zog of Albania | Two days after Leka's birth, Mussolini's Italy invaded Albania on 7 April 1939 and sent the royal family into exile
Crown Prince Amedeo of Savoy, Duke of Apulia | 1943–2021  | Tomislav II of Croatia | Tomislav II abdicated October 12, 1943 due to the Armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces, when Amedeo was only two weeks old
Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia | Born 1945  | Peter II of Yugoslavia | Peter II was deposed by Yugoslavia's Constituent Assembly on 29 November 1945
Abdelaziz bin Ahmed Al Thani | 1946–2008  | Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani | Deposed in 1972; Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani took the throne
Charles, Prince of Wales | Born 1948  | Elizabeth II of Pakistan, Ghana, South Africa, Tanganyika, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Guyana, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ceylon, Malta, Trinidad and Tobago, Fiji, Mauritius, and Barbados | Countries became republics (in order mentioned)
Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran | Born 1960  | Mohammad Reza Pahlavi | The Shah was overthrown by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979
Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece | Born 1967  | Constantine II of Greece | Constantine II fled into exile shortly after Pavlos's birth, and the monarchy was abolished 1 June 1973
Paras, Crown Prince of Nepal | Born 1971  | Gyanendra of Nepal | Gyanendra was deposed 28 May 2008 in favour of a republican government
Jean-Bédel Bokassa, Crown Prince of the Central African Empire | Born 1973  | Jean-Bédel Bokassa | Deposed in 1979

## See also

[edit]

* List of heirs apparent
* President-elect
* Prime minister-designate
* Heads of former ruling families

## Notes and references

[edit]

### Notes

[edit]

1. ^ assuming no change in the laws governing succession
2. ^ Note that the substantive titles do not usually correspond exactly with the status of heir apparent. See crown prince for more examples and information.

### References

[edit]

1. ^ "Proclamations of Accessions of British Sovereigns (1547–1952)". Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
2. ^ "King James’ Parliament: The succession of William and Mary – begins 13/2/1689" Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine The History and Proceedings of the House of Commons: volume 2: 1680–1695 (1742), pp. 255–277. Accessed: 16 February 2007.
3. ^ Fields 1987, pp. 166–169.
4. ^ Kennedy 1993, pp. 765–766.
5. ^ Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư, Basic Records, continued compilation 5

### Sources

[edit]

* Fields, Philip M., ed. (1987). The History of al-Ṭabarī, Volume XXXVII: The ʿAbbāsid Recovery: The War Against the Zanj Ends, A.D. 879–893/A.H. 266–279. SUNY Series in Near Eastern Studies. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-88706-054-0.
* Kennedy, Hugh N. (1993). "al-Muʿtamid ʿAlā 'llāh". In Bosworth, C. E.; van Donzel, E.; Heinrichs, W. P. & Pellat, Ch. (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Volume VII: Mif–Naz. Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 765–766\. ISBN 978-90-04-09419-2.

* v
* t
* e

Current heirs of sovereign monarchies

Africa|

* Lerotholi Seeiso
* Moulay Hassan

Americas|

* William

Asia|

* Salman
* Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck
* Al-Muhtadee Billah
* Fumihito
* Hussein
* Sabah
* Nazrin Shah
* Theyazin
* Abdullah
* Mohammed
* Dipangkorn Rasmijoti
* Khaled

Europe|

* Elisabeth
* Christian
* Alois
* Guillaume (planned abdication 3 October 2025)
* Jacques
* Catharina-Amalia
* Haakon
* Leonor
* Victoria
* William

Oceania|

* William
* Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala

* See also: Current monarchs of sovereign states

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*[e]: Edit this template
*[c.]: circa