Infante

Title and rank given in the Iberian kingdoms of Spain and Portugal

"Infanta" redirects here. For other uses, see Infanta (disambiguation).

For other uses, see Infante (disambiguation).

Infante (Spanish: [iɱˈfante], Portuguese: [ĩˈfɐ̃tɨ]; 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.

## Spanish infantes

[edit]

See also: Infante of Spain

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.[3] 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 are (by precedence):

* 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 (younger sister of above);
* Infanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria (younger sister of former King Juan Carlos I)

## 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][4]

* 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.

## 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

## Footnotes

[edit]

1. ^ 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 (in French), ISBN 2-9507974-3-1.
2. ^ a b c "The style of Infante | Infanta de España at Heraldica". Archived from the original on 2017-09-05. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
3. ^ Spanish: [1] Archived 2008-06-24 at the Wayback Machine 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)
4. ^ "Casa Real Portuguesa – A Família Real". Archived from the original on 2020-06-28. Retrieved 2020-06-19.

* v
* t
* e

Spanish royal titles

* List of Spanish monarchs

Titles|

* King
* Queen
* Prince of Asturias
* Princess
* Infante
* Infanta
* Duchess of Soria
* Duke
* Duchess of Lugo
* Duke

Inactive|

* Duke of Segovia
* Duchess
* Duke of Cádiz
* Duchess
* Duchess of Badajoz
* Duke
* Duchess of Palma de Mallorca
* Duke
* Duke of Galliera
* Duchess
* Count of Chinchón
* Countess
* Count of Montemolín
* Countess
* Count of Molina
* Countess
* Count of Montizón
* Countess

* v
* t
* e

Infantes of Spain

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.

1st generation|

* Felipe II

2nd generation|

* Carlos, Prince of Asturias
* Fernando, Prince of Asturias
* Diego, Prince of Asturias
* Felipe III

3rd generation|

* Felipe IV
* Infante Carlos
* Infante Fernando
* Infante Alonso

4th generation|

* Baltasar Carlos, Prince of Asturias
* Felipe Próspero, Prince of Asturias
* Carlos II

5th generation|

* None

6th generation|

* None

7th generation|

* Luis I
* Infante Felipe Pedro
* Fernando VI
* Carlos III
* Felipe I, Duke of Parma
* Infante Luis, Count of Chinchón

8th generation|

* Infante Felipe, Duke of Calabria
* Carlos IV
* Fernando I of the Two Sicilies
* Infante Gabriel
* Infante Antonio Pascual
* Infante Francisco Javier
* Fernando I, Duke of Parma1

9th generation|

* Fernando VII
* Infante Carlos
* Infante Francisco de Paula
* Infante Pedro Carlos, Infante of Portugal1
* Luis I of Etruria2

10th generation|

* Infante Antonio, Duke of Montpensier2
* Infante Carlos1
* Infante Juan1
* Infante Fernando1
* Francisco de Asís, King Consort of Spain1
* Infante Enrique, Duke of Seville1
* Infante Sebastián, Infante of Portugal1
* Carlos II, Duke of Parma1

11th generation|

* Alfonso XII
* Infante Gaetan, Count of Girgenti2
* Infante Luis Fernando2
* Infante Antonio, Duke of Galliera1
* Carlos III, Duke of Parma1

12th generation|

* Infante Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies2
* Infante Ferdinand of Bavaria2
* Infante Alfonso, Duke of Galliera1
* Infante Luis Fernando of Orléans1
* Roberto I, Duke of Parma1

13th generation|

* Alfonso, Prince of Asturias
* Infante Jaime, Duke of Segovia
* Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona
* Infante Gonzalo
* Infante Alfonso, Duke of Calabria1
* Infante Álvaro, Duke of Galliera

14th generation|

* Juan Carlos I
* Infante Alfonso
* Infante Carlos, Duke of Calabria1

15th generation|

* Felipe VI

16th generation|

* None

* 1 title granted by Royal Decree
* 2 consort to an Infanta naturalized as a Spanish Infante

* v
* t
* e

Infantas of Spain

Generations indicate descent from Carlos I, under whom the crowns of Castile and Aragon were united, forming the Kingdom of Spain.

1st generation|

* María, Holy Roman Empress
* Joanna, Princess of Portugal

2nd generation|

* Isabel Clara Eugenia, Duchess of Brabant
* Catalina Micaela, Duchess of Savoy

3rd generation|

* Ana, Queen of France
* Infanta María
* María Ana, Holy Roman Empress
* Infanta Margarita

4th generation|

* María Teresa, Queen of France
* Margarita Teresa, Holy Roman Empress

5th generation|

* None

6th generation|

* None

7th generation|

* Mariana Victoria, Queen of Portugal
* María Teresa Rafaela, Dauphine of France
* María Antonia Fernanda, Queen of Sardinia

8th generation|

* Infanta María Josefa
* María Luisa, Holy Roman Empress
* Isabella, Archduchess Joseph of Austria

9th generation|

* Carlota Joaquina, Queen of Portugal
* María Amalia, Infanta Antonio Pascual of Spain
* María Luisa, Queen of Etruria and Duchess of Lucca
* María Isabel, Queen of the Two Sicilies

10th generation|

* Queen Isabel II
* Infanta Luisa Fernanda, Duchess of Montpensier
* Isabel Fernanda, Countess Ignaz Gurowski*
* Infanta Luisa Teresa, Duchess of Sessa*
* Infanta Josefa Fernanda, Mrs. José Guëll*
* María Cristina, Infanta Sebastian of Portugal and Spain*
* Amalia, Princess Adalbert of Bavaria*
* María Luisa Carlota, Hereditary Princess of Saxony*

11th generation|

* Infanta Isabel, Countess of Girgenti
* Infanta María del Pilar
* María de la Paz, Princess Ludwig Ferdinand of Bavaria
* Infanta Eulalia, Duchess of Galliera
* Infanta María Isabel, Countess of Paris*
* Infanta Maria Amelia*
* Infanta María Cristina*
* Maria de las Mercedes, Queen of Spain*

12th generation|

* Maria de las Mercedes, Princess of Asturias and Princess Carlos of Bourbon-Two-Sicilies
* María Teresa, Princess Ferdinand of Bavaria

13th generation|

* Infanta Beatriz, Princess of Citivella-Cesi
* Infanta María Cristina, Countess Marone
* Isabel Alfonsa, Countess Jan Kanty Zamoyski*
* Maria de las Mercedes, Princess Irakli Bagration of Mukhrani *

14th generation|

* Infanta Pilar, Duchess of Badajoz and Viscountess of La Torre
* Infanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria and Hernani

15th generation|

* Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo
* Infanta Cristina

16th generation|

* Leonor, Princess of Asturias
* Infanta Sofía

*title granted by Royal Decree

* v
* t
* e

Infantas of Spain by marriage

Generations start with the daughters-in-law of Charles I of Spain

1st generation|

* Maria Manuela, Princess of Portugal
* Mary I of England

2nd generation|

* None

3rd generation|

* Elisabeth of France

4th generation|

* None

5th generation|

* None

6th generation|

* None

7th generation|

* Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans
* Infanta Barbara of Portugal
* Princess Maria Amalia of Saxony
* Princess Louise Élisabeth of France

8th generation|

* Princess Maria Luisa of Parma
* Infanta Mariana Victoria of Portugal
* Infanta María Amalia of Spain*
* Archduchess Maria Amalia of Austria

9th generation|

* 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

10th generation|

* Isabella II of Spain*
* Infanta Maria Cristina of Spain*
* Princess Maria Amalia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
* Princess Maria Teresa of Savoy

11th generation|

* Infanta Eulalia of Spain*
* Louise Marie Thérèse of Artois

12th generation|

* 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 Antónia of Portugal

13th generation|

* Princess Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
* Princess Alicia of Bourbon-Parma

14th generation|

* Princess Sofía of Greece and Denmark

Since 1987, the spouses of infantes are no longer infantas.

* *also an Infanta in her own right

* v
* t
* e

Portuguese royalty

Designated royal titles|

* 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

Undesignated royal titles|

* Duke and Duchess of Coimbra
* Duke and Duchess of Viseu
* Duke and Duchess of Guimarães
* Duke and Duchess of Guarda

Royal households|

* House of the Infantado

List of heirs to the Portuguese throne - Portuguese nobility

* v
* t
* e

Infantes of Portugal

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.

1st generation|

* Sancho I

2nd generation|

* Afonso II
* Infante Pedro, Count of Urgell
* Infante Fernando, Count of Flanders

3rd generation|

* Sancho II
* Afonso III
* Infante Fernando, Lord of Serpa

4th generation|

* Dinis I
* Infante Afonso, Lord of Portalegre

5th generation|

* Afonso IV
* Infante Afonso, Lord of Leiria

6th generation|

* Pedro I

7th generation|

* Fernando I
* Infante João, Duke of Valencia de Campos
* Infante Dinis, Lord of Cifuentes

8th generation|

* Duarte I
* Infante Pedro, Duke of Coimbra
* Infante Henrique, Duke of Viseu
* Infante João, Constable of Portugal
* Infante Fernando

9th generation|

* 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

10th generation|

* João, Prince of Portugal
* João II
* Infante João, Duke of Viseu
* Infante Diogo, Duke of Viseu
* Manuel I

11th generation|

* Afonso, Hereditary 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

12th generation|

* Afonso, Prince of Portugal
* Manuel, Prince of Portugal
* Filipe, Prince of Portugal
* João Manuel, Prince of Portugal
* Infante Duarte, Duke of Guimarães

13th generation|

* Sebastião I
* Diogo, Prince of Portugal and Asturias§
* Filipe II§
* Manuel, Hereditary Prince of Portugalƒ

14th generation|

* Filipe III§
* Infante Carlos§
* Cardinal-Infante Fernando§
* Infante Alonso§

15th generation|

* Baltasar Carlos, Prince of Portugal and Asturias§
* Teodósio, Prince of Brazil
* Afonso VI
* Pedro II

16th generation|

* João, Prince of Brazil
* João V
* Infante Francisco, Duke of Beja
* Infante António
* Infante Manuel, Count of Ourém

17th generation|

* Pedro, Prince of Brazil
* José I
* Infante Carlos
* Pedro III
* Infante Alexandre

18th generation|

* None

19th generation|

* José, Prince of Brazil
* João VI

20th generation|

* Francisco António, Prince of Beira
* Pedro I of Brazil & IV of Portugal
* Miguel I
* Infante Pedro Carlos#

21st generation|

* João Carlos, Prince of Beira
* Pedro II of Brazil‡
* Infante Miguel, Duke of Braganzaƒ
* Infante Sebastião#

22nd generation|

* Pedro V¶
* Luís I¶
* Infante João, Duke of Beja¶
* Infante Fernando¶
* Infante Augusto, Duke of Coimbra¶
* Infante Miguel, Duke of Viseuƒ◙
* Infante Francisco Joséƒ◙
* Infante Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganzaƒ◙

23rd generation|

* Carlos I¶
* Infante Afonso, Duke of Porto¶
* Infante Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganzaƒ

24th generation|

* Luís Filipe, Prince Royal¶
* Manuel II¶
* Afonso, Prince of Beiraƒ

* 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, ◙ also a prince of Braganza, ¤ title removed in 1920 as their parents' marriage was deemed undynastic, ƒ claimant infante

* v
* t
* e

Infantas of Portugal

The generations indicate descent form 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.

| 1st generation|

* Urraca, Queen of León
* Teresa, Countess of Flanders
* Infanta Mafalda

|

2nd generation|

* Teresa, Queen of León
* Infanta Sancha, Lady of Alenquer
* Mafalda, Queen of Castile
* Infanta Branca, Lady of Guadalajara
* Berengária, Queen of Denmark

3rd generation|

* Leonor, Queen of Denmark

4th generation|

* Infanta Branca, Lady of Las Huelgas
* Infanta Sancha

5th generation|

* Constança, Queen of Castile and León
* Infanta Maria, Lady of Meneses and Orduña

6th generation|

* Maria, Queen of Castile and León
* Leonor, Queen of Aragon

7th generation|

* Infanta Maria, Marchioness of Tortosa
* Infanta Beatriz, Countess of Alburquerque

8th generation|

* Beatriz, Queen of Castile and León
* Isabel, Duchess of Burgundy

9th generation|

* Leonor, Holy Roman Empress
* Infanta Catarina
* Joana, Queen of Castile and León
* Isabel, Queen of Portugal
* Beatriz, Lady of Ravenstein
* Infanta Filipa
* Isabel, Queen of Castile and León
* Infanta Beatriz, Duchess of Viseu

10th generation|

* Joanna, Princess of Portugal
* Leonor, Queen of Portugal
* Isabel, Duchess of Braganza

11th generation|

* Isabel, Queen of Spain
* Beatriz, Duchess of Savoy
* Infanta Maria, Duchess of Viseu

12th generation|

* Maria Manuela, Princess of Portugal and Asturias
* Maria, Hereditary Princess of Parma
* Infanta Catarina, Duchess of Braganza

13th generation|

* Isabel Clara, Archduchess of Austria*
* Catalina Micaela, Duchess of Savoy*

14th generation|

* Ana, Queen of France*
* Infanta María*
* María Ana, Holy Roman Empress*
* Infanta Margarita*

15th generation|

* María Teresa, Queen of France*
* Joana, Princess of Beira
* Catarina, Queen of England and Scotland

16th generation|

* Isabel Luísa, Princess of Beira
* Infanta Francisca Josefa

17th generation|

* Bárbara, Queen of Spain

18th generation|

* Maria I
* Infanta Maria Ana
* Maria Doroteia
* Benedita, Princess of Brazil

19th generation|

* Mariana Victoria, Infanta Gabriel of Spain

20th generation|

* Infanta Maria Teresa, Countess of Molina
* Maria Isabel, Queen of Spain
* Infanta Maria Francisca, Countess of Molina
* Infanta Isabel Maria
* Infanta Maria da Assunção
* Infanta Ana de Jesus, Marchioness of Loulé

21st generation|

* Maria II**
* Infanta Januária, Countess of Aquila**
* Infanta Paula**
* Francisca, Princess of Joinville**
* Infanta Maria Amélia**
* Infanta Maria das Neves, Duchess of San Jaimeƒ
* Maria Teresa, Archduchess Karl Ludwig of Austriaƒ
* Maria José, Duchess Karl Theodor in Bavariaƒ
* Infanta Adelgundes, Duchess of Guimarãesƒ
* Maria Ana, Grand Duchess of Luxembourgƒ
* Maria Antónia, Duchess of Parmaƒ

22nd generation|

* Maria Ana, Princess Georg of Saxony***
* Antónia, Princess of Hohenzollern***
* Maria Teresa, Princess Karl Ludwig of Thurn und Taxisƒ◙
* Isabel Maria, Princess of Thurn und Taxisƒ◙
* Maria Ana, Princess Karl August of Thurn und Taxisƒ◙
* Infanta Maria Adelaide, Mrs. van Udenƒ◙

24th generation|

* Infanta Maria Francisca, Duchess of Coimbraƒ

* also an infanta of Spain and an archduchess of Austria, ** also an imperial princess of Brazil, *** also a princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duchess in Saxony, ◙ Also a princess of Braganza, ƒ title of pretense
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template