The House of Bourbon-Anjou, also known simply as the Bourbon-Anjou dynasty, is the current reigning royal house of Spain. It is a cadet branch of the French House of Bourbon, itself a branch of the Capetian dynasty, and traces its lineage to the Anjou line of the Bourbons. The dynasty began with Philip V of Spain (1683–1746), the first Bourbon king of Spain, who was a grandson of King Louis XIV of France through his mother, Maria Theresa of Spain.
Origins
The Bourbon-Anjou line originates from the marriage of Louis XIV of France to Maria Theresa of Spain, which linked the French and Spanish branches of the Bourbon family. Their grandson, Philip of Anjou, succeeded to the Spanish throne in 1700 after the death of the childless Charles II of Spain, initiating the War of the Spanish Succession. The Treaty of Utrecht (1713) recognized Philip as King Philip V of Spain, establishing the Bourbon-Anjou dynasty on the Spanish throne.
Historical Development
- Early Reign (1700–1746): Philip V’s reign saw the implementation of French-influenced administrative reforms and the centralization of royal authority.
- 18th‑19th Centuries: The dynasty experienced periods of liberal reform, absolutist reaction, and political turbulence, including the Napoleonic invasion (1808) and the subsequent Peninsular War. The Bourbon restoration occurred in 1814 with Ferdinand VII, followed by intermittent constitutional and absolutist regimes.
- 20th Century: The monarchy was abolished in 1931, restored under General Francisco Franco’s regime in 1947, and fully reinstated with the accession of Juan Carlos I in 1975. Juan Carlos oversaw Spain’s transition to democracy.
- 21st Century: King Felipe VI, son of Juan Carlos I, ascended the throne in 2014 and continues the Bourbon-Anjou line.
Current Members
- Felipe VI (b. 1968), King of Spain since 2014.
- Queen Letizia (b. 1972), consort.
- Princess Leonor (b. 2005), Princess of Asturias and heir presumptive.
- Infanta Sofía (b. 2007), second daughter of Felipe VI.
- Other senior members include Infanta Elena, Infanta Cristina, and their descendants.
Dynastic Significance
The House of Bourbon-Anjou has played a central role in shaping modern Spanish constitutional monarchy, European diplomatic relations, and the cultural identity of Spain. Its members have been involved in numerous state reforms, international treaties, and the promotion of Spanish interests within the European Union and global forums.
Genealogical Note
The term “Bourbon‑Anjou” reflects the dynastic origin in the French province of Anjou, from which the senior French Bourbons descended. While the Spanish branch is commonly referred to as the “House of Bourbon” in most scholarly sources, the qualifier “Anjou” is used to distinguish it from other Bourbon lines (e.g., Bourbon-Parma, Bourbon-Two Sicilies).