Louis I of Spain

Louis I (Luis Felipe; 25 August 1707 – 31 August 1724) was King of Spain from 15 January 1724 until his death in August the same year. His reign is one of the shortest in history, lasting for just over seven months.

"Louis of Spain" redirects here. For the 14th-century admiral of France, see Luis de la Cerda.
Louis I
Portrait by Jean Ranc, 1724
King of Spain
Reign15 January 1724 – 31 August 1724
PredecessorPhilip V
SuccessorPhilip V
Born25 August 1707
Buen Retiro, Madrid, Spain
DiedAugust 31, 1724(1724-08-31) (aged 17)
Buen Retiro, Madrid, Spain
Burial
El Escorial
Spouse
Full name
Spanish: Luis Felipe de Borbón y Saboya
HouseBourbon
FatherPhilip V of Spain
MotherMaria Luisa of Savoy
ReligionRoman Catholicism
Signature

Infante of Spain

Louis was born at Palacio del Buen Retiro, in Madrid as the eldest son of the reigning King Philip V of Spain and his wife Maria Luisa of Savoy. He was named after his great grandfather Louis XIV of France.

Prince of Asturias

At birth he was the heir apparent but was not given the traditional title of "Prince of Asturias" until April 1709. In 1714, when Louis was seven, his mother died, leaving him and his brothers, Infante Ferdinand and Infante Felipe Pedro. On 24 December 1714, Louis' father remarried to Elisabeth Farnese, the young heiress to the Duchy of Parma.

Marriage

As heir not only to the vast Spanish empire, but also to a new dynasty, it was decided that Louis would take a wife as soon as possible. On 20 January 1722, at Lerma, he met and married Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans, a daughter of Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans, cousin of Louis' father and then the Regent of France. The dowry of this marriage was an enormous 4 million livres.[1]

King of Spain

Louis ruled for a short period between the time his father Philip V abdicated in his favour (14 January 1724) and his death from smallpox, just over seven months later. King Philip sent him a letter informing him of his decision. He calls his son a great king. Louis sent his father a humble reply thanking him and signed his letter as Prince of Asturias. His marital problems dominated during his reign. His father kept tabs on him from San Ildefonso. To counter his father's influence, he surrounded himself with officials who had not served under Philip. His plans were to focus more on the American colonies rather than the lost Italian territories. On his death, his father returned to the throne, and reigned until his own death in 1746. Louis was buried in the Cripta Real del Monasterio de El Escorial part of the El Escorial complex.

Ancestry
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References
  1. Réimpression de l'ancien Moniteur, seule histoire authentique et inaltérée

Sources
  • Danvila, Alfonso. El reinado relámpago, Luis I y Luisa Isabel de Orleáns, 1707–1724. Madrid: Espasa-Calpe, 1952. Reprinted as Luis I y Luisa Isabel de Orleans: el reinado relámpago. Madrid: Alderabán, 1997.
Louis I of Spain
Cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty
Born: 25 August 1707 Died: 31 August 1724
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Philip V		 King of Spain
1724		 Succeeded by
Philip V
Spanish royalty
Preceded by
Charles (II)		 Prince of Asturias
1709–1724		 Succeeded by
Ferdinand (VI)
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