You’ve probably heard the name Felipe echoing through the halls of Spanish history more than a few times. It’s a classic. It’s regal. But honestly, if you’re trying to count the exact number of kings en España named Felipe, the answer isn't just a simple digit you can toss out without a bit of "well, actually."
Technically, there have been six.
But history is messy. One of them barely sat on the throne before he was gone, while others defined entire centuries. Some were "Prudents," one was "Handsome," and another was "Pious." If you’re looking for the breakdown of who these men were and why Spain keeps coming back to this name, you’re in the right place.
The Six Felipes: A Quick Reality Check
Let’s get the names on the board first. We aren't dealing with a perfectly spaced-out timeline here. You have a cluster of Habsburgs, a long-reigning Bourbon, and then a massive gap until our current monarch.
- Felipe I (The Handsome) – The one who started it all (and finished quickly).
- Felipe II (The Prudent) – The guy who built the Escorial and ruled half the world.
- Felipe III (The Pious) – Mostly known for letting his "favorites" run the show.
- Felipe IV (The Planet King) – A massive patron of the arts who saw the empire start to crack.
- Felipe V (The First Bourbon) – The longest-reigning king in Spanish history.
- Felipe VI – The man currently on the throne today.
Six men. Six very different Spains.
Why the First Felipe Barely Counts (But Does)
Felipe I is a bit of a historical asterisk. Known as Felipe el Hermoso (Philip the Handsome), he wasn't even originally from Spain; he was a Habsburg from the Low Countries. He married Juana la Loca, the daughter of the famous Catholic Monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand.
His reign? Blink and you missed it.
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He was King of Castile in 1506 for just a few months before he died suddenly at age 28. Some people said it was typhoid; others whispered about poison. Because he died so young, his father-in-law Ferdinand basically stepped back in until Felipe’s son, Carlos I (the famous Emperor Charles V), was old enough to take over. Even though his time was short, he’s the reason the Habsburg dynasty took root in Spain.
The Golden Age and the Three Habsburg Felipes
When people talk about the number of kings en España named Felipe, they are usually thinking of the 16th and 17th centuries. This was the era of the "Austrias," the Spanish Habsburgs.
Felipe II: The Heavyweight
Felipe II was a workaholic. Seriously. He sat at a desk in the middle of a massive stone monastery (El Escorial) and tried to micromanage an empire that stretched from the Philippines to Peru. He was the one who sent the Spanish Armada against Elizabeth I. Under him, Spain reached its absolute peak. But he was also a man of deep contradictions—deeply religious, incredibly stubborn, and perpetually stressed.
Felipe III: The Chill One
Then came his son, Felipe III. If his dad was a micromanager, Felipe III was the guy who stayed in his room playing video games—well, the 1600s version of that. He loved hunting and theater. He famously delegated almost all his power to the Duke of Lerma. It was a time of "Pax Hispanica," a bit of peace, but also the start of some serious economic rot.
Felipe IV: The Art Lover
Felipe IV reigned for a staggering 44 years. He’s the face you see in all those famous Velázquez paintings. He was obsessed with the arts, but his reign was basically a long, slow slide downhill for the Spanish Empire. Wars in France, wars in the Netherlands, revolts in Catalonia... the guy had a lot on his plate.
The Bourbon Switch: Felipe V
After the Habsburgs literally ran out of heirs (look up Carlos II if you want a lesson in why inbreeding is bad), a new family took over: The Bourbons.
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Felipe V was the grandson of the French "Sun King" Louis XIV. His arrival sparked the War of the Spanish Succession because half of Europe didn't want France and Spain to become one giant superpower. He eventually won the throne and stayed there for 45 years.
Fun fact: He actually abdicated the throne to his son Luis I in 1724, but the kid died of smallpox seven months later. Felipe had to come back and take the job again. Talk about a weird career path.
The Modern Era: Felipe VI
Fast forward through a couple of Republics, a Civil War, and a long dictatorship. After King Juan Carlos I abdicated in 2014, his son took over as Felipe VI.
He’s a very different kind of king.
He’s a trained lawyer, he’s got a Master’s from Georgetown, and he’s spent most of his reign trying to modernize the monarchy and distance it from the scandals of the past. He doesn't have the "absolute power" of Felipe II; he’s a constitutional monarch. Basically, he represents the state but doesn't pass the laws.
Breaking Down the Numbers
If you're keeping score on the number of kings en España named Felipe, it’s helpful to see how the dynasties split the name.
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- Habsburgs: 4 (Felipe I, II, III, IV)
- Bourbons: 2 (Felipe V, VI)
It’s interesting that the name was dormant for almost 300 years between the two Bourbons. When Juan Carlos named his son Felipe, it was a very deliberate nod to the first Bourbon king, signaling a sense of continuity and tradition.
Common Misconceptions About the Felipes
People often get confused about the numbering. You might see "Felipe I of Castile" and wonder why he isn't "Felipe I of Spain."
The truth? "Spain" as a single, unified legal entity didn't really exist in 1506 the way it does now. It was a collection of kingdoms (Castile, Aragon, etc.) sharing a monarch. It wasn't until Felipe V (the Bourbon) passed the Nueva Planta decrees that the different legal systems were mostly smashed together into one centralized state.
So, while we call the first guy Felipe I of Spain today for simplicity, his contemporaries saw him specifically as the King of Castile.
What You Should Take Away
The number of kings en España named Felipe is six, but those six men represent the entire arc of Spanish history. You have the messy start with the Habsburgs, the absolute height of global power, the slow decline, the transition to the French Bourbon style, and finally, the modern democratic monarchy we see today.
If you’re planning a trip to Madrid or just want to sound smart at a dinner party, here are three actionable things to look for:
- Visit El Escorial: This is Felipe II's brain in stone form. It's cold, massive, and tells you everything you need to know about his "Prudent" personality.
- Look at the Prado Portraits: Go to the Velázquez rooms. You’ll see Felipe IV’s face everywhere. Notice the jawline—that's the "Habsburg jaw," a result of generations of family-only marriages.
- Check the Royal Palace: When you see the current King Felipe VI on the news, notice the "renewed monarchy" vibe he tries to project. It’s a direct response to the long, complicated history of the namesakes who came before him.
Knowing the Felipes is basically knowing the DNA of Spain itself. Each one left a mark, for better or worse, on the map and the culture of the country.
Practical Next Steps
- Map the Timeline: If you are studying for a history exam, create a simple timeline marking the shift from the Habsburg (1506–1700) to the Bourbon (1700–present) dynasties to avoid mixing up their political goals.
- Verify the Royal Decree: If you're researching the legal unification of Spain, look specifically for the Nueva Planta Decrees under Felipe V, as this is the moment the "Kingdoms" became a single "Country."
- Explore the Arts: Research the relationship between Felipe IV and Diego Velázquez to see how royal patronage shaped the Spanish Golden Age of art, which remains Spain's greatest cultural export.