Ferdinand, Prince of Asturias (4 December 1571 – 18 October 1578) was a member of the
House of Habsburg
The House of Habsburg (; ), also known as the House of Austria, was one of the most powerful Dynasty, dynasties in the history of Europe and Western civilization. They were best known for their inbreeding and for ruling vast realms throughout ...
who was
heir apparent
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. A person who is first in the current order of succession but could be displaced by the birth of a more e ...
to the Spanish throne.
Biography

Born on 4 December 1571 at the
Royal Alcázar of Madrid, Ferdinand was the eldest child of Philip II and Anne of Austria. His mother was Philip II's niece and fourth wife. His elder half-brother,
Don Carlos, had died in 1568, which meant that he was the new heir-apparent at birth and therefore
Prince of Asturias
Prince or Princess of Asturias () is the main substantive title used by the heir apparent, or heir presumptive to the monarchy of Spain, Spanish Crown. According to the Spanish Constitution of 1978:
The title originated in 1388, when King J ...
. To thank God for the birth of the long-awaited son, prisoners were released – as commemorated in
Titian
Tiziano Vecellio (; 27 August 1576), Latinized as Titianus, hence known in English as Titian ( ), was an Italian Renaissance painter, the most important artist of Renaissance Venetian painting. He was born in Pieve di Cadore, near Belluno.
Ti ...
's painting, ''Philip II Offering Don Fernando to Victory''.
Most of his time was spent with his mother, his nurses and his two elder half sisters
Catherine
Katherine (), also spelled Catherine and Catherina, other variations, is a feminine given name. The name and its variants are popular in countries where large Christian populations exist, because of its associations with one of the earliest Ch ...
and
Isabella.
On 31 May 1573, Ferdinand was officially made Prince of Asturias at
San Jerónimo el Real.
Ferdinand died of
dysentery
Dysentery ( , ), historically known as the bloody flux, is a type of gastroenteritis that results in bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, and a feeling of incomplete defecation. Complications may include dehyd ...
. His father was eventually succeeded by his youngest brother,
Philip III of Spain
Philip III (; 14 April 1578 – 31 March 1621) was King of Spain and King of Portugal, Portugal (where he is known as Philip II of Portugal) during the Iberian Union. His reign lasted from 1598 until his death in 1621. He held dominion over the S ...
.
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferdinand, Prince of Asturias
1571 births
1578 deaths
16th-century House of Habsburg
Princes of Asturias
Dukes of Montblanc
Spanish heirs apparent who never acceded
Children of Philip II of Spain
Burials in the Pantheon of Infantes at El Escorial
Spanish royalty who died as children
Sons of kings
Sons of dukes
Sons of counts