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 ...

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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