Coat of arms of the monarchs of Navarre since 1580–1700

This is a list of the kings and queens of Pamplona, later Navarre. Pamplona was the primary name of the kingdom until its union with Aragon (1076–1134). However, the territorial designation Navarre came into use as an alternative name in the late tenth century, and the name Pamplona was retained well into the twelfth century.

House of Íñiguez, 824?–905

The Íñiguez dynasty are credited with founding the Navarrese kingdom (of Pamplona) in or around 824 when they are said to have risen against an attempt to extend Frankish (Carolingian) authority into the region. The Cordoban sources referred to them as sometimes-rebellious vassals, rather than in the manner used to refer to the Christian realms outside their control. They were supplanted in 905 when an anti-Cordoba coalition placed the succeeding Jiménez dynasty in power.

NamePortraitBirthMarriagesDeath
Íñigo Arista 824?–851/524 children851/52
García Íñiguez 851/52–882son of Íñigo AristaUrraca 5 children882
Fortún Garcés 882–905son of García ÍñiguezAuria 5 children922 (deposed 905)

House of Jiménez , 905–1234

In 905, a coalition of neighbors forced Fortún Garcés to retire to a monastery, and enthroned in his place a scion of a new dynasty. Under their reign, the name Navarre began to supplant that of Pamplona.

NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
Sancho I Garcés 905–925son of García Jiménez and Dadildis de PallarsToda of Navarre 6 children11 December 925 Resa
Jimeno Garcés 925–931son of García Jiménez and Dadildis de PallarsSancha of Navarre 3 children29 May 931
García Sánchez I 931–970919 son of Sancho I Garcés and Toda of NavarreAndregota Galíndez of Aragón 2 children Teresa Ramírez of León 3 children22 February 970 aged 51
Sancho II Garcés Abarca 970–994after 935 son of García Sánchez I and AndregotaUrraca Fernández 4 childrenDecember 994
García Sánchez II 994–1000/04son of Sancho II Garcés Abarca and Urraca FernándezJimena Fernández of Cea 981 4 children1000/04
Sancho III the Great 1004–1035985 son of García Sánchez II and Jimena Fernández of CeaMuniadona of Castile 1010 4 children18 October 1035
García Sánchez III 1035–10541016 son of Sancho III the Great and Muniadona of CastileEstefanía of Barcelona 1038 9 children15 September 1054 Atapuerca
Sancho IV Garcés 1054–10761039 son of García Sánchez III and Estefanía of BarcelonaPlacencia 1068 3 children4 June 1076 Peñalén

With the assassination of Sancho IV, Navarre was partitioned by his cousins Alfonso VI of León and Sancho Ramírez of Aragón, and the latter made king, leading to more than half a century of Aragonese control.

NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
Sancho V Ramírez 1076–10941042 son of Ramiro I of Aragón and Ermesinde of BigorreIsabel of Urgel 1065 1 child Felicia of Roucy 1076 3 children4 June 1094 Huesca aged approximately 52
Peter 1094–11041068 son of Sancho Ramírez, King of Aragón and Navarre and Isabella of UrgelAgnes of Aquitaine 1086 2 children Bertha of Aragón 1097 No children28 September 1104 Aran Valley aged approximately 36
Alfonso I the Battler 1104–11341073 son of Sancho Ramírez, King of Aragón and Navarre and Felicia of RoucyUrraca of León 1109 No children8 September 1134 Huesca aged approximately 61

The death of Alfonso led to a succession crisis in Aragón and the nobles of Navarre took advantage to reestablish an independent monarchy, crowning a grandnephew (through an illegitimate brother) of the assassinated Sancho IV.

NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
García Ramírez the Restorer 1134–1150son of Ramiro Sánchez of Monzón and Cristina RodríguezMarguerite de l'Aigle 1130 4 children Urraca of León 24 June 1144 2 children21 November 1150 Lorca
Sancho VI the Wise 1150–11941133 son of García Ramírez and Marguerite de l'AigleSancha of Castile 1157 6 children27 June 1194 Pamplona
Sancho VII the Strong 1194–12341157 Tudela son of Sancho VI of Navarre and Sancha of CastileConstance of Toulouse 1195 No children Clemence (of Hohenstaufen?) aft. 1201 1 son7 April 1234 Tudela

House of Champagne , 1234–1284

The death of Sancho VII, the last of the Jiménez kings, led to the crown of Navarre being inherited by the son of his sister Blanche, Countess of Champagne, she having been regent during much of her brother's reign.

NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
Theobald I the Posthumous 1234–125330 May 1201 Troyes son of Theobald III of Champagne and Blanche of NavarreGertrude of Dagsburg 1220 No children Agnes of Beaujeu 1222 1 child Margaret of Bourbon 1232 6 children8 July 1253 Pamplona aged 52
Theobald II the Young 1253–12701238 son of Theobald I of Navarre and Margaret of BourbonIsabelle of France 6 April 1255 No children4 December 1270 Trapani aged 32
Henry I the Fat 1270–12741244 son of Theobald I of Navarre and Margaret of BourbonBlanche of Artois 1269 2 children22 July 1274 aged 30
Joan I 1274–130514 January 1271 Bar-sur-Seine daughter of Henry I of Navarre and Blanche of ArtoisPhilip IV of France 16 August 1284 7 children4 April 1305 Château de Vincennes aged 34

Capetian dynasty , 1284–1441

House of Capet , 1284–1349

Henry's unexpected death left his infant daughter Joan as the only heir to the throne. Joan's mother Blanche of Artois served as regent for the next ten years. In 1284 Joan was married to the future Philip IV of France, ending Blanche's regency. Philip assumed the throne of France a year later as "King of France and Navarre".

NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)DeathClaim
Philip I the Fair Philip IV of France 1284–13051268 Fontainebleau son of Philip III of France and Isabella of AragonJoan I of Navarre 16 August 1284 7 children29 November 1314 Fontainebleau aged 46By the right of his wife, Joan I
Louis I the Quarreller Louis X of France 1305–13164 October 1289 Paris son of Philip IV of France and Joan I of NavarreMargaret of Burgundy 21 September 1305 1 child Clementia of Hungary 19 August 1315 1 child5 June 1316 Vincennes aged 26By the right of his mother, Joan I
John I the Posthumous of France 131615 November 1316 Paris son of Louis X of France and Clementia of Hungarynever married20 November 1316 Paris 5 daysBy the right of his father, Louis X
Philip II the Tall Philip V of France 1316–13221292 Lyon son of Philip IV of France and Joan I of NavarreJoan II, Countess of Burgundy 1307 7 children3 January 1322 Longchamp aged 29By the right of his mother, Joan I
Charles I the Fair Charles IV of France 1322–132819 June 1294 Clermont son of Philip IV of France and Joan I of NavarreBlanche of Burgundy 1307 2 children Marie of Luxembourg 1322 2 children Jeanne d'Évreux 1325 3 children1 February 1328 Vincennes aged 34By the right of his mother, Joan I
Joan II 1328–134928 January 1312 Charenton-le-Pont daughter of Louis X of France and Margaret of BurgundyPhilip III of Navarre 8 children6 October 1349 Charenton-le-Pont aged 37By the right of her father, Louis X By the right of the invitation of the general assembly

House of Évreux , 1328–1441

After the deaths of Louis and his infant son John, his brothers Philip and Charles held the crowns of France and Navarre until their own deaths. At that time, the crown of France passed to Philip of Valois, a distant cousin who was not descended from Joan I, and the crown of Navarre was allowed to pass to Louis' daughter Joan II, despite her presumed illegitimacy. Joan reigned together with her husband Philip III until his death, and then alone until her own death.

NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
Philip III the Wise (jure uxoris) 1328–134327 March 1306 son of Louis count of Evreux and Margaret of ArtoisJoan II of Navarre 8 children16 September 1343 Jerez de la Frontera aged 37
Charles II the Bad 1349–138710 October 1332 Évreux son of Philip III of Navarre and Joan II of NavarreJoan of France 7 children1 January 1387 Pamplona aged 54
Charles III the Noble 1387–142522 July 1361 Nantes son of Charles II of Navarre and Joan of FranceEleanor of Castile 1375 8 children8 September 1425 Olite aged 64
Blanche Ι 1425–14411387 Castile daughter of Charles III of Navarre and Eleanor of CastileMartin I of Sicily 26 December 1402 1 child John II of Aragon 10 June 1420 4 children3 April 1441 Santa María la Real de Nieva aged 56

House of Trastámara , 1425–1479

Blanche I reigned together with her husband John II. In 1458, John additionally inherited the crown of Aragon from his older brother; after his death, the Navarrese crown was given to Eleanor, the only living child of him and Blanche, while his Aragonese crown was given to Ferdinand II of Aragon, son of John and his second wife Juana Enríquez.

NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
John II the Great 1425–1441 (jure uxoris) 1425–1479 (de facto)29 June 1397 Medina del Campo son of Ferdinand I of Aragon and Eleanor of AlburquerqueBlanche 6 November 1419 4 children Juana Enríquez 2 children20 January 1479 Barcelona aged 81
Eleanor 14792 February 1425 Olite daughter of John II of Aragon and Blanche I of NavarreGaston IV, Count of Foix 11 children12 February 1479 Tudela aged 54

Claimants

After Blanche's death in 1441, John retained the crown of Navarre for himself until he died 38 years later, keeping it from his son and elder daughter, Charles IV and Blanche II. Conflict with his son led to the Navarrese Civil War. Though some of the sources regard Charles and Blanche as the legitimate monarchs, the de facto king of Navarre was still John II. Eleanor did not claim to be the queen until her father's death.

NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
Charles IV 1441–1461 (de jure, titular)29 May 1421 Peñafiel son of John II of Aragon and Blanche I of NavarreAgnes of Cleves No children23 September 1461 Barcelona aged 40
Blanche II 1461–1464 (de jure, titular)1424 Olite daughter of John II of Aragon and Blanche I of NavarreHenry IV of Castile No children2 December 1464 Orthez aged 40

House of Foix , 1479–1517

Eleanor, who had allied with her father against her brother and sister, outlived her father by only three weeks. By that time she was the widow of Gaston IV, Count of Foix, and their oldest son Gaston of Foix, Prince of Viana had also died. She was thus succeeded by her grandson Francis.

NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
Francis Phoebus 1479–14834 December 1467 son of Gaston of Foix, Prince of Viana, and Magdalena of Valoisnever married7 January 1483 Pau aged 15
Catherine 1483–15171468 daughter of Gaston of Foix, Prince of Viana, and Magdalena of ValoisJohn III of Navarre 13 children12 February 1517 Mont-de-Marsan aged 49

House of Albret , 1484–1516

Catherine reigned together with her husband John III. After his death, she reigned alone for eight months until her own death. During their reign, Navarre was defeated by Ferdinand II of Aragon in 1512, resulting in the loss of all its territory south of the Pyrenees, including the royal capital of Pamplona. Ferdinand, the son of John II and his second wife and thus the half-brother of Catherine's grandmother Eleanor, was then crowned King of Navarre, and that branch of the title descended through the Aragonese and Spanish monarchs. Catherine and John III were left with Lower Navarre, that small fraction of the kingdom's former territory that is on the north side of the Pyrenees, which was united with other lands in France that were under their control.

NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
John III (jure uxoris) 1484–15161469 son of Alain I of Albret and Francoise of Châtillon-LimogesCatherine of Navarre 13 children14 June 1516 Pau aged 47

House of Trastamara , 1512–1516

NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
Ferdinand I 1512–15161452 son of John II of Navarre and Juana EnríquezIsabella I of Castile 5 children23 January 1516 Madrigalejo aged 63

Division of the kingdom

Lower Navarre

In 1530, Charles V decided to renounce definitively any claim to Lower Navarre due to the impossibility of controlling it, and because it was being effectively ruled by Henry II. However, Charles V and his mother Joana III continued as kings in Upper Navarre.

Catherine and John III were left with that small fraction of the kingdom's former territory that is on the north side of the Pyrenees, which was united with other lands in France that were under their control.

House of Albret , 1517–1572

NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
Henry II 1517–155518 April 1503 Sangüesa son of John III of Navarre and Catherine of NavarreMargaret of Angoulême 1526 2 children25 May 1555 Hagetmau aged 52
Joana III 1555–157216 November 1528 Saint-Germain-en-Laye daughter of Henry II of Navarre and Margaret of AngoulêmeAntoine of Navarre 20 October 1548 5 children9 June 1572 Paris aged 43

House of Bourbon , 1572–1620

Jeanne III reigned together with her husband Antoine until his death, and then alone until her own death. Their son Henry became King of France in 1589, taking possession of the kingdom in 1593 as the French Wars of Religion came to a close. Thereafter the crown of Navarre passed to the kings of France. In 1620, the Kingdom was merged into France; however, the French kings continued to use the title King of Navarre until 1791, and it was revived again from 1814 to 1830 during the Bourbon Restoration.

NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
Antoine (jure uxoris) 1555–156222 April 1518 La Fère, Picardy son of Charles, Duke of Vendôme, and Françoise of AlençonJoan III of Navarre 20 October 1548 5 children17 November 1562 Les Andelys, Eure aged 44
Henry III the Great Henry IV of France 1572–161013 December 1553 Pau son of Antoine of Navarre and Joan III of Navarre(1) Margaret of France 18 August 1572 no issues (2) Marie de' Medici 17 December 1600 6 children14 May 1610 Paris aged 56
Louis II the Just Louis XIII of France 1610–162027 September 1601 Château de Fontainebleau son of Henry IV of France and Marie de' MediciAnne of Spain 24 November 1615 6 children14 May 1643 Paris aged 41

Titular Rulers of Navarre, 1620–1830

NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
Louis II the Just Louis XIII of France 1620–164327 September 1601 Château de Fontainebleau son of Henry IV of France and Marie de' MediciAnne of Spain 24 November 1615 6 children14 May 1643 Paris aged 41
Louis III the Sun King (Louis XIV of France) 1643–17155 September 1638 Chateau de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Kingdom of France son of Louis XIII of France, and Anne of Spain(1) Maria Theresa of Spain 9 June 1660 3 children (2) Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon (private)9 September 1715 Palace of Versailles, France aged 76
Louis IV the Beloved Louis XV of France 1715–177415 February 1710 Palace of Versailles son of Louis, Duke of Burgundy and Marie Adelaide of SavoyMaria Leszczynska of Poland-Lithuania 15 August 1725 10 children10 May 1774 Palace of Versailles aged 64
Louis V Louis XVI of France 1774–179223 August 1754 Palace of Versailles son of Louis, Dauphin of France and Maria Josepha of Saxony, Dauphine of FranceMaria Antonia of Austria 19 April 1770 4 children21 January 1793 Paris, French First Republic aged 38

Restoration

NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
Louis VII the Desired Louis XVIII of France (1) 1814–1815 (2) 1815–18249 October 1757 Palace of Versailles, Kingdom of France son of Louis, Dauphin of France and Maria Josepha of SaxonyMarie Josephine of Savoy 14 May 1771 No children16 September 1824 Paris, Kingdom of France aged 68
Charles V Charles X of France 1824–1830 July Revolution17 November 1755 Palace of Versailles, Kingdom of France son of Louis, Dauphin of France and Maria Josepha of SaxonyMaria Theresa of Savoy 16 November 1773 4 children6 November 1836 Gorizia, Austrian Empire aged 79

Upper Navarre

House of Trastamara , 1516–1555

NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
Joanna III 1516–15556 November 1479 daughter of Ferdinand I of Navarre and Isabella of CastilePhilip, Duke of Burgundy 6 children12 April 1555 Tordesillas aged 75

House of Austria , 1516–1700

NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
Charles IV 1516–155624 February 1500 son of Philip, Duke of Burgundy and Joanna I of CastileIsabella of Portugal 3 children21 September 1558 Yuste aged 58
Philip IV 1556–159821 May 1527 son of Charles IV of Navarre and Isabella of PortugalMaria Manuela of Portugal 1 child Mary I of England No children Elisabeth of Valois 2 children Anna of Austria 3 children13 September 1598 Escorial aged 71
Philip V 1598–162114 April 1578 son of Philip IV of Navarra and Anna of AustriaMargaret of Austria 5 children31 March 1621 Madrid aged 42
Philip VI 1621–16658 April 1605 son of Philip V of Navarra and Margaret of AustriaElisabeth of Bourbon 2 children Mariana of Austria 2 children17 September 1665 Madrid aged 60
Charles V 1665–17006 November 1661 son of Philip VI of Navarra and Mariana of AustriaMarie Louise of Orléans No children Maria Anna of Neuburg No children1 November 1700 Madrid aged 38

House of Bourbon , 1700–1833

NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
Philip VII 1700–172419 December 1683 son of Louis Dauphin of France and Maria Anna Victoria of BavariaMaria Luisa of Savoy 2 children Elisabeth Farnese 6 children9 July 1746 Madrid aged 62
Louis II 172425 August 1707 son of Philip VII of Navarre and Maria Luisa of SavoyLouise Elisabeth of Orléans No children31 August 1724 Madrid aged 17
Philip VII 1724–174619 December 1683 son of Louis Dauphin of France and Maria Anna Victoria of BavariaMaria Luisa of Savoy 2 children Elisabeth Farnese 6 children9 July 1746 Madrid aged 62
Ferdinand II 1746–175923 September 1713 son of Philip VII of Navarre and Maria Luisa of SavoyBarbara of Portugal No children10 August 1759 Madrid aged 45
Charles VI 1759–178820 January 1716 son of Philip VII of Navarre and Elisabeth FarneseMaria Amalia of Saxony 13 children14 December 1788 Madrid aged 72
Charles VII 1788–180811 November 1748 son of Charles III of Spain and Maria Amalia of SaxonyMaria Luisa of Parma 14 children20 January 1819 Madrid aged 70
Ferdinand III 1808–183314 October 1784 son of Charles IV of Spain and Maria Luisa of ParmaMaria Antonia of Naples and Sicily No children Maria Isabel of Portugal 2 children Maria Josepha Amalia of Saxony No children Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies 2 children29 September 1833 Madrid aged 48
Isabella I 1833 1833 territorial division of Spain10 October 1830 daughter of Ferdinand VII of Spain and Maria Christina of Naples and SicilyFrancis of Spain 5 children9 April 1904 Paris, French Third Republic aged 73

Regents

NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
Juan Martínez de Medrano for Joan II of Navarre on 13 March 1328 after the death of the last Capetian King of France13th Century son of Don Juan Martinez de MedranoAldonza Sánchez, 7 childrenMay 1337 – 1338 Kingdom of Navarre
NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
Garcia de Medrano y Alvarez de los Rios for King Philip IV of Spain on 17 January 1645 Elected Regent of NavarreNavarre, 1604 son of García de Medrano, Lord of San Gregorio, and María Álvarez de los Ríos y MendozaMarried to María Ignacia de Mendizábal y Uribe 1 child3 September 1683 Kingdom of Spain
NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
Pedro Antonio de Medrano y Albelda for King Philip V of Spain On 9 May 1702 Elected Regent of Navarre14 Dec 1642 Calahorra, La Rioja, Spain son of Don Pedro de Medrano Echauz and Josepha de Albelda Barron y TejadaMarried to Teresa Josefa Alvarez de Arellano Echauz y Velasco 1 childDecember 1721 Kingdom of Spain Age 71
NamePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
Maria Christina of Naples and Sicily for her daughter, Isabella 1833 1833 territorial division of Spain27 April 1806 daughter of Francis I of the Two Sicilies and Maria Isabella of SpainFerdinand VII of Spain 2 children22 August 1878 Le Havre, French Third Republic aged 72

Current claimants

The de facto rulers of Navarre are the King of Spain for Upper Navarre (currently Felipe VI) and the French president for Lower Navarre (currently Emmanuel Macron, who is also an ex officio co-prince of the Principality of Andorra).

See also

Sources

  • Mugica, Fernando Chavarria (2007). "Local Constraints for a Global Monarchy: Sustaining the Garrison of Fuenterrabbia in the 16th Century". In Hernán, Enrique García; Maffi, David (eds.). Guerra y sociedad en la monarquía hispánica: política, estrategia y cultura en la Europa moderna (1500-1700). Vol. 1. CSIC.