Louis I of Spain

Louis I
King of Spain
Reign	15 January – 31 August 1724
Predecessor	Philip V
Successor	Philip V
Spouse	Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans
Full name
Luis Felipe
House	House of Bourbon
Father	Philip V of Spain
Mother	Maria Luisa of Savoy
Born	25 August 1707 Buen Retiro, Madrid, Spain
Died	August 31, 1724(1724-08-31) (aged 17) Buen Retiro, Madrid, Spain
Burial	El Escorial
Religion	Roman Catholicism

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.

Infante of Spain

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.

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, Infant Ferdinand and Infant Felipe Pedro. As a result, on 24 December 1714, the King of Spain, Louis' father, married the young heiress to the Duchy of Parma, Elisabeth Farnese.

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. She did not fit into the religious Spanish Court well and she often refused to speak to her husband. There were no children of the marriage and Louise Élisabeth refused to even see her husband.

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. 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.

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.

External links

• Luis I Spanish

Louis I of Spain House of Bourbon Cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty Born: 25 August 1707 Died: 31 August 1724
Regnal titles
Preceded by Philip V	King of Spain 15 January 1724 – 31 August 1724	Succeeded by Philip V
Spanish royalty
Preceded by Charles	Prince of Asturias 2 April 1709 – 14 January 1724	Succeeded by Ferdinand