Person who is first in line of succession
An heir apparent is a person who is first in an order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person.[ note 1] A person who is first in the current order of succession but could be displaced by the birth of a more eligible heir is known as heir presumptive .
Today these terms most commonly describe heirs to hereditary titles (e.g. titles of nobility) or offices, especially when only inheritable by a single person. Most monarchies refer to the heir apparent of their thrones with the descriptive term of crown prince or crown princess , but they may also be accorded with a more specific substantive title :[ note 2] such as Prince of Orange in the Netherlands, Duke of Brabant in Belgium, Prince of Asturias in Spain (also granted to heirs presumptive), or the Prince of Wales in England and Wales; former titles include Dauphin in the Kingdom of France , and Tsesarevich in Imperial Russia .
The term is also applied metaphorically to an expected successor to any position of power, e.g. a political or corporate leader.
This article primarily describes the term heir apparent in a hereditary system regulated by laws of primogeniture —it may be less applicable to cases where a monarch has a say in naming the heir (performed either while alive, e.g. crowning the heir as a rex iunior , or through the monarch's will ).
Heir apparent versus heir presumptive [ edit ]
Throngs before the Imperial Palace in Japan awaiting the appearance of the Crown Prince Hirohito for the recent proclamation of his official recognition as the heir apparent to the Japanese Imperial Throne – New York Times , 1916.
In a hereditary system governed by some form of primogeniture , an heir apparent is easily identifiable as the person whose position as first in the line of succession to a title or office is secure, regardless of future births. An heir presumptive , by contrast, can always be "bumped down" in the succession by the birth of somebody more closely related in a legal sense (according to that form of primogeniture) to the current title-holder.
The clearest example occurs in the case of a childless bearer of a hereditary title that can only be inherited by one person. If at any time the title bearer were to produce children, those children would rank ahead of any person who had formerly been heir presumptive.
Many legal systems assume childbirth is always possible regardless of age or health. In such circumstances a person may be, in a practical sense, the heir apparent but still, legally speaking, heir presumptive. Indeed, when Queen Victoria succeeded her uncle King William IV , the wording of the proclamation even gave as a caveat :
...saving the rights of any issue of his late Majesty King William IV, which may be born of his late Majesty's consort.
This provided for the possibility that William's wife, Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen , was pregnant at the moment of his death, since such a posthumous child, regardless of its sex, would have displaced Victoria from the throne.[ 1] Adelaide was 44 at the time, so pregnancy was possible even if unlikely.
Daughters in male-preference primogeniture [ edit ]
Daughters (and their lines) may inherit titles that descend according to male-preference primogeniture, but only in default of sons (and their heirs). That is, both female and male offspring have the right to a place somewhere in the order of succession, but when it comes to what that place is, a female will rank behind her brothers regardless of their ages or her age.
Thus, normally, even an only daughter will not be heir apparent, since at any time a brother might be born who, though younger, would assume that position. Hence, she is an heir presumptive. For example, Queen Elizabeth II was heir presumptive during the reign of her father, King George VI ; had George fathered a legitimate son, then that child would have displaced Elizabeth in the line of succession and become heir apparent.
However, a granddaughter could for example be heir apparent if she were the only daughter of the deceased eldest son of the sovereign (e.g. Queen Elizabeth II would have been heir apparent to George V if her oldest uncle and father both had died before their father).
Women as heirs apparent [ edit ]
In a system of absolute primogeniture that disregards gender, female heirs apparent occur. As succession to titles, positions, or offices in the past most often favoured males, females considered to be an heir apparent were rare. Absolute primogeniture was not practised by any modern monarchy for succession to their thrones until the late twentieth century, with Sweden being the first to adopt absolute primogeniture in 1980 and other Western European monarchies following suit.
Since the adoption of absolute primogeniture by most of the Western European monarchies, examples of female heirs apparent include Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, and Princess Elisabeth of Belgium; they are, respectively, the oldest children of Kings Carl XVI Gustaf , Willem-Alexander , and Philippe . Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway is heir apparent to her father, who is heir apparent to the Norwegian throne, and Victoria herself has a female heir apparent in her elder child, Princess Estelle . Victoria was not heir apparent from birth (in 1977), but gained the status in 1980 following a change in the Swedish Act of Succession . Her younger brother Carl Philip (born 1979) was thus heir apparent for a few months (and is a rare example of an heir apparent losing this status without a death occurring).
In 2015, pursuant to the 2011 Perth Agreement , the Commonwealth realms changed the rules of succession to the 16 thrones of Elizabeth II to absolute primogeniture, except for male heirs born before the Perth Agreement. The effects are not likely to be felt for many years; the first two heirs at the time of the agreement (Charles, Prince of Wales, later Charles III , and his son William, Prince of Wales ) were already eldest born children, and in 2013 William's first-born son Prince George of Wales became the next apparent successor.
But even in legal systems that apply male-preference primogeniture, female heirs apparent are by no means impossible: if a male heir apparent dies leaving no sons but at least one daughter, then the eldest daughter would replace her father as heir apparent to whatever throne or title is concerned, but only when it has become clear that the widow of the deceased is not pregnant. Then, as the representative of her father's line she would assume a place ahead of any more distant relatives. For example, had George, Prince of Wales (the future George IV) predeceased his father, King George III , between 1796 and 1817, the former's daughter, Princess Charlotte , being his only legitimate child, would have become heir apparent to the British throne. Such a situation has not to date occurred with the English or British throne; several times an heir apparent has died, but each example has either been childless or left a son or sons. However, there have been several female heirs apparent to British peerages (e.g. Frances Ward, 6th Baroness Dudley , and Henrietta Wentworth, 6th Baroness Wentworth ).
In one special case, however, England and Scotland had a female heir apparent. The Revolution settlement that established William and Mary as joint monarchs in 1689 only gave the power to continue the succession through issue to Mary II, elder daughter of the previous king, James II . William, by contrast, was to reign for life only, and his (hypothetical) children by a wife other than Mary would be placed in his original place (as Mary's first cousin) in the line of succession—after Mary's younger sister Anne . Thus, after Mary's death William continued to reign, but he had no power to beget direct heirs,[ 2] and Anne became the heir apparent for the remainder of William's reign. She eventually succeeded him as Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Displacement of heirs apparent [ edit ]
The position of an heir apparent is normally unshakable: it can be assumed they will inherit. Sometimes, however, extraordinary events—such as the death or the deposition of the parent—intervene.
People who lost heir apparent status [ edit ]
Al-Mufawwid on 30 April 892, al-Muwaffad was removed from the succession (heir apparent) completely, and when al-Mu'tamid died in October 892, he was succeeded by Al-Mu'tadid .
Parliament deposed James Francis Edward Stuart , the infant son of King James VII & II (of Scotland and of England and Ireland respectively) whom James II was rearing as a Catholic, as the King's legal heir apparent—declaring that James had, de facto, abdicated —and offered the throne to James II's elder daughter, the young prince's much older Protestant half-sister, Mary (along with her husband, Prince William of Orange ). When the exiled King James died in 1701, his Jacobite supporters proclaimed the exiled Prince James Francis Edward as King James VIII of Scotland and James III of England and Ireland; but neither he nor his descendants (the last of whom died in 1807) were ever successful in their bids for the throne.
Crown Prince Gustav (later known as Gustav, Prince of Vasa), son of Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden , lost his place when his father was deposed and replaced by Gustav IV Adolf's aged uncle, the Duke Carl, who became Charles XIII of Sweden in 1809. The aged King Charles XIII did not have surviving sons, and Prince Gustav was the only living male of the whole dynasty (besides his deposed father), but the prince was never regarded as heir of Charles XIII, although there were factions in the Riksdag and elsewhere in Sweden who desired to preserve him, and, in the subsequent constitutional elections, supported his election as his grand-uncle's successor. Instead, the government proceeded to have a new crown prince elected (which was the proper constitutional action, if no male heir was left in the dynasty), and the Riksdag elected first August, Prince of Augustenborg , and then, after August's death, the Prince of Ponte Corvo (Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte , who acceded as Charles XIV John in 1818). The two lines united later, when Charles XIV John's great-grandson Crown Prince Gustaf (who acceded as Gustaf V in 1907) married Gustav IV Adolf's great-granddaughter Victoria of Baden , who became Crown Princess of Sweden. Thus, from Gustav VI Adolf onward, the kings of Sweden are direct descendants of both Gustav IV Adolf and his son's replacement as crown prince, Charles XIV John.
Prince Carl Philip of Sweden , at his birth in 1979, was heir apparent to the throne of Sweden. Less than eight months later, a change in that country's succession laws instituted absolute primogeniture , and Carl Philip was supplanted as heir apparent by his elder sister Victoria .
Muqrin bin Abdulaziz became Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia in January 2015 upon the death of his half-brother King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the accession of another half-brother, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud , to the Saudi throne . In April of that year, Salman removed Muqrin as Crown Prince, replacing him with their nephew Muhammad bin Nayef . Muhammad bin Nayef himself was later replaced as Crown Prince by the king's son Mohammad bin Salman .
Breaching legal qualification of heirs apparent [ edit ]
In some jurisdictions, an heir apparent can automatically lose that status by breaching certain constitutional rules. Today, for example:
A British heir apparent would lose this status if he or she became a Catholic. This is the only religion-based restriction on the heir-apparent. (Previously, marrying a Catholic also equated to losing this status, however, in October 2011, the governments of the then 16 Commonwealth realms, now 15, of which King Charles III is monarch, agreed to remove the restriction on marriage to a Catholic . All of the Commonwealth realms subsequently passed legislation to implement the change , which fully took effect in March 2015.)
Swedish Crown Princes and Crown Princesses would lose heir apparent status, according to the Act of Succession , if they married without approval of the monarch and the Government , abandoned the "pure Evangelical faith ", or accepted another throne without the approval of the Riksdag .
Dutch Princes and Princesses of Orange would lose status as heir to the throne if they married without the approval of the States-General , or simply renounced the right.
Spanish Princes and Princesses of Asturias would lose status if they married against the express prohibition of the monarch and the Cortes .
Belgian Dukes and Duchesses of Brabant would lose heir apparent status if they married without the consent of the monarch, or became monarch of another country.
Danish Crown Princes and Princesses would lose status if they married without the permission of the monarch. When the monarch grants permission for a dynast to enter marriage, he may set conditions that must be met for the dynasts and/or their children to gain or maintain a place in the line of succession; this also applies for Crown Princes and Princesses.
Current heirs apparent [ edit ]
Country
Picture
Name of heir apparent
Title
Date of birth (age)
Relation to monarch
Bahrain
Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa
Crown Prince of Bahrain
(1969-10-21 ) October 21, 1969 (age 55)
eldest son
Belgium
Elisabeth
Princess, Duchess of Brabant
(2001-10-25 ) October 25, 2001 (age 23)
eldest child
Bhutan
Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck
Dragon Prince of Bhutan, Druk Gyalsey of Bhutan
(2016-02-05 ) February 5, 2016 (age 8)
eldest child
Brunei
Al-Muhtadee Billah
Crown Prince of Brunei Darussalam
(1974-02-17 ) February 17, 1974 (age 50)
eldest son
Denmark
Christian
Crown Prince of Denmark, Count of Monpezat
(2005-10-15 ) October 15, 2005 (age 19)
eldest child
Jordan
Hussein bin Abdullah
Crown Prince of Jordan
(1994-06-28 ) June 28, 1994 (age 30)
elder son
Kuwait
Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah
Crown Prince of Kuwait
(1953-03-03 ) March 3, 1953 (age 71)
maternal half-nephew and paternal second cousin
Lesotho
Lerotholi Seeiso
Crown Prince of Lesotho
(2007-04-18 ) April 18, 2007 (age 17)
only son
Liechtenstein
Alois
Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg
(1968-06-11 ) June 11, 1968 (age 56)
eldest son
Luxembourg
Guillaume
Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg
(1981-11-11 ) November 11, 1981 (age 43)
eldest child
Monaco
Jacques
Hereditary Prince of Monaco, Marquis of Baux
(2014-12-10 ) December 10, 2014 (age 9)
only legitimate son
Morocco
Moulay Hassan
Crown Prince of Morocco
(2003-05-08 ) May 8, 2003 (age 21)
only son
Netherlands
Catharina-Amalia
Princess of Orange
(2003-12-07 ) December 7, 2003 (age 21)
eldest child
Norway
Haakon Magnus
Crown Prince of Norway
(1973-07-20 ) July 20, 1973 (age 51)
only son
Oman
Theyazin bin Haitham
Sayyid , Crown Prince of Oman
(1990-08-21 ) August 21, 1990 (age 34)
eldest son
Saudi Arabia
Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia
(1985-08-31 ) August 31, 1985 (age 39)
child
Sweden
Victoria
Crown Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Västergötland
(1977-07-14 ) July 14, 1977 (age 47)
eldest child
Tonga
Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala
Crown Prince of Tonga
(1985-09-17 ) September 17, 1985 (age 39)
elder son
United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms
William
Prince of Wales , Earl of Chester , Duke of Cornwall , Duke of Rothesay , Earl of Carrick , Baron of Renfrew , Lord of the Isles , Prince and Great Steward of Scotland
(1982-06-21 ) June 21, 1982 (age 42)
elder son
Heirs apparent who never inherited the throne [ edit ]
Heirs apparent who predeceased the monarch [ edit ]
Heir apparent
Lived
Heir of
Cause of death
Kawab
Died before 2566 BC
Khufu
Unknown causes
Setka
Died before 2558 BC
Djedefre
Yanassi
Died before 1580 BC
Khyan
Ahmose-ankh
Died before 1525 BC
Ahmose I
Amenemhat
Died c. 1455 BC
Thutmose III
Plague
Amenmose
Died before 1493 BC
Thutmose I
Unknown causes
Amenhotep
Died before 1401 BC
Amenhotep II
Thutmose
Died before 1353 BC
Amenhotep III
Nakhtmin
Died before 1323 BC
Ay
Either died of unknown causes or was killed by Horemheb
Amun-her-khepeshef
Died c. 1254 BC
Ramesses II
Unknown causes
Ramesses
Died c. 1229 BC
Khaemweset
Died c. 1224 BC
Amun-her-khepeshef
Died before 1155 BC
Ramesses III
Crown Prince Mian
Died 707 BC
Duke Huan of Chen
Killed by uncle Chen Tuo
Yukou
BC 672
Duke Xuan of Chen
Killed
Fusu
Died 210 BC
Qin Shi Huang
Forced to commit suicide
Liu Ju
BC 128–BC 91
Emperor Wu of Han
Killed
Pacorus I
Died BC 38
Orodes II of Parthia
Killed in battle
Gaius Caesar
BC 20–4 AD
Augustus
Wounds
Lucius Caesar
BC 17–2 AD
Sudden illness
Germanicus
BC 15–19 AD
Tiberius
Mysterious illness
Drusus Julius Caesar
BC 13–23 AD
Suspected poisoning
Nero Julius Caesar
6–31
Starvation
Drusus Caesar
7–33
Tiberius Gemellus
19–37
Caligula
Killed
Lucius Aelius Caesar
101–138
Hadrian
Hemorrhage
Marcus Annius Verus Caesar
162–169
Marcus Aurelius
Natural causes
Cao Ang
Died in 197
Cao Cao
Killed in battle
Sun Deng
209–241
Emperor Da of Wu
Illness
Valerian II
Died 258
Gallienus
Died under mysterious circumstances
Liu Xuan
224–264
Liu Shan
Killed in Disaster of Yongjia
Sima Yu
278–300
Emperor Hui of Jin
Killed by Empress Jia Nanfeng
Nigrinian
Died 284/285
Carinus
Unknown causes
Tuoba Tao
428–451
Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei
Xiao Zhangmao
458–493
Emperor Wu of Southern Qi
Illness
Xiao Tong
501–531
Emperor Wu of Liang
Yang Zhao
584–606
Emperor Yang of Sui
Li Jiancheng
589–626
Emperor Gaozu of Tang
Killed during the Xuanwu Gate Incident
Mardanshah
Died 628
Khosrow II
Killed
Li Hong
652–675
Emperor Gaozong of Tang
Illness
Prince Kusakabe
662–689
Empress Jitō
Li Chongrun
682–701
Emperor Zhongzong of Tang
Executed by Empress Wu Zetian
Li Chongjun
683–707
Killed after coup
Li Ying
Died in 737
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Killed
Li Ning
793–812
Emperor Xianzong of Tang
Illness
Li Yong
Died in 838
Emperor Wenzong of Tang
Unknown cause
Liudolf, Duke of Swabia
930–957
Otto the Great
Fever
Saint Emeric of Hungary
1007–1031
Stephen I of Hungary
Hunting accident
Edward the Exile
1016–1057
Edward the Confessor
Unknown cause
Henry of Burgundy
1035–1070
Robert I, Duke of Burgundy
Sancho Alfónsez
1093–1108
Alfonso VI of León and Castile
Killed at the Battle of Uclés
William Adelin
1103–1120
Henry I of England
Drowned in the White Ship disaster
Zhao Fu
1127–1129
Emperor Gaozong of Song
Illness
Henry of Scotland
1114–1152
David I of Scotland
Roger III, Duke of Apulia
1118–1148
Roger II of Sicily
Unknown causes
Eustace IV, Count of Boulogne
1127–1153
Stephen, King of England
Sudden death
Henry Berengar
1136–1150
Conrad III of Germany
Illness
Peter of Barcelona
1152–1157
Petronilla of Aragon and Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona
Unknown cause
Roger IV, Duke of Apulia
1152–1161
William I of Sicily
Arrow to the eye
William IX, Count of Poitiers
1153–1156
Henry II of England
Seizure
Henry the Young King
1155–1183
Dysentery
Ferdinand of Castile
1189–1211
Alfonso VIII of Castile
Fever
Ferdinand of León
1192–1214
Alfonso IX of León
Unknown cause
Naratheinga Uzana
1197–1235
Htilominlo
Sigurd Lavard
Died 1200
Sverre of Norway
Alexios Palaiologos
Died 1203
Alexios III Angelos
Natural causes
Valdemar the Young
1209–1231
Valdemar II of Denmark
Hunting accident
Andronikos Palaiologos
Died 1216
Theodore I Laskaris
Disease
Vladislaus III of Moravia
1228–1247
Wenceslaus I of Bohemia
Illness
Thihathu of Pagan
1230s–1256
Uzana of Pagan
Assassinated
Odo, Count of Nevers
1230–1266
Hugh IV, Duke of Burgundy
Died during Crusades
John, Count of Charolais
1231–1268
Illness
Haakon the Young
1232–1257
Haakon IV of Norway
Zhenjin
1243–1286
Kublai Khan
Louis of France
1244–1260
Louis IX of France
George
1250–1268
David VII of Georgia
Bowel disease
Fernando de la Cerda
1255–1275
Alfonso X of Castile
Unexpected causes
Louis of France
1264–1276
Philip III of France
Illness
Alexander, Prince of Scotland
1264–1284
Alexander III of Scotland
Henry, son of Edward I
1268–1274
Edward I of England
Theingapati
1270s–1299
Kyawswa of Pagan
Assassinated
Charles Martel of Anjou
1271–1295
Charles II of Naples
Plague
Louis I, Count of Nevers
1272–1322
Robert III, Count of Flanders
Illness
Alphonso, Earl of Chester
1273–1284
Edward I of England
Illness
Charles, Duke of Calabria
1298–1328
Robert, King of Naples
Eric Christoffersen of Denmark
1307–1332
Christopher II of Denmark
Died in battle
Otto the Younger
1322–1366
Henry II, Landgrave of Hesse
Illness
Philip I, Count of Auvergne
1323–1346
Odo IV, Duke of Burgundy and Joan III, Countess of Burgundy
Fell from horse during siege
Edward, the Black Prince
1330–1376
Edward III of England
A long lasting illness
Christopher, Duke of Lolland
1341–1363
Valdemar IV of Denmark
Illness
Charles Martel, Duke of Calabria
1345–1348
Joanna I of Naples
Zhu Biao
1355–1392
Hongwu Emperor
Martin I of Sicily
1374–1409
Martin of Aragon
Malaria
David Stewart, Duke of Rothesay
1378–1402
Robert III of Scotland
Starvation
Henry V of England
1387–1422
Charles VI of France (by the Treaty of Troyes )
Dysentery
Minye Kyawswa
1391–1415
Minkhaung I
Killed in battle
Peter of Aragon
1394–1400
Martin I of Sicily and Maria, Queen of Sicily
Wound from spear
Louis, Duke of Guyenne
1397–1415
Charles VI of France
Dysentery
John, Duke of Touraine
1398–1417
Abscess to the head
Martin of Aragon
1406–1407
Martin I of Sicily
Illness
Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York
1411–1460
Henry VI of England (by Act of Accord )
Killed in battle
Charles, Prince of Viana
1421–1461
John II of Aragon and Navarre
Unknown causes
Alexander Stewart, Duke of Rothesay
1430
James I of Scotland
Illness
Crown Prince Uigyeong
1438–1457
Sejo of Joseon
Illness
Gaston, Prince of Viana
1444–1470
Gaston IV, Count of Foix
Wounds in jousting tournament
Zhu Jianji
1448–1453
Jingtai Emperor
Illness
John, Prince of Portugal
1451
Afonso V of Portugal
Sudden death
Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales
1453–1471
Henry VI of England
Killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury
Ivan the Young
1458–1490
Ivan III of Russia
Gout
Zhu Youji
1469–1472
Chenghua Emperor
Illness
Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales
1473–1484
Richard III of England
Unknown
Afonso, Prince of Portugal
1475–1491
John II of Portugal
Horse riding accident
John, Prince of Asturias
1478–1497
Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon
Tuberculosis
Philip I of Castile
1478–1506
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Typhoid fever
Arthur, Prince of Wales
1486–1502
Henry VII of England
Unknown illness
Charles Orlando, Dauphin of France
1492–1495
Charles VIII of France
Measles
Miguel da Paz, Prince of Portugal
1498–1500
Manuel I of Portugal
Illness
John, Hereditary Prince of Saxony
1498–1537
George, Duke of Saxony
Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Saxony
1504–1539
James, Duke of Rothesay
1507–1508
James IV of Scotland
Arthur Stewart, Duke of Rothesay
1509–1510
Magnus III of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
1509–1550
Henry V, Duke of Mecklenburg
Henry, Duke of Cornwall
1511
Henry VIII of England
Sudden death
Şehzade Mustafa
1515–1553
Suleiman the Magnificent
Executed
Francis III, Duke of Brittany
1518–1536
Francis I of France
Tuberculosis
Bhoj Raj
Died 1526
Rana Sanga
Died in battle
Afonso, Prince of Portugal
1526
John III of Portugal
Illness
Prince George of Kakheti
1529–1561
Levan of Kakheti
Died in battle
Manuel, Prince of Portugal
1531–1537
John III of Portugal
Illness
Philip, Prince of Portugal
1533–1539
João Manuel, Hereditary Prince of Portugal
1537–1554
Tuberculosis or diabetes
Crown Prince Sunhoe
1551–1563
Myeongjong of Joseon
Illness
Tsarevich Dmitry Ivanovich of Russia
1552–1553
Ivan IV of Russia
Drowned
Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich of Russia
1554–1581
Wounds to the head inflicted by his father during a dispute
Karl Friedrich of Jülich-Cleves-Berg
1555–1575
William, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg
Smallpox
Mingyi Swa
1558–1593
Nanda Bayin
Killed in battle
Prince George of Kakheti
1570–1605
Alexander II of Kakheti
Killed alongside his father
Ferdinand, Prince of Asturias
1571–1578
Philip II of Spain
Dysentery
Diego, Prince of Asturias
1575–1582
Smallpox
Philip de' Medici
1577–1582
Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Hydrocephalus
John Ernest, Hereditary Count of Nassau-Siegen
1582–1617
John VII, Count of Nassau-Siegen
Dysentery
Philip Emmanuel, Prince of Piedmont
1586–1605
Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy
Smallpox
Khusrau Mirza
1587–1622
Jahangir
Killed by his brother Shah Jahan
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
1594–1612
James I of England
Typhoid fever
Otto, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
1594–1617
Maurice, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
Accidentally shot himself
Christian, Prince-Elect of Denmark
1603–1647
Christian IV of Denmark
Illness
Louis of Anhalt-Köthen (the Younger)
1607–1624
Louis I, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Charles Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers
1609–1631
Charles Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat
Crown Prince Sohyeon
1612–1645
Injo of Joseon
Bleeding from the head
Henry Frederick, Hereditary Prince of the Palatinate
1614–1629
Frederick V, Elector Palatine
Drowned
Erdmann August, Hereditary Prince of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
1615–1651
Christian, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
Illness
Dara Shikoh
1615–1659
Shah Jahan
Killed by his brother Aurangzeb
George Louis, Prince of Nassau-Dillenburg
1618–1656
Louis Henry, Prince of Nassau-Dillenburg
Illness
Maurice Frederick of Nassau-Siegen
1621–1638
William, Count of Nassau-Siegen
Died in the Battle of Kallo
Ercole, Marquis of Baux
1623–1651
Honoré II, Prince of Monaco
Gunshot wound
Ferdinand Maximilian, Hereditary Prince of Baden-Baden
1625–1669
William, Margrave of Baden-Baden
Hunting accident
Balthasar Charles, Prince of Asturias
1626–1646
Philip IV of Spain
Smallpox
Ferdinand IV, King of the Romans
1633–1654
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Theodosius III , Duke of Braganza and Prince of Brazil
1634–1653
John IV of Portugal
Tuberculosis
Sigismund Casimir
1640–1647
Władysław IV Vasa
Dysentery
Tsarevich Dmitry Alexeyevich of Russia
1648–1649
Alexis of Russia
Illness
Prince Luarsab of Kartli
Died 1652
Rostom of Kartli
Gunshot wound
Tsarevich Alexei Alexeyevich of Russia
1654–1670
Alexis of Russia
Illness
Leopold George, Hereditary Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg
1654–1675
William Christoph, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg
Prince Mamuka of Imereti
Died 1654
Rostom of Kartli
Died in captivity
Charles, Electoral Prince of Brandenburg
1655–1674
Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg
Dysentery
Philip Prospero, Prince of Asturias
1657–1661
Philip IV of Spain
Epileptic attack
Louis, le grand Dauphin
1661–1711
Louis XIV of France
Smallpox
Ferdinando de' Medici, Grand Prince of Tuscany
1663–1713
Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Illness
Charles of Mecklenburg-Güstrow
1664–1688
Gustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow
Smallpox
Odoardo Farnese, Hereditary Prince of Parma
1666–1693
Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma
Illness
Archduke Leopold Joseph of Austria
1682–1684
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
Louis, Dauphin and Duke of Burgundy
1682–1712
Louis XIV of France
Measles
João, Prince of Brazil
1688
Peter II of Portugal
Illness
Birbhadra Shah
Died c.1697
Prithvipati Shah
Joseph Ferdinand, Electoral Prince of Bavaria
1692–1699
Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria
Sudden illness
Count Palatine Joseph Charles of Sulzbach
1694–1729
Theodore Eustace, Count Palatine of Sulzbach
Illness
Crown Prince Friedrich Ludwig
1698–1731
Eberhard Louis, Duke of Württemberg
Victor Amadeus, Prince of Piedmont
1699–1715
Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia
Smallpox
Archduke Leopold Joseph of Austria
1700–1701
Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor
Hydrocephalus
Frédéric Maurice Casimir de La Tour d'Auvergne
1702–1723
Emmanuel Théodose de La Tour d'Auvergne
Illness
Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Baden-Durlach
1703–1732
Charles III William, Margrave of Baden-Durlach
Louis, Hereditary Prince of Lorraine
1704–1711
Leopold, Duke of Lorraine
Smallpox
Joseph, Hereditary Prince of Hesse-Rotenburg
1705–1744
Ernest Leopold, Landgrave of Hesse-Rotenburg
Illness
Ludwig Gruno of Hesse-Homburg
1705–1745
Frederick III, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg
Louis, Dauphin and Duke of Brittany
1707–1712
Louis XIV of France
Measles
Léopold Clément, Hereditary Prince of Lorraine
1707–1723
Leopold, Duke of Lorraine
Smallpox
Frederick, Prince of Wales
1707–1751
George II of Great Britain
A burst abscess in the lung
Pedro, Prince of Brazil
1712–1714
John V of Portugal
Unknown disease
Peter Petrovich
1715–1719
Peter the Great
Unknown causes
Crown Prince Hyojang
1719–1728
Yeongjo of Joseon
Illness
Louis, Dauphin of France
1729–1765
Louis XV of France
Tuberculosis
Yonglian
1730–1738
Qianlong Emperor
Illness
Crown Prince Sado of Joseon (Korea)
1735–1762
Yeongjo of Joseon (Korea )
His father killed him by locking him in a rice chest
Lê Duy Vĩ
1745–1772
Lê Hiển Tông
Executed[ 5]
Charles Louis, Hereditary Prince of Baden
1755–1801
Charles Frederick, Margrave of Baden
Illness
Shō Tetsu
1759–1788
Shō Boku
Unknown cause
José, Prince of Brazil
1761–1788
Maria I of Portugal
Smallpox
Thado Minsaw
1762–1808
Bodawpaya
Illness
Karl Georg August, Hereditary Prince of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
1766–1806
Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick
Charles August, Crown Prince of Sweden
1768–1810
Charles XIII of Sweden
Stroke
Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
1769–1814
Leopold III, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau
Illness
Carlo, Duke of Calabria
1775–1778
Ferdinand IV of Naples
Smallpox
Frederick Louis, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
1778–1819
Frederick Francis I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Illness
Nguyễn Phúc Cảnh
1780–1801
Gia Long Emperor
Smallpox
Louis Joseph, Dauphin of France
1781–1789
Louis XVI of France
Tuberculosis
Crown Prince Munhyo
1782–1788
Jeongjo of Joseon
Illness
Abbas Mirza
1789–1833
Fath-Ali Shah Qajar
Mirza Dara Bakht
1790–1841
Bahadur Shah Zafar
Crown Prince Hyomyeong
1809–1830
Sunjo of Joseon
Prince Ferdinand Philippe, Duke of Orléans
1810–1842
Louis-Philippe I of France
Carriage accident
Mirza Fath-ul-Mulk Bahadur
1816–1856
Bahadur Shah Zafar
Cholera
Kanaung Mintha
1820–1866
Mindon Min
Assassinated
Tēvita ʻUnga
1824–1879
George Tupou I
Liver ailment
Louis Philippe, Crown Prince of Belgium
1833–1834
Leopold I of Belgium
Inflammation of mucous membrane
Victoria Kamāmalu
1838–1866
Kamehameha V
Illness
Keaweaweulaokalani I
1839
Kamehameha III
Keaweaweulaokalani II
1842
Nicholas Alexandrovich, Tsarevich of Russia
1843–1865
Alexander II of Russia
Meningitis
William, Prince of Orange
1843–1879
William III of the Netherlands
Debauchery
Vuna Takitakimālohi
1844–1862
George Tupou I
Illness
Afonso, Prince Imperial of Brazil
1845–1847
Pedro II of Brazil
Epilepsy
Raja Musa ibni Sultan Abdul Samad
1844–1884
Abdul Samad of Selangor
Unknown causes
Charles Augustus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
1844–1894
Charles Alexander, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
Illness
Trailokya, Crown Prince of Nepal
1847–1878
Surendra of Nepal
Unknown causes
Pedro Afonso, Prince Imperial of Brazil
1848–1850
Pedro II of Brazil
Fever
ʻElisiva Fusipala Taukiʻonetuku
1850–1889
George Tupou I
Illness
Alexander, Prince of Orange
1851–1884
William III of the Netherlands
Typhus
Leleiohoku II
1854–1877
Kalākaua
Rheumatic fever
ʻUelingatoni Ngū
1854–1885
George Tupou I
Illness
Ludvonga
1855–1872
Mswati II
Poisoned
Leopold, Hereditary Prince of Anhalt
1855–1886
Frederick I, Duke of Anhalt
Illness
Şehzade Yusuf Izzeddin
1857–1916
Mehmed V
Suicide (disputed)
Albert Kamehameha
1858–1862
Kamehameha IV
Meningitis
Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria
1858–1889
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Suicide (disputed)
Prince Leopold, Duke of Brabant
1859–1869
Leopold II of Belgium
Pneumonia, after falling into a pond
Nalesoni Laifone
1859–1889
George Tupou I
Illness
Araya Selassie Yohannes
1869/1870–1888
Yohannes IV
Smallpox
Alfred, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
1874–1899
Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Unclear circumstances
Maha Vajirunhis, Crown Prince of Siam
1878–1895
Rama V
Typhoid
Luís Filipe, Prince Royal of Portugal
1887–1908
Carlos I of Portugal and the Algarves
Jointly assassinated with his father
Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani
1896–1948
Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani
Illness
Turki I bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
1900–1919
Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia
Flu
Sultan, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia
1925–2011
Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
Illness
Muhammed Akbar Khan, Crown Prince of Afghanistan
1933–1941
Mohammed Zahir Shah
Nayef, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia
1934–2012
Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
Muhammad bin Sultan Al Qasimi
1974–1999
Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi
Heroin overdose
Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi
1980–2019
Drug overdose
Heirs apparent who abandoned or were forced to abandon their claims [ edit ]
Heir apparent
Lived
Heir of
Reason for Abandoning or Being Forced Out
Darius
Died 465 BC
Xerxes I
Upon the murder of Xerxes I, Darius was framed for the murder and subsequently executed
Liu Rong
Died 148 BC
Emperor Jing of Han
Disinherited after his mother angered the emperor by requesting the position of empress and refusing to allow the marriage of Liu Rong to Chen Jiao
Kunala
Born 263 BC
Ashoka
Blinded
Antipater
BC 46–BC 4
Herod the Great
Disinherited after being charged with intended murder. Subsequently executed.
Alexander
BC 35–BC 7
Disinherited and executed
Aristobulus IV
BC 31–BC 7
Herod II
BC 27–33 AD
Disinherited
Agrippa Postumus
BC 12–14 AD
Augustus
Banished. Later executed by his own guards after the accession of Tiberius
Liu Jiang
25–58
Emperor Guangwu of Han
His mother lost the position of empress
Sun He
224–253
Sun Quan
Replaced with his brother Sun Liang
Sima Ying
279–306
Emperor Hui of Jin
Replaced as heir by Emperor Huai of Jin
Crispus
295–326
Constantine the Great
Executed
Prince Kinashi no Karu
Died 453
Emperor Ingyō
His brother Emperor Ankō took the throne instead
Yuan Xun
483–497
Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei
Disagreement of his father's policy
Hermenegild
Died 585
Liuvigild
Disinherited for rebellion
Yang Yong
Died 604
Emperor Wen of Sui
Forced to abdicate and killed by younger brother Yang Guang
Li Chengqian
619–645
Emperor Taizong of Tang
Attempted to overthrow his father and kill his brother by coup. Exiled for immorality and treason
Li Zhong
642–665
Emperor Gaozong of Tang
Empress Wu Zetian got the favor from Gaozong and his position was taken by his half brother Li Hong
Li Xian
655–684
Exiled by Empress Wu Zetian from rumors. Was later forced to commit suicide after Gaozong's death
Prince Kusakabe
662–689
Emperor Tenmu
Did not assume throne
Abd al-Aziz ibn Marwan
Died 705
Marwan I
Removed from line of succession
Li Chengqi
679–742
Emperor Ruizong of Tang
Gave up the claim because he thought that he did not have the strength to be a wise emperor and his position was taken by his half brother Li Longji
Alexios Mosele
9th century
Theophilos
Disinherited for rebellion
Al-Mufawwid
Died 890s
Al-Mu'tamid (Abbasid caliph)
On 30 April 892, Al-Mufawwid was removed from the succession by his cousin, al-Mu'tadid and when al-Mu'tamid died in October 892, he was succeeded by al-Mu'tadid .
Al-Abbas ibn Ahmad ibn Tulun
Died 884
Ahmad ibn Tulun
Disinherited for attempting to overthrow his father
Li Yu
Died in 904
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang
Actually inherited the throne in fact, but not recognized as an emperor. Became crown prince again after two months and killed by Zhu Wen
Prince Tsunesada
825–884
Emperor Ninmyō
Disinherited in the Jōwa Incident
Yelü Bei
899–937
Emperor Taizu of Liao
Kept the favor away from her mother Empress Shulü Ping , because he their political view were totally opposite.
Fujiwara no Korechika
974–1010
Fujiwara no Michitaka
Lost in Chōtoku Incident to his uncle Fujiwara no Michinaga who seize the power and lost the position to inherent Kampaku.
Prince Atsuyasu
999–1019
Emperor Ichijō
Kugyō Fujiwara no Yukinari and Fujiwara no Michinaga forced him to give up the status and his half brother Prince Atsuhira took his position.
Abd al-Rahim ibn Ilyas
Died 1020s
Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah
Sidelined upon Al-Hakim's death in favor of Al-Zahir li-i'zaz Din Allah , who had him arrested and imprisoned.
Al-Malik al-Aziz
Died 1049
Jalal al-Dawla
Late ruler's nephew Abu Kalijar took the throne instead
Peter Raymundi
Born 1050
Ramon Berenguer I, Count of Barcelona
Disinherited and exiled for killing his stepmother Almodis of La Marche
Conrad II of Italy
1074–1101
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Disinherited for rebellion
Min Shin Saw
1117–1167
Alaungsithu
Exiled
William I, Count of Boulogne
1137–1159
Stephen, King of England
Treaty of Wallingford dictated the succession of Henry II of England
Demna of Georgia
1155–1178
David V of Georgia
Imprisoned, blinded and castrated by his uncle, King George III of Georgia
Zhao Hong
Died 1225
Emperor Ningzong
Shi Miyuan and Empress Yang faked the edict of emperor.
Henry (VII) of Germany
1211–1242
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
Disinherited for rebellion
Louis of Toulouse
1274–1297
Charles II of Naples
Renounced rights to become a clergyman. His position of crown prince was taken by his brother Robert .
James of Majorca
1275–1330
James II of Majorca
Renounced rights to become a monk. His position of crown prince was taken by his brother Sancho .
Charles Robert of Anjou
1288–1342
Charles II of Naples
His uncle Robert was made heir instead on 13 February 1296
James of Aragon
1296–1334
James II of Aragon
Renounced rights to become a monk. His position of crown prince was taken by his brother Alfonso .
Otto, Duke of Lolland and Estonia
1310–1346
Christopher II of Denmark
Forced to surrender claim to the throne in favor of his brother Valdemar IV of Denmark
Prince Narinaga
1326–c. 1337 –44
Emperor Kōmyō
Killed or deposed by Ashikaga Takauji
Eric XII of Sweden
1339–1359
Magnus VII of Norway
Became King of Sweden, with his brother Haakon VI of Norway taking the throne of Norway
Baw Ngan-Mohn
1370–1390
Binnya U
Imprisoned
Grand Prince Yangnyeong
1394–1462
Taejong of Joseon
Removed due to an affair
Vladislaus Jagiellon
1456–1516
Casimir IV Jagiellon of Poland-Lithuania
Elected King of Bohemia, with his brother Alexander Jagiellon taking the throne of Poland-Lithuania
Dmitry Ivanovich
1483–1509
Ivan III of Russia
Disinherited in favor of uncle Vasili III of Russia
Carlos, Prince of Asturias
1545–1568
Philip II of Spain
Arrested and imprisoned by his father; died in prison six months later
Minye Kyawswa II of Ava
1567–1599
Nanda Bayin
Defected
Cuyen
1580–1615
Nurhaci
Political conflict with his father; replaced by his brother Hong Taiji
Yinreng
1674–1725
The Kangxi Emperor
Imprisoned for life by Kangxi for immorality and treason; replaced by his brother Yongzheng Emperor
Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia
1690–1718
Peter the Great of Russia
Imprisoned by his father and forced to relinquish his claim in favor of his half-brother Peter Petrovich . Died in prison.
Philip, Duke of Calabria
1747–1777
Charles III of Spain
Intellectually disabled; removed from the line of succession in favor of his brothers Charles and Ferdinand , who took the thrones of Spain and Naples and Sicily, respectively
Louis, Prince of Piacenza
1773–1803
Ferdinand I, Duke of Parma
The Treaty of Aranjuez forced Ferdinand to relinquish the Duchy of Parma to France upon his death. Louis was compensated by being made King of Etruria .
Pedro, Prince Imperial of Brazil
1825–1891
Pedro IV of Portugal
Became heir solely to Brazil, with his sister Maria becoming heir presumptive to Portugal
Mustafa Fazıl Pasha
1830–1875
Isma'il Pasha
Succession law changed to pass from father to son instead of brother to brother; replaced by Tewfik Pasha
Tengku Alam Shah
1846–1891
Sultan Ali of Johor
Throne given to kinsman Abu Bakar of Johor instead
Khalifa bin Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan
c.1856–?
Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan
Refused throne, with his brother Tahnoun bin Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan becoming ruler instead
George, Crown Prince of Serbia
1887–1972
Peter I of Serbia
Abdicated his succession rights in 1909; replaced by his brother Alexander
Muhammad of Saudi Arabia
1910–1988
King Faisal ibn Abdul-Aziz
Forced to abdicate in 1965; replaced by his brother Khalid
Abdullah Mubarak Al-Sabah
1914–1991
Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah
Resigned as Vice Ruler in 1961
Tunku Abdul Rahman of Johor
1933–1989
Ismail of Johor
His elder brother Iskandar of Johor was reinstated after previously being forced to renounce his rights
Khalid bin Saqr Al Qasimi
Born 1940
Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi
Disinherited in favor of his half-brother Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi
Muqrin of Saudi Arabia
Born 1945
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Removed as Crown Prince in April 2015; replaced by his nephew Muhammad bin Nayef
Hassan of Jordan
Born 1947
King Hussein of Jordan
He was replaced by his nephew Abdullah only days before the king died in 1999
Muhammad bin Nayef of Saudi Arabia
Born 1959
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Removed as Crown Prince in June 2017; replaced by his cousin Mohammad bin Salman
Mishaal bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
Born 1972
Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
Renounced his claim in 1996 in favor of his younger half-brother, Sheikh Jasim
Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
Born 1978
Renounced his claim in 2003 in favor of his younger brother, Sheikh Tamim
Prince Carl Philip of Sweden
Born 1979
Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
Swedish succession laws were changed in 1980. Carl Philip was supplanted by his elder sister Victoria
Prince Hamzah of Jordan
Born 1980
Abdullah II of Jordan
Title of Crown Prince removed in 2004. Hamzah was supplanted by his half-nephew Hussein
Heirs apparent of monarchs who themselves abdicated or were deposed [ edit ]
Heir apparent
Lived
Heir of
End of line/monarchy
Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus
38–69
Galba
Assassinated in 69 under orders of Otho
Gaius Julius Verus Maximus
217–238
Maximinus Thrax
Assassinated in 238
Publius Licinius Egnatius Marinianus
249–268
Gallienus
Killed in 268
Licinius II
315–326
Licinius
Both father and son were executed by Licinius' co-emperor Constantine the Great
Victor
Died 388
Magnus Maximus
Both executed
Constans II
Died 411
Constantine III
Both killed in revolts
Chen Yin
573–618
Chen Shubao
Chen dynasty fell
Theodosius
583/585–602
Maurice
Both father and son executed by supporters of Phocas
Niketas the Persian
Died 636
Shahrbaraz
Shahrbaraz was killed after 40 days of rule
Tiberius IV
705–711
Justinian II
Both father and son overthrown and executed
Theophylact
793–849
Michael I Rangabe
Michael I abdicated in the face of a military revolt
Constantine
800 and 810–?
Leo V the Armenian
Leo V was assassinated and his heirs banished
Crown Prince Maui
912–?
Gyeongsun of Silla
Gyeongsun surrendered his throne to Taejo of Goryeo
Meng Xuanzhe
937–991
Meng Chang
Later Shu was defeated by the Song dynasty
William fitz Duncan
1090–1147
Duncan II of Scotland
Duncan II was killed in battle in 1094 and his uncle Donald III retook the throne
Daoud ibn al-Adid
Died 1207
Al-Adid
The Ayyubid dynasty took power
Edward Balliol
1283–1367
John Balliol
Abdicated following defeat in First War of Scottish Independence
Crown Prince Jeongseong
Died 1394
Gongyang of Goryeo
Father and son were exiled and assassinated
Zhu Wenkui
Disappeared in 1402
Jianwen Emperor
Prince Yan sacked Nanjing. Disappeared with his father Jianwen Emperor.
Ferdinand, Duke of Calabria
1488–1550
Frederick of Naples
Frederick was deposed in 1501 by Louis XII and Ferdinand II of Aragon
Deposed Crown Prince Yi Hwang
1498–1506
Yeonsangun of Joseon
Yeonsangun was deposed in 1506 in favor of his half-brother Jungjong of Joseon
John of Denmark
1518–1532
Christian II of Denmark
Christian II was deposed in 1523 in favor of his uncle Frederick I
Gustav of Sweden
1568–1607
Eric XIV of Sweden
Eric XIV was deposed in 1568 in favor of his half-brother John III
Gustav of Saxe-Lauenburg
1570–1597
Magnus II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Magnus' father Francis I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg reascended
Władysław Vasa
1595–1648
Sigismund of Sweden
Sigismund was deposed in 1599 in favor of his uncle Charles IX
Deposed Crown Prince Yi Ji
1598–1623
Gwanghaegun of Joseon
Gwanghaegun was deposed in 1623 in favor of his nephew Injo of Joseon
Zhu Cilang
1629–1644
Chongzhen Emperor
Ming conquered by Manchu and founded the Qing dynasty
Yunreng, Prince Limi of the First Rank
1674–1725
Kangxi Emperor
He was demoted by his father.
James Francis Edward Stuart
1688–1766
James II of England
James II was deposed in favor of his daughter and son-in-law Mary II and William III and II on 11 April 1689 for being Catholic
Yonglian, Crown Prince Duanhui
1730–1738
Qianlong Emperor
Died of smallpox aged 8.
Emich Karl, Hereditary Prince of Leiningen
1763–1814
Karl Friedrich Wilhelm, Prince of Leiningen
German mediatisation
Prince David of Georgia
1767–1819
George XII of Georgia
Annexation by Russia
Franz Joseph, Hereditary Prince of Dietrichstein
1767–1854
Karl Johann Baptist, Prince of Dietrichstein
German mediatisation
Henry, Hereditary Count of Stolberg-Wernigerode
1772–1854
Christian Frederick, Count of Stolberg-Wernigerode
Louis-Antoine, Dauphin and Duke of Angoulême
1775–1844
Charles X of France
Abdicated jointly with his father on 2 August 1830
Alexius, Hereditary Count of Bentheim and Steinfurt
1781–1866
Louis William Geldricus Ernest, Prince of Bentheim and Steinfurt
German mediatisation
Charles Thomas, Hereditary Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort
1783–1849
Dominic Constantine, Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort
Louis-Charles, Dauphin of France
1785–1795
Louis XVI of France
French Revolution
Duke Pius August in Bavaria
1786–1837
Wilhelm, Count Palatine of Birkenfeld-Gelnhausen
Annexation by Bavaria
Prince Constantine of Imereti
1789–1844
Solomon II of Imereti
Annexation by Russia
Ernst, Hereditary Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
1794–1860
Karl Ludwig, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
German mediatisation
Gustav, Prince of Vasa
1799–1877
Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden
Gustav's whole family was excluded from the line of royal succession on 10 May 1809 by the Riksdag of the Estates , after the deposition of Gustav IV Adolf in favor of his uncle Charles XIII
Maximilian Karl, Hereditary Prince of Thurn and Taxis
1802–1871
Karl Alexander, 5th Prince of Thurn and Taxis
German mediatisation
Jacques-Victor Henry
1804–1820
Henri Christophe
Fearing a coup, Henri Christophe committed suicide and Jacques-Victor Henry was assassinated
Agustín Jerónimo, Prince Imperial of Mexico
1807–1866
Agustín I of Mexico
Deposed in 1823
Auguste de Beauharnais
1810–1835
Eugène de Beauharnais, Grand Duke of Frankfurt
Frankfurt again became a free city
Charles, Hereditary Prince of Lucca
1823–1854
Charles I, Duke of Lucca
Per the stipulations of the Congress of Vienna , upon the death of Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma , Lucca was traded for the Duke's ancestral land of Parma
Leopold, Prince of Hohenzollern
1835–1905
Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern
Annexed by Prussia on 7 December 1849
Prince Philippe, Count of Paris
1838–1894
Louis Philippe I of France
Declaration of the Second Republic on 24 February 1848
Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover
1845–1923
George V of Hanover
Annexation by Prussia in 1866
Ernest, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal
1846–1925
Charles II, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal
Marama Teururai
1851–1909
Ari'imate
Ari'imate was deposed in 1868 in favor of his wife Tehaapapa II
William, Hereditary Prince of Nassau
1852–1912
Adolphe, Duke of Nassau
Annexation by Prussia in 1866
Louis Napoléon, Prince Imperial
1856–1879
Napoleon III of France
Napoleon III was deposed 4 September 1870 by the forces of the Third Republic
Crown Prince Gustaf of Norway
1858–1950
Oscar II of Norway
Dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905
Agustín, Prince of Iturbide
1863–1925
Maximilian I of Mexico
Monarchy abolished in 1867
Shō Ten
1864–1920
Shō Tai
Ryukyu Kingdom was annexed by Japan in 1872
Abdulmejid II
1868–1944
Mehmed VI
Ottoman Empire dissolved in 1922.
Teriivaetua
1869–1918
Pōmare V
Tahiti was annexed by France in 1880
Prince Emanuele Filiberto, Duke of Aosta
1869–1931
Amadeo I of Spain
Abdicated in 1873
Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria
1869–1955
Ludwig III of Bavaria
German monarchies abolished in November 1918
Danilo, Crown Prince of Montenegro
1871–1939
Nicholas I of Montenegro
Annexed by Serbia
Kaʻiulani
1875–1899
Liliʻuokalani
Annexation by the United States
Yuan Keding
1878–1958
Yuan Shikai
Short lived Empire abolished in March 1916
Wilhelm, German Crown Prince
1882–1951
Wilhelm II, German Emperor
Wilhelm was deposed by the German government on 9 November 1918
Georg, Crown Prince of Saxony
1893–1943
Frederick Augustus III of Saxony
German monarchies abolished in November 1918
Husain Bey, Crown Prince of Tunisia
1893–1969
Muhammad VIII al-Amin
Deposed in 1957
Heinrich XLV, Hereditary Prince Reuss Younger Line
1895–1945
Heinrich XXVII, Prince Reuss Younger Line
German monarchies abolished in November 1918
Josias, Hereditary Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont
1896–1967
Friedrich, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont
Wolfgang, Crown Prince of Finland
1896–1989
Fredrik Kaarle, King-elect of Finland
Monarchy abolished in 1918
Prince Wilhelm of Urach
1897–1957
Mindaugas II of Lithuania
Yi Un
1897–1970
Sunjong of Korea
Annexation by Korea in 1910
Nikolaus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg
1897–1970
Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg
German monarchies abolished in November 1918
Crown Prince Friðrik of Iceland
1899–1972
Kristján X of Iceland
Monarchy abolished on 17 June 1944
Muhammad Abdel Moneim
1899–1979
Abbas II of Egypt
Abbas II was deposed by the British for supporting the Ottomans in World War I
Georg Moritz, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Altenburg
1900–1991
Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg
German monarchies abolished in November 1918
Ernst, Hereditary Prince of Lippe
1902–1987
Leopold IV, Prince of Lippe
Alexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of Russia
1904–1918
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas abdicated on 2/15 March 1917 on behalf of both himself and his son. The monarchy was abolished 1 September 1917
Umberto, Prince of Piedmont
1904–1983
Victor Emmanuel III of Ethiopia and Albania
Victor Emmanuel was only partially recognized in those countries, renounced claims in 1943 in favor of previous holders
Georg Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse
1906–1937
Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse
German monarchies abolished in November 1918
Johann Leopold, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
1906–1972
Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Alfonso, Prince of Asturias
1907–1938
Alfonso XIII of Spain
Alfonso XIII was deposed by the formation of the Second Spanish Republic on April 14, 1931. Prince Alfonso renounced his claim on 21 June 1933 so he could marry a commoner
Friedrich Franz, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
1910–2001
Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
German monarchies abolished in November 1918
Ghazi bin Faisal
1912–1939
Faisal I of Syria
Deposed in 1920
Charles Augustus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
1912–1988
William Ernest, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
German monarchies abolished in November 1918
Archduke Otto, Crown Prince of Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia
1912–2011
Charles I of Austria
Austria and Hungary abolished the monarchy in 1918.
Abd al-Ilah
1913–1958
Ali of Hejaz
Deposed in 1925
Carol Victor, Hereditary Prince of Albania
1913–1973
Wilhelm, Prince of Albania
Fled into exile in 1914
Prince Ernest Augustus of Hanover
1914–1987
Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick
German monarchies abolished in November 1918
Amha Selassie
1916–1997
Haile Selassie of Ethiopia
Haile Selassie was overthrown in 1974 after being taken by communist Derg power
Hasan as-Senussi
1928–1992
Idris of Libya
Deposed in 1969
Vong Savang
1931–1978
Sisavang Vatthana
Monarchy abolished after Laotian Civil War
Ahmad Shah Khan, Crown Prince of Afghanistan
1934–2024
Mohammed Zahir Shah
Deposed in 1973
Bảo Long
1936–2007
Bảo Đại
1955 State of Vietnam referendum
Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples
1937–2024
Umberto II of Italy
Italy abolished the monarchy on 12 June 1946, after Umberto II had reigned 33 days
Leka, Crown Prince of Albania
1939–2011
Zog of Albania
Two days after Leka's birth, Mussolini's Italy invaded Albania on 7 April 1939 and sent the royal family into exile
Crown Prince Amedeo of Savoy, Duke of Apulia
1943–2021
Tomislav II of Croatia
Tomislav II abdicated October 12, 1943 due to the Armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces , when Amedeo was only two weeks old
Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia
Born 1945
Peter II of Yugoslavia
Peter II was deposed by Yugoslavia's Constituent Assembly on 29 November 1945
Abdelaziz bin Ahmed Al Thani
1946–2008
Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani
Deposed in 1972; Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani took the throne
Charles, Prince of Wales
Born 1948
Elizabeth II of Pakistan, South Africa, Ceylon, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanganyika, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Malta, The Gambia, Guyana, Mauritius, Fiji, and Barbados
Countries became republics
Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran
Born 1960
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
The Shah was overthrown by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979
Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece
Born 1967
Constantine II of Greece
Constantine II fled into exile shortly after Pavlos's birth, and the monarchy was abolished 1 June 1973
Paras, Crown Prince of Nepal
Born 1971
Gyanendra of Nepal
Gyanendra was deposed 28 May 2008 in favour of a republican government
Jean-Bédel Bokassa, Crown Prince of the Central African Empire
Born 1973
Jean-Bédel Bokassa
Deposed in 1979
Notes and references [ edit ]
^ assuming no change in the laws governing succession
^ Note that the substantive titles do not usually correspond exactly with the status of heir apparent. See crown prince for more examples and information.
Fields, Philip M., ed. (1987). The History of al-Ṭabarī, Volume XXXVII: The ʿAbbāsid Recovery: The War Against the Zanj Ends, A.D. 879–893/A.H. 266–279 . SUNY Series in Near Eastern Studies. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-88706-054-0 .
Kennedy, Hugh N. (1993). "al-Muʿtamid ʿAlā 'llāh" . In Bosworth, C. E. ; van Donzel, E. ; Heinrichs, W. P. & Pellat, Ch. (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition . Volume VII: Mif–Naz . Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 765–766. ISBN 978-90-04-09419-2 .
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