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Ferdinand
Prince of Asturias
Portrait by Sánchez Coello, c. 1575
Born	4 December 1571 Madrid, Crown of Castile, Spain
Died	18 October 1578(1578-10-18) (aged 6) Madrid, Crown of Castile, Spain
Burial	El Escorial
House	Habsburg
Father	Philip II of Spain
Mother	Anna of Austria

Ferdinand, Prince of Asturias (4 December 1571 – 18 October 1578) was a member of the House of Habsburg who was heir apparent 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.^[1][2] His mother was Philip II's niece and fourth wife.^[3][4] 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. To thank God for the birth of the long-awaited son, prisoners were released – as commemorated in Titian's painting, Philip II Offering Don Fernando to Victory.^[5][6]

Most of his time was spent with his mother, his nurses and his two elder half sisters Catherine and Isabella.^{[citation needed]}

On 31 May 1573, Ferdinand was officially made Prince of Asturias at San Jerónimo el Real.^{[citation needed]}

Ferdinand died of dysentery.^{[citation needed]} His father was eventually succeeded by his youngest brother, Philip III of Spain.

References

Citations

Sources

• Grierson, Edward (1974). King of Two Worlds: Philip II of Spain. New York: Putnam. ISBN 978-0-399-11384-0.
• Kamen, Henry (2010). The Escorial: Art and Power in the Renaissance. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. pp. 188–89. ISBN 978-0-300-16244-8.
• Parker, Geoffrey (2014). Imprudent King: A New Life of Philip II. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-21695-0.
• Pierson, Peter (1975). Philip II of Spain.