The Tree of Europe · Person

Ferdinand VI of Spain

«the Learned»

King of Spain from 1746 to 1759, the son of Philip V and Maria Luisa of Savoy. He pursued neutrality and reforms with ministers such as Ensenada and Carvajal, and died without issue.

1713 – 1759King of SpainBourbon · ES

Explore this family · Spanish Atlas Back to people

Historical portraitFerdinand VI of SpainLouis-Michel van Loo · 1750Public domain · PD-Art / PDM 1.0 · Source

This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 23 September 1713 Documented

Death: 10 August 1759 Documented

Role: King of Spain

Other recorded names: Ferdinand the Learned · Ferdinand the Prudent · Ferdinand the Just

Dynasty: Bourbon · ES

Territories: Spain (ES) · Navarre (ES) · Castile (ES) · León (ES) · Aragon (ES) · County of Barcelona (ES) · Valencia (ES) · Majorca (ES)

Recorded governments and reigns

King · Castile · Reign Pending review1746–1759Effective rule

King · León · Reign Pending review1746–1759Effective rule

King · Aragon · Reign Pending review1746–1759Effective rule

King · Navarre · Reign Pending review1746–1759Branch ruleFrom 1512 the two lines did not effectively govern the whole of the former kingdom.

Count · County of Barcelona · County Pending review1746–1759Effective rule

King · Valencia · Reign Pending review1746–1759Effective rule

King · Majorca · Reign Pending review1746–1759Effective rule

Family network

Recorded relationships

Parents

Philip V of SpainDocumentedMaria Luisa Gabriella of Savoy · ESDocumented

Partners

Barbara of Braganza · ESDocumented

Crowns and unions

Their titles over time

Follow the changing territories and offices of Ferdinand VI of Spain. Each title retains its own status.

Period

Governments in 1746

Spain7 titles and offices
View titles and jurisdictions
- Castile · ESKing · Effective rule1746–1759
- León · ESKing · Effective rule1746–1759
- Aragon · ESKing · Effective rule1746–1759
- Navarre · ESKing · Branch rule · Upper Navarre after the conquest1746–1759 · From 1512 the two lines did not effectively govern the whole of the former kingdom.
- County of Barcelona · ESCount · Effective rule1746–1759
- Valencia · ESKing · Effective rule1746–1759
- Majorca · ESKing · Effective rule1746–1759
The monarchy’s crowns and dominions. Portugal retained a separate administration during the dynastic union of 1580–1640. Source for this grouping

Annual dates: overlap within one year does not prove that two offices were held on the same day. Regencies and co-rulerships retain their labels.

Documentation

Sources for this profile

Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.

Evidence for this profile

12 recorded claims · 7 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)

BirthDocumented
23 September 1713
The authority record gives the birth as 1713-09-23.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Ferdinand VI., Spanien, König · Vital data: birth date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
DeathDocumented
10 August 1759
The authority record gives the death as 1759-08-10.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Ferdinand VI., Spanien, König · Vital data: death date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Family and relationships (3/3 with a precise source)

FatherDocumented
Philip V of Spain
The authority record identifies Philip V of Spain (GND 119186640) as father.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Ferdinand VI., Spanien, König · Relationships: father → GND 119186640
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
MotherDocumented
Maria Luisa Gabriella of Savoy
The authority record identifies Maria Luisa Gabriella of Savoy (GND 122666526) as mother.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Ferdinand VI., Spanien, König · Relationships: mother → GND 122666526
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
Marriage or partnershipDocumented
Barbara of Braganza
The authority record identifies Barbara of Braganza (GND 137353618) as spouse.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Ferdinand VI., Spanien, König · Relationships: spouse → GND 137353618
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Governments (0/7 with a precise source)

GovernmentPending review
King · Castile · 1746–1759
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
King · León · 1746–1759
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
King · Aragon · 1746–1759
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
King · Navarre · 1746–1759
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
Count · County of Barcelona · 1746–1759
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
King · Valencia · 1746–1759
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
King · Majorca · 1746–1759
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·

Biographical and contextual references (3)

Editorial history

2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.

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