Crown Prince - Christian/Western Traditional Titles

Christian/Western Traditional Titles

Many monarchies use or did use unique titles for their heirs apparent, often of historical origin:

  • Dauphin (Kingdom of France); originally not unique but an alternative comital title in chief of the Dauphiné region
  • Prince Royal (Kingdom of France, monarchy of 1789-91; and July Monarchy)
  • Diadoch (Kingdom of Greece); translated as Crown Prince but literally successor (see also below)
  • Prince Imperial (Empire of Brazil, Second French Empire, and Empire of Mexico)
  • Rex iunior (Kingdom of Hungary); i.e., "Junior King", so called because he was crowned during the life of the incumbent (often his father)
  • Tsesarevich (Imperial Russia); commonly but mistakenly confused with Tsarevich
  • Prince Royal of Portugal (Príncipe Real de Portugal e dos Algarves) (Kingdom of Portugal); for the heir presumptive since 1815)
  • Duke of Braganza (Kingdom of Portugal); when the House of Braganza inherited the throne (1640), this title passed to the royal heir and was used together with Prince of Brazil (until 1815), and Prince Royal of Portugal (after 1815)
    • Duke of Barcelos (Kingdom of Portugal); used in conjunction with Duke of Braganza by royal heirs of the House of Braganza
  • Duke of Cornwall (former Kingdom of England); by letters patent of creation, the automatic title of the eldest son of the monarch; unlike the title Prince of Wales, which is bestowed by the monarch. Should the eldest son predecease his parent then the title does not transfer to the next in line to the throne, but reverts to the Crown. The title Prince of Wales can be bestowed by the monarch on somebody other than the eldest son, such as George II, who bestowed it on his grandson, later George III, following the early death of the latter's father, Frederick, Prince of Wales.
  • Duke of Rothesay (former Kingdom of Scotland); now used in lieu of Prince of Wales when in Scotland. The title is bestowed along the same automatic principle as the dukedom of Cornwall (see above).
  • Prince of Asturias, Kingdom of Spain; from the former Kingdom of Castile, retained as principal title after unification with Aragon and, later, Navarre
    • Prince of Gerona (former Crown of Aragon); this title was always used in conjunction with other three titles for the heir of the Crown of Aragon crown: Duke of Montblanc, Count of Cervera, Lord of Balaguer; now the four titles are used in conjunction with Prince of Asturias.
    • Prince of Viana (former Kingdom of Navarre); now used in conjunction with Prince of Asturias

Some monarchies have used (although not always de jure) a territorial title for heirs apparent which, though often perceived as a crown princely title, is not automatically hereditary. It generally requires a specific conferral by the sovereign, which may be withheld.

Current and past titles in this category include:

  • Duke of Brabant (Kingdom of Belgium); does not automatically descend by primogeniture, e.g., never held by Albert, Prince of Liège after his childless brother became king
  • Duke of Estonia and Laland (Denmark; during, at least, reigns of Christopher II and Valdemar IV)
  • HH the Crown Prince (Kuwait)
  • Prince of Norway (Denmark-Norway); in 15th-19th centuries
  • Prince of Orange (Netherlands)
  • Prince of Wales (England, Great Britain, United Kingdom)
  • King of the Romans (Holy Roman Empire) - an elective, rather than an inherited title, for the designated successor - usually the son, but sometimes the brother - of the Emperor
  • Prince of Grão-Para (title of the eldest son of the Brazilian heir)
  • King of Rome (First French Empire)
  • Duke of Sparta, Kingdom of Greece; used briefly, within Greece, only by Prince Constantine, during reign of his father King George I
  • Prince of Piedmont (title of the eldest son of the King of Sardinia, and then of the King of Italy, when it was alternated with Prince of Naples)
  • Prince of Brazil (title of the Portuguese heir from 1645 to 1815)
  • Prince of Beira (title of the eldest son of the Portuguese heir)
  • Duke of Scania (Sweden during the time when Magnus IV of Sweden also was King of Terra Scania)
  • Prince of Ani (Kingdom of West Armenia)
  • Prince of Turnovo (Kingdom of Bulgaria)
  • Prince of Alba Julia (Kingdom of Romania)
  • Grand Duke of Grahavo (Kingdom of Montenegro)
  • Prince of Venice (see Prince Eugène de Beauharnais); for the heir presumptive to Napoleon I in his Kingdom of Italy
  • Duke of Calabria (Kingdom of the Two Sicilies)

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