Infantes

Infantes is a royal title used in the Iberian monarchies of Spain and Portugal. The term, with gendered forms infante (male) and infanta (female), designates the legitimate children of the sovereign who are not the crown heir. The plural infantes may refer to several individuals holding the title. The origin is Latin infans, meaning child. In practice, the title functioned as a courtesy rank rather than a governing office, and which relatives bore it could vary by dynasty and era. The heir to the throne typically received a separate title, such as Prince of Asturias in Spain or various princely titles in Portugal, while siblings of the heir were commonly styled infante or infanta.

In Spain, the system evolved under different royal houses. The king’s sons and daughters who were not the heir generally bore the title infante or infanta. The heir to the throne, when designated, would usually carry a distinct title and, in some periods, could be styled as a prince or princess rather than an infante. In Portugal, a similar pattern existed, with infante and infanta used for royal children and certain close relatives; the practice varied with political changes and dynastic rules.

Today, the title persists mainly in historical contexts and in reference to former or deceased royal families. It remains part of the traditional nomenclature surrounding Iberian royalty. Outside royal usage, infante/infanta can occur as surnames or in place names in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking regions, reflecting the historical influence of the term.