Guifredo el Velloso y Felipe VI

 Tracing the genealogical line from Wilfred the Hairy (Guilfredo el Velloso), who lived in the 9th century, to King Felipe VI of Spain, the current monarch as of 2025, is a complex task due to the vast historical span and the intricate web of European royal and noble lineages. Wilfred the Hairy (c. 840–897) was the Count of Barcelona and a key figure in the establishment of the Catalan dynasty, while Felipe VI is a member of the House of Bourbon, reigning since 2014. The connection between these two figures involves multiple dynastic shifts, marriages, and inheritances across centuries, primarily through the unification of Spanish crowns and the intermingling of European royalty.

Below, I provide a summarized genealogical line focusing on key figures and transitions, acknowledging that the full lineage includes numerous branches and collateral lines. This response is based on historical records and genealogical data available from reputable sources, including references to the Spanish monarchy’s lineage and posts found on X that discuss this connection. However, exact details of every generation may be simplified for clarity, as the complete lineage would involve hundreds of individuals and complex intermarriages. Where necessary, I’ve cross-referenced claims to ensure accuracy, but some gaps may exist due to historical ambiguities or incomplete records.

### Genealogical Line from Wilfred the Hairy to Felipe VI

1. **Wilfred the Hairy (Guilfredo el Velloso, c. 840–897)**  

   - Count of Barcelona, Urgell, and other Catalan counties. Founder of the House of Barcelona.  

   - Married to Winifreda of Empúries, with several children, including:  

     - **Wilfred II Borrell (d. 911)**, Count of Barcelona, Girona, and Osona.

2. **Wilfred II Borrell (d. 911)**  

   - Succeeded his father as Count of Barcelona.  

   - His son, **Sunyer I (d. 950)**, continued the line as Count of Barcelona.

3. **Sunyer I (d. 950)**  

   - Count of Barcelona, Girona, and Osona.  

   - His son, **Borrell II (d. 992)**, inherited the counties.

4. **Borrell II (d. 992)**  

   - Count of Barcelona, Girona, and Osona.  

   - Married to Letgarda de Rouergue, with children including:  

     - **Ramon Borrell (972–1017)**, Count of Barcelona.

5. **Ramon Borrell (972–1017)**  

   - Count of Barcelona, Girona, and Osona.  

   - Married to Ermessenda of Carcassonne, with children including:  

     - **Berenguer Ramon I (1005–1035)**, Count of Barcelona.

6. **Berenguer Ramon I (1005–1035)**  

   - Count of Barcelona.  

   - His son, **Ramon Berenguer I (1023–1076)**, continued the line.

7. **Ramon Berenguer I (1023–1076)**  

   - Count of Barcelona, consolidated power in Catalonia.  

   - Married to Almodis de la Marche, with children including:  

     - **Ramon Berenguer II (1053–1082)**, Count of Barcelona.

8. **Ramon Berenguer II (1053–1082)**  

   - Co-ruled with his brother, later assassinated.  

   - His son, **Ramon Berenguer III (1082–1131)**, became Count of Barcelona.

9. **Ramon Berenguer III (1082–1131)**  

   - Count of Barcelona and Provence. Expanded Catalan influence.  

   - Married to Douce I of Provence, with children including:  

     - **Ramon Berenguer IV (c. 1113–1162)**, Count of Barcelona.

10. **Ramon Berenguer IV (c. 1113–1162)**  

    - Count of Barcelona, married **Petronila of Aragon** (1136–1173), uniting the County of Barcelona with the Kingdom of Aragon, forming the Crown of Aragon.  

    - Their son, **Alfonso II of Aragon (1157–1196)**, became the first King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona.

11. **Alfonso II of Aragon (1157–1196)**  

    - King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona.  

    - Married to Sancha of Castile, with children including:  

      - **Peter II of Aragon (1178–1213)**.

12. **Peter II of Aragon (1178–1213)**  

    - King of Aragon, died at the Battle of Muret.  

    - His son, **James I the Conqueror (1208–1276)**, expanded the Crown of Aragon.

13. **James I the Conqueror (1208–1276)**  

    - King of Aragon, Valencia, and Majorca, Count of Barcelona.  

    - Married to Violant of Hungary, with children including:  

      - **Peter III of Aragon (1240–1285)**.

14. **Peter III of Aragon (1240–1285)**  

    - King of Aragon and Sicily.  

    - Married to Constance of Sicily, with children including:  

      - **Alfonso III of Aragon (1265–1291)** and **James II of Aragon (1267–1327)**.

15. **James II of Aragon (1267–1327)**  

    - King of Aragon and Sicily.  

    - His son, **Alfonso IV of Aragon (1299–1336)**, continued the line.

16. **Alfonso IV of Aragon (1299–1336)**  

    - King of Aragon.  

    - His son, **Peter IV of Aragon (1319–1387)**, inherited the throne.

17. **Peter IV of Aragon (1319–1387)**  

    - King of Aragon, known as "the Ceremonious."  

    - His daughter, **Eleanor of Aragon (1358–1382)**, married **John I of Castile**, linking the Aragonese and Castilian lines.

18. **Eleanor of Aragon (1358–1382)**  

    - Married **John I of Castile (1358–1390)**, King of Castile and León.  

    - Their son, **Henry III of Castile (1379–1406)**, continued the Castilian line.

19. **Henry III of Castile (1379–1406)**  

    - King of Castile and León.  

    - Married Catherine of Lancaster, with children including:  

      - **John II of Castile (1405–1454)**.

20. **John II of Castile (1405–1454)**  

    - King of Castile and León.  

    - His daughter, **Isabella I of Castile (1451–1504)**, became queen and married **Ferdinand II of Aragon**.

21. **Isabella I of Castile (1451–1504) and Ferdinand II of Aragon (1452–1516)**  

    - The Catholic Monarchs, unified Castile and Aragon, laying the foundation for modern Spain.  

    - Their daughter, **Joanna of Castile (1479–1555)**, inherited both crowns.

22. **Joanna of Castile (1479–1555)**  

    - Queen of Castile and Aragon, married **Philip I of Castile (Philip the Handsome)**, from the House of Habsburg.  

    - Their son, **Charles V (1500–1558)**, became Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain.

23. **Charles V (1500–1558)**  

    - Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain (as Charles I).  

    - Married Isabella of Portugal, with children including:  

      - **Philip II of Spain (1527–1598)**.

24. **Philip II of Spain (1527–1598)**  

    - King of Spain, married Anna of Austria, with children including:  

      - **Philip III of Spain (1578–1621)**.

25. **Philip III of Spain (1578–1621)**  

    - King of Spain.  

    - His son, **Philip IV of Spain (1605–1665)**, continued the Habsburg line.

26. **Philip IV of Spain (1605–1665)**  

    - King of Spain, married Mariana of Austria, with children including:  

      - **Charles II of Spain (1661–1700)**, the last Habsburg king, and **Margaret Theresa of Spain (1651–1673)**.

27. **Margaret Theresa of Spain (1651–1673)**  

    - Married **Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor**, linking the Spanish Habsburgs to the Austrian Habsburgs.  

    - Their daughter, **Maria Antonia of Austria (1669–1692)**, married **Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria**.

28. **Maria Antonia of Austria (1669–1692)**  

    - Her son, **Joseph Ferdinand of Bavaria (1692–1699)**, was a candidate for the Spanish throne but died young. The Spanish succession passed to the Bourbons via **Philip V**.

29. **Philip V of Spain (1683–1746)**  

    - First Bourbon King of Spain, grandson of **Louis XIV of France** and **Maria Theresa of Spain** (daughter of Philip IV).  

    - Married Maria Luisa of Savoy and later Elisabeth Farnese, with children including:  

      - **Charles III of Spain (1716–1788)**.  

    - *Note*: Philip V’s claim to the Spanish throne came through his descent from Philip IV via Maria Theresa, connecting back to the Habsburgs and, indirectly, to the earlier Castilian and Aragonese lines.[](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felipe_V_de_Espa%25C3%25B1a)

30. **Charles III of Spain (1716–1788)**  

    - King of Spain, married Maria Amalia of Saxony, with children including:  

      - **Charles IV of Spain (1748–1819)**.[](https://www.newtral.es/arbol-genealogico-borbones/20220606/)

31. **Charles IV of Spain (1748–1819)**  

    - King of Spain, married Maria Luisa of Parma, with children including:  

      - **Ferdinand VII of Spain (1784–1833)**.

32. **Ferdinand VII of Spain (1784–1833)**  

    - King of Spain, married Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies, with children including:  

      - **Isabella II of Spain (1830–1904)**.

33. **Isabella II of Spain (1830–1904)**  

    - Queen of Spain, married Francis, Duke of Cádiz, with children including:  

      - **Alfonso XII of Spain (1857–1885)**.

34. **Alfonso XII of Spain (1857–1885)**  

    - King of Spain, married Maria Christina of Austria, with children including:  

      - **Alfonso XIII of Spain (1886–1941)**.

35. **Alfonso XIII of Spain (1886–1941)**  

    - King of Spain, married Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, with children including:  

      - **Juan, Count of Barcelona (1913–1993)**.

36. **Juan, Count of Barcelona (1913–1993)**  

    - Heir to the Spanish throne, married Princess María de las Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, with children including:  

      - **Juan Carlos I of Spain (b. 1938)**.

37. **Juan Carlos I of Spain (b. 1938)**  

    - King of Spain (1975–2014), married Sofia of Greece and Denmark, with children including:  

      - **Felipe VI of Spain (b. 1968)**.[](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felipe_VI_de_Espa%25C3%25B1a)[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felipe_VI)

38. **Felipe VI of Spain (b. 1968)**  

    - Current King of Spain, married Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, with children including Leonor, Princess of Asturias.[](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felipe_VI_de_Espa%25C3%25B1a)

### Key Transitions and Explanations

- **From Wilfred the Hairy to the Crown of Aragon**: The line begins with Wilfred the Hairy, whose descendants ruled as Counts of Barcelona. The pivotal moment came with **Ramon Berenguer IV**’s marriage to **Petronila of Aragon**, uniting Barcelona with Aragon, creating the Crown of Aragon. This lineage continued through the kings of Aragon.[](https://reyesdeespana.com/arbol-genealogico-de-los-reyes-de-espana/)

- **Aragon to Castile**: The marriage of **Eleanor of Aragon** to **John I of Castile** connected the Aragonese line to the Castilian monarchy. This eventually led to the unification of Castile and Aragon under **Isabella I and Ferdinand II**, the Catholic Monarchs, whose daughter **Joanna** inherited both crowns.[](https://reyesdeespana.com/arbol-genealogico-de-los-reyes-de-espana/)

- **Habsburg to Bourbon**: The Habsburgs ruled Spain through **Charles V** and his descendants until **Charles II**, who died without issue in 1700. The War of the Spanish Succession resulted in **Philip V**, a Bourbon and great-grandson of **Philip IV**, taking the throne, establishing the Bourbon dynasty. Philip V’s lineage traces back to the Habsburgs and, through them, to the earlier Castilian and Aragonese lines.[](https://www.newtral.es/arbol-genealogico-borbones/20220606/)[](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felipe_V_de_Espa%25C3%25B1a)

- **Bourbon Continuity**: The Bourbon line continued through **Charles III**, **Ferdinand VII**, **Isabella II**, and subsequent monarchs, leading to **Alfonso XIII**, **Juan, Count of Barcelona**, **Juan Carlos I**, and finally **Felipe VI**.[](https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/3241916/0/arbol-genealogico-borbones/)[](https://www.lasexta.com/series/arbol-genealogico-borbones-quien-quien-felipe-felipe_202206026298982d42136300014dbd29.html)

- **Claims on X**: Several posts on X assert a direct line from Wilfred the Hairy to Felipe VI, emphasizing the descent through the House of Aragon and the Catholic Monarchs. For example, one user lists key figures from Wilfred to Felipe VI, claiming a “father-to-son” descent, though this oversimplifies the complex intermarriages. These posts align with historical genealogies but lack detailed documentation.

### Notes and Caveats

- **Complexity of Descent**: European royal genealogies are highly interconnected due to intermarriages, meaning Felipe VI likely descends from Wilfred the Hairy through multiple lines, not just one. The line presented here is one plausible path, focusing on the most direct dynastic successions.

- **Historical Gaps**: Records from the 9th to 11th centuries are less detailed, and some connections rely on traditional genealogies rather than primary sources. The transition from the House of Barcelona to the Spanish monarchy is well-documented, but minor links may be debated among historians.

- **Sources**: This lineage draws from historical records cited in sources like RTVE.es, casareal.es, and reyesdeespana.com, which provide genealogical trees from the Catholic Monarchs to Felipe VI, and Geneanet.org for earlier medieval lines. X posts were used to confirm public sentiment and claims but are not treated as primary evidence.[](https://www.rtve.es/noticias/proclamacion-felipe-vi/arbol-genealogico/)[](https://casareal.es/ES/MonarquiaHistoria/Paginas/arbol-genealogico.aspx)[](https://reyesdeespana.com/arbol-genealogico-de-los-reyes-de-espana/)

- **Diego Velázquez Claim**: One source mentions Felipe VI as a direct descendant of the painter Diego Velázquez. This is plausible through noble intermarriages but is not part of the main royal line and requires further verification.[](https://reyesdeespana.com/arbol-genealogico-de-los-reyes-de-espana/)

### Conclusion

Felipe VI is a descendant of Wilfred the Hairy through a lineage that passes from the Counts of Barcelona to the Kings of Aragon, then to the unified Spanish monarchy under the Catholic Monarchs, through the Habsburgs, and finally to the Bourbons. The path involves key figures like Ramon Berenguer IV, Isabella I, Charles V, Philip V, and Juan Carlos I. While the exact line involves complex intermarriages, the connection is historically supported through the dynastic unions of Aragon, Castile, and the Bourbon succession. For further details, you can explore genealogical resources at casareal.es or reyesdeespana.com.[](https://casareal.es/ES/MonarquiaHistoria/Paginas/arbol-genealogico.aspx)[](https://reyesdeespana.com/arbol-genealogico-de-los-reyes-de-espana/)

If you’d like a more detailed breakdown of any specific segment or additional sources, let me know!