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Biography
Juan Carlos I, the last King of Spain reigned from 1975 until his abdication in 2014. Juan Carlos Alfonso Víctor María de Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias was born on January 5, 1938 in Rome, Lazio, Italy, during his family's exile. Expected to continue Franco's legacy, Juan Carlos, however, soon after his accession introduced reforms to dismantle the Francoist regime and begin the Spanish transition to democracy. This led to the approval of the Spanish Constitution of 1978 in a referendum, which re-established a constitutional monarchy. In 1981, Juan Carlos played a major role in preventing a coup that attempted to revert Spain to Francoist government in the King's name. In 2008, he was considered the most popular leader in all Ibero-America.
Awards & recognition
- Order of Excellence · 2009
- Grand Cross of the Order of the White Double Cross · 2002
- Four Freedoms Award – Freedom Medal · 1996
- Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize · 1994
- Gold medal of the Spanish National Research Council · 1993
Show all 54 awards →
- Grand Collar of the Military Order of the Tower and Sword · 1993
- Nansen Refugee Award · 1987
- Royal Victorian Chain · 1986
- doctor honoris causa from the Paris-Sorbonne University · 1985
- Gold medal of Galicia · 1985
- Gold Olympic Order · 1985
- honorary doctor of the University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne · 1985
- honorary doctor of the University of Madrid Complutense · 1984
- International Simón Bolívar Prize · 1983
- Charlemagne Prize · 1982
- Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Saint Olav · 1982
- Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic · 1980
- Order of the Elephant · 1980
- honorary doctorate of Strasbourg-III University · 1979
- Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany · 1977
- Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland · 1975
- Battle of Lepanto 4th Centenary Medal · 1971
- Grand Cross of the Cross of Military Merit with White Decoration · 1970
- Algerian National Order of Merit, Atheer rank
- anniversary medal at the occasion of the 2500th anniversary of the founding of the Iranian Empire
- Collar of the Order of Pope Pius IX
- Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania
- Collar of the Order of the White Lion
- Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
- European Medal of Tolerance
- Grand Collar of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword
- Grand Collar of the Order of Liberty
- Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry
- Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
- Grand Cross of the Military Order of Avis
- Grand Cross of the Military Order of Christ
- Grand Cross of the Military Order of the Tower and Sword
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer
- Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (civil)
- Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Three Stars
- Grand Star of the Decoration — Services to the Republic of Austria
- honorary doctor of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Honorary doctor of the University of Bologna
- honorary doctor of the University of Brasília
- Honorary doctor of the University of Oxford
- honorary doctorate from the University of Cambridge
- Knight of the Garter
- Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece
- Order of Francisco Morazán
- Order of Juan Mora Fernández
- Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class
- Order of the Golden Eagle
- Order of the White Eagle
