Cardinal-King Ferdinand VI of Spain

King Philip III of Spain reigned 1598-1621.
His sons were:
Philip 1605-1665
Infante Charles 1607-1632
Infante Ferdinand 1609-1641

Suppose Philip, Prince of Asturias and the Infante Charles die in 1620.
Thus the Infante Ferdinand becomes the new heir.
Ferdinand becomes King of Spain as Ferdinand VI.
Will he be Governor of the Spanish Netherlands? Will he be Governor of the Duchy of Milan?
Does he retain the title of Cardinal?
 
King Philip III of Spain reigned 1598-1621.
His sons were:
Philip 1605-1665
Infante Charles 1607-1632
Infante Ferdinand 1609-1641

Suppose Philip, Prince of Asturias and the Infante Charles die in 1620.
Thus the Infante Ferdinand becomes the new heir.
Ferdinand becomes King of Spain as Ferdinand VI.
Will he be Governor of the Spanish Netherlands? Will he be Governor of the Duchy of Milan?
Does he retain the title of Cardinal?

Well, as king I guess Fernando would in theory still be governor i.e. ruler of Milan/Netherlands. Also, his cardinalate was nothing more than a title AFAIK.

Emperor Constantine said:
Actually none of the Habsburg Cardinals would really be defrocked, as they never took more then minor orders for that very reason.

Also, I should imagine the pope would be put under significant pressure to release Fernando from his obligations as cardinal, since otherwise, should he die without issue, we're gonna have a War of the Spanish Succession 60 years early.

Since once Fernando dies, the next candidate is the queen of France, however, AFAIK, her dowry is paid up which means her renunciation of her succession rights is binding (and also the heirs of her body are 3/1 respectively), then the empress, followed by the late duchess of Burgundy (Isabella Clara Eugenia) and the still later duchess of Savoy. Thus, for everyone's sanity, I think the pope will communicate in pectore that Fernando has resigned and he'll marry. Probably a Habsburg archduchess, though, unless he can get a dispensation for Isabel de Bourbon (but I think she'll refuse because he's quite a bit younger than her, but who knows).
 
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