Definition of: Ferdinand

(fûr′di·nand, Du., Ger. fer′dē·nänt; Fr. fâr·dē·nä′)
A masculine personal name. Also Ital. Fer·di·nan·do (fer′dē·nän′dō). [<Gmc.,? brave life]
—Ferdinand I,
died 1065, king of Castile and Leon.
—Ferdinand I,
1503–64, king of Bohemia and Hungary; Holy Roman Emperor 1556–64.
—Ferdinand II,
1578–1637, king of Bohemia and Hungary; Holy Roman Emperor 1619–1637; grandson of preceding; involved in the Thirty Years' War.
—Ferdinand III,
1608–57, king of Bohemia and Hungary; Holy Roman Emperor 1637–57; son of Ferdinand II; signed Peace of Westphalia, 1648.
—Ferdinand V,
1452–1516, king of Castile and Aragon; established the Inquisition at Seville; expelled the Jews and Moors; promoted the expeditions of Columbus and Vespucci. Known as Ferdinand the Catholic.
—Ferdinand VII,
1784–1833, king of Spain 1808, 1814–33.