- Spanish nobility
The Spanish nobility are the persons who possess the legal status of
nobility , and the system oftitle s and honours ofSpain and of the former kingdoms that constitute it. Some nobles possess various titles that may be inherited, but the inheritance and creation of titles is entirely at the grace of theKing of Spain . During the rule of GeneralFrancisco Franco , some new hereditary titles were conceded to individuals, and the titles granted by theCarlist pretenders were officially recognized.Upon the accession to Spain's throne in the person of
Juan Carlos of Spain in1975 , thecourt of nobles holding offices attached to the royal household was not restored. Noble titleholders are subjected totaxation , whereas under Spain's "ancien régime" they were exempt.King Juan Carlos has also created new titles to recognize the merits of politicians and artists.For example, the daughter of Franco became Duchess of Franco,
Adolfo Suárez became Duke of Suárez,Camilo José Cela became Marquis ofIria Flavia (the Roman name of his birth city).He also exceptionally confirmed the title of Count of Barcelona (a title historically attached to the Crown, but used as a "title of pretence") by his father Juan de Borbón during thedynasty 's twentieth century exile and the subsequent reign of his son."Grandes de España"
See Also:
Spanish monarchy full Titulary Spanish nobles are classified either as "Grandes de España" (also called in English "
grandee s"), or as titled nobles. Formerly, grandees were divided into the first, second and third classes, but now, all grandees enjoy the same privileges. An individual may hold a grandeeship, whether in possession of a title of nobility or not. Normally, however, each grandeeship is attached to a title, though this was not always the case. Furthermore, a grandeeship is always awarded along with every ducal title, as most dukes in France gradually obtained a peerage under its "ancien régime". A grandee of any rank outranks a non-grandee, even if that non-grandee's title is of a higher degree. Thus, abaron -grandee enjoys higherprecedence than a marquis who is not a grandee. Except for dukes and some very ancient titles of marquesses and counts, most Spanish titles of nobility are not attached to grandeeships.Grandees are entitled to the style of "Most Excellent Lord / Lady" or "His / Her Excellency". In the days of the old monarchy, Grandees had the privilege of keeping their hats on in the presence of the sovereign, and of addressing him as "cousin".
Titled nobles who are of the rank of marquis or count use the style "Most Illustrious Lord / Lady", while those of the rank of
viscount , baron orlord use simply "Lord / Lady".Ranks
The titles of
Prince of Asturias ,Prince of Gerona andPrince of Viana are held by theheir apparent of the Spanish crown.The Spanish nobility is divided into six ranks (both the masculine and feminine forms, as well as some extant titles, are given). Some of the titles are the following:
Duke / Duchess ("Duque" / "Duquesa")
- Dukedom of Alba
Duke of Berducido Duke of Cadiz Duke of Hernani Duke of Fernández-Miranda Duke of Lugo - Dukedom of Medina Sidonia
Duke of Montblanch Duke of Najera , est. 1482, currently held by Don Juan Traverso y Colon de Carvajal succeeded on 12.4.2000, hisheir apparent is Ignacio Travesedo Julia, Conde de Trevino.Duke of Segovia Duke of Seville Duke of Sotomayor - Dukedom of Suárez
- Dukedom of Palma de Mallorca
Duke of Vigo Duke of Victory
Marquis / Marchioness ("Marqués" / "Marquesa")
Marquess of Aguilar de Campoo Marquess of Ardales Marquess of Iria Flavia .Marquess of Irujo y los Arcos Marquess of La Algaba Marquess of Figueroa Marquess of Frigiliana Marquis de Vallado Marquess of Chinchilla Marquess of Astorga Marquess of Isla de Arousa Marquess of Ría de Ribadeo Marquess of Villena Marquess of Santa Maria de Silvela Marquess of Salobreña Marquess of Santillana Marquess of Santillana Marquis of Valdecarzana Marquess of Menendez Marquis of Montsalud Marquis of Morella
Count / Countess ("Conde" / "Condesa")
County of Barcelona County of Castella de Vigo County of Cervera County of Covadonga County of Empúries County of Frigiliana County of Guaqui County of Luchana County of Mansilla County of Olivito County of Ripalda County of Roussillon County of Salvatierra County of Teba County of Toreno County of Urgell County of Vigo County of Fuensaldaña
Viscount / Viscountess ("Vizconde" / "Vizcondesa")
* Viscounty of la Alborada.
*Viscounty of Altamira
* Viscounty of Banderas.
* Viscounty of Cabrera.
* Viscounty of la Calzada.
* Viscounty of Quintanilla de Florez.Baron / Baroness ("Barón" / "Baronesa")
There aren't barons among the ranks of spanish nobility. Lower nobility helds titles such as
hidalgo ,infanzon ,escudero ,..., but none correspond to Baron.Lord / Lady ("Señor" / "Señora")
Lord of Balaguer Lord of Biscay Lord of Molina de Aragón
uccession
The evidence supporting one's claim to a title may be reviewed by the Deputation of Grandees and Titled Nobles of the Kingdom ("Diputación de Grandes y Títulos del Reino"). The body includes eight grandees, eight nobles who are not grandees, and a president who must hold both a grandeeship and a hereditary title without grandeeship.
Succession to Spanish noble titles is hereditary, but not automatic. The original
letters patent which created the title determines the course of succession.The title of
King of Spain however currently follows male-preference cognaticprimogeniture , as set in themedieval Castilian law "Siete Partidas ".The elimination of male preference (while retaining the current rights ofFelipe, Prince of Asturias ) is often predicted as a likely future reform of theSpanish Constitution of 1978 .While noble titles historically have followed the rule of male-preference primogeniture, a Spanish law came into effect on October 30, 2006, after approval by both houses of parliament, establishing the inheritance of hereditary noble titles by the firstborn regardless of sex. The law is retroactive to July 27, 2005. [http://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2006/10/31/pdfs/A37742-37743.pdf]
Following the death of a noble, the senior heir may
petition the King through the Spanish Ministry of Justice for permission to use the title. If the senior heir does not make a petition within two years, then other heirs may themselves do so. Furthermore, there is an overall limit of forty years within which one may claim a title.The petitioner must demonstrate that he or she is a child, grandchild or direct male line descendant of a noble (whether a grandee or not), or that he or she belongs to certain bodies or orders of chivalry deemed noble, or that the father's family is recognized as noble (if succeeding to a grandeeship, the mother's family also). Furthermore, a fee must be paid; the fees depend on whether the title is attached to a grandeeship or not, and on whether the heir is a direct descendant or collateral kinsman to the previous holder. The petition is normally granted, except if the petitioner is a criminal.
Titles may also be ceded to heirs other than the senior heir during the lifetime of the main titleholder. Normally, the process is used to allow younger children to succeed to the titles, while the highest or principal title goes to the senior heir. Only subsidiary titles may be ceded; the principal title must be reserved for the senior heir. The cession of titles may only be done with the approval of the monarch.
Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba , holds theGuinness Book of Records for number of titles with over 50 titles.References
*Atienza, Julio de. "Nobiliario Español: Diccionario Heráldico de Apellidos Españoles y de Títulos Nobiliarios". Madrid: Aguilar, 1948.
*Figueroa y Melgar, Alfonso de. "Estudio Histórico Sobre Algunas Familias Españolas". 6v. in 12 parts. Madrid: Editions Dawson & Fry, 1965.
* [http://www.chivalricorders.org/nobility/spanoble.htm Noble Titles in Spain and Spanish Grandees]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.