Spanish nobility

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The Spanish nobility is the system of titles and honours of Spain and of the former kingdoms that constitute it. The nobility includes various titles that may be inherited, but the inheritance and creation of titles is entirely at the grace of the King of Spain.

After the restoration of monarchy in the person of Juan Carlos of Spain, the court of nobles holding offices attached to the royal household was not restored. Titles of nobility are subjected to taxes, unlike in the Ancient Regime. Some of the Spanish aristocrats felt that the modernization had unfairly forgotten them, but kept their protest low-key out of loyalty.

During the rule of General Francisco Franco, the titles granted by the Carlist pretenders were recognized and some other new titles were conceded.

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 marquess of Iria Flavia (the Roman name of his birth city). He also exceptionally confirmed the title of Count of Barcelona (a sovereignty title attached to the crown) that his father Juan de Borbón had used as a pretender to the Spanish crown.

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[edit] Grandes de España

Furthermore, Spanish nobles are classified either as Grandes de España (also called in English Grandees and Peers) or as Titled Nobles. Formerly, Grandees were divided into the first, second and third classes, but now, all Grandees are of the first class. An individual is a Grandee if he or she holds a Grandeeship, regardless of possession of a title of Nobility. Normally, however, each Grandeeship is granted along with a title, though this was not always the case. Furthermore, a Grandeeship is normally awarded along with every ducal title. A peer of any rank outranks a non-peer, even if that non-peer is of a higher grade. Thus, a Baron-Peer would outrank a Marquess who is not a peer.

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 Marquess or Count use the style Most Illustrious Lord / Lady, while those of the rank of Viscount, Baron or Lord use simply Lord / Lady. Furthermore, the son of a Count, Marquess or Duke may use the style of a Viscount.

[edit] Ranks

The titles of Prince of Asturias, Prince of Gerona and Prince of Viana are bestowed on the heir apparent of the Spanish crown.

The Spanish nobility is divided into six ranks (both the masculine and feminine forms are given):

[edit] Duke / Duchess (Duque / Duquesa)

[edit] Marquess / 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 Ría de Ribadeo
  • Marquess of Villena
  • Marquess of Santa Maria de Silvela
  • Marquess of Salobreña

[edit] Count / Countess (Conde / Condesa)

[edit] Viscount / Viscountess (Vizconde / Vizcondesa)

[edit] Baron / Baroness (Barón / Baronesa)

[edit] Lord / Lady (Señor / Señora)

[edit] Succession

All 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 both is a Grandee and holds a title without Grandeeship.

Succession to Spanish noble titles is hereditary, but not automatic. The original letters patent created the title determine the course of succession.

The title of King of Spain however currently follows male-preference cognatic primogeniture, as set in the Medieval Castilian law Siete Partidas. The elimination of male preference (keeping the existing rights of Felipe, Prince of Asturias) is the most probable reform of the Spanish Constitution of 1978. Most noble titles follow the same law. 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 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 or collateral descendant 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 the Guinness Book of Records for number of titles with over 50 titles.

[edit] 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.
  • Noble Titles in Spain and Spanish Grandees
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