Grandee

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Grandee is a word either to render in English the Spanish high aristocratic title Grande, or by analogy to refer to other people of a somewhat comparable, exalted position, roughly synonymous with magnate, and in particular by analogy to a formal upper level of the nobility, such as a peerage (especially if granted parliamentary seats).

1 Grandees of Spain
2 New Model Army
3 See also
4 References
5 Footnotes

[edit] Grandees of Spain

Spanish nobles are classified either as Grandees (also called Grandes de España or Peers) or as Titled Nobles (Títulos del Reino).

The title grande apparently was originally assumed by the most important nobles to distinguish them from the mass of the ricos hombres, or great barons of the realm. It was thus, as Selden points out, not a general term denoting a class, but "an additional dignity not only to all dukes, but to some marquesses and condes also" (Titles of Honor, ed. 1672, p. 478). It formerly implied certain privileges, notably that of sitting covered in the royal presence. Until the time of Ferdinand and Isabella, when the power of the territorial nobles was broken, the grandees had also certain more important rights, e.g. freedom from taxation, immunity from arrest save at the king's express command, and even — in certain cases — the right to renounce their allegiance and make war on the king. Their number and privileges were further restricted by King Charles I of Spain (i.e. the emperor Charles V), who reserved to the crown the right to bestow the title. The grandees of Spain were further divided into three classes: (1) those who spoke to the king and received his reply with their heads covered; (2) those who addressed him uncovered, but put on their hats to hear his answer; (3) those who awaited the permission of the king before covering themselves. All grandees were addressed by the king as "my cousin " (mi primo), whereas ordinary nobles were only qualified as " my kinsman " (mi pariente).

The title of "grandee," abolished under the Napoleonic King Joseph Bonaparte, was revived in 1834, when by the Estatuto real grandees were given precedence in the Spanish Chamber of Peers.

Nowadays, all Grandees are of the first class and the designation is purely titular, implying neither privilege nor power. An individual is a Grandee if he holds a Grandeeship (Grandeza de España), regardless of possession of a title of nobility. Normally, however, each Grandeza is granted along with a title, though this was not always the case.

Furthermore, a Grandeza de España 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.

Some of the best-known titles of Grandees of Spain are the Dukes of Alba, Medinaceli, Osuna, Infantado, Albuquerque, Nájera, Frías and Medina Sidonia; the Marquesses of Aguilar de Campoo, Astorga, Santillana and los Vélez; the Counts of Benavente, Lerín, Olivares, Orga(z) and Lemos

Grandees and their consorts are entitled to the style of Most Excellent Lord/Lady or His/Her Excellency and are called "cousin" (primo) by the King.

By extension the term can refer informally to any important person of high status, particularly a wealthy, landed long-time resident in an area.

[edit] New Model Army

In the English Civil War, senior officers from the landed gentry in the New Model Army who opposed the Levellers were informally termed the Grandees.

After the defeat of the King Charles I of England in the war, there were a series of debates and confrontations between the Levellers, whose members were known as Agitators, and the Grandees such as Sir Thomas Fairfax, Oliver Cromwell and Henry Ireton, who opposed the Agitators' proposals that they saw as radical. The disagreements were aired publicly at the Putney Debates, which started in late October 1647 and lasted for a couple of weeks.^[1]