Spanish nobility

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The Spanish nobility are the persons who possess the legal status of nobility, and the system of titles and honours of Spain 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 the King of Spain. Legitimate patrilineal descendants of a nobleman are also noble, as are those female-line descendants whose inheritance of a legal title of nobility is recognized.

Upon the accession to Spain's throne in the person of Juan Carlos of Spain in 1975, the court of nobles holding offices attached to the royal household was not restored. Noble titleholders are subjected to taxation, whereas under Spain's ancien régime they were exempt.

During the rule of General Francisco Franco, new hereditary titles were conceded to individuals, and the titles granted by the Carlist pretenders were officially recognized.

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 of Iria Flavia (the Roman name of his birth city), Xavier Arriazu became viscount of Arriazu and Raul Puga became viscount of Puga. 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 the dynasty's twentieth century exile and the subsequent reign of his son.

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[edit] Grandes de España

Spanish nobles are classified either as Grandes de España (also called in English grandees 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 normally 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, a baron-grandee enjoys higher precedence than a marquis who is not a grandee. Except for dukes, 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 or lord use simply Lord / Lady.

[edit] Ranks

The titles of Prince of Asturias, Prince of Gerona and Prince of Viana are held by the heir 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):

[edit] Duke / Duchess (Duque / Duquesa)

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

[edit] Count / Countess (Conde / Condesa)

[edit] Viscount / Viscountess (Vizconde / Vizcondesa)

  • Viscount of Arriazu: Xavier Arriazu y Garcia
  • Viscount of Puga: Raul Maria Puga y Yeste

[edit] Baron / Baroness (Barón / Baronesa)

[edit] Lord / Lady (Señor / Señora)

[edit] Succession

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 cognatic primogeniture, as set in the medieval Castilian law Siete Partidas. The elimination of male preference (while retaining the current rights of Felipe, Prince of Asturias) is often predicted as a likely future 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 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 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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