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Spain:
Grandees
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The
honorary title of Grandee of Spain dates back to the 14th
century and was formally recognised under King Charles I in
1520, elevating it to the highest rank within the Spanish
nobility and placing it immediately below the royal family.
Those who were recognised as holding the dignity before this
date, without a clear record of the original bestowal, are
classified as inmemorial (of time immemorial). The title of
grandee is an honorary distinction rather than a substantive
noble rank and, although not always hereditary, it is most
commonly conferred upon individuals who already possess noble
titles, thereby becoming associated with their existing rank.
A person may be created a Grandee of Spain by virtue of status,
social standing, or royal favour; and while some grandees
may hold no other specific noble title beyond this dignity,
such cases are relatively rare. Historically, grandees were
drawn from the most powerful noble families in Spain and often
served as counsellors or close allies of the monarch, enjoying
privileges that distinguished them from other nobles. The
title was also bestowed on foreigners, usually as an honorary
distinction. Previously divided into three classes and one
honorary group, all grandees were unified into a single class
by various royal decrees between 1864 and 1899. Though the
role of grandee has changed over time, the title still carries
notable social prestige. Today, it continues to confer several
honours, including precedence over other nobles and the personal
style of ‘Your Excellency’, a courtesy not extended
to holders of other noble titles. Despite the erosion of the
influence and prerogatives once enjoyed by grandees—particularly
due to constitutional reforms and the modernisation of Spain’s
political framework—they continue to hold a visible
and esteemed place in Spanish society. |
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Permanent
Deputation of the Grandees of Spain |
| Name* |
Tenure |
|
|
Roles |
| Deans |
Deputy
Deans |
Councillors |
|
Secretaries |
|
Manuel
Álvarez de Toledo (6M of Miraflores) |
†1932 |
Álvarez de Toledo (12) |
| Treasurers |
Grandees |
Aarschot,
Duque of
|
|
Pers.
|
Philippe de Croÿ (1D of Aarschot)
|
1530–33;
†1549
|
Croÿ (1009) |
|
Perp.
|
Philippe
de Croÿ (1D of Aarschot)
|
1533–49†
|
Croÿ (1009) |
Abrantes,
Dukedom of
2nd class 1650; 1st class 1761
|
|
3Suc.
|
Alfonso
de Lancaster (1D of Abrantes)
|
1650–54†
|
Lancaster (4132) |
|
Perp.
|
Agustín
de Lancaster (2D of Abrantes)
|
1663–1720†
|
Lancaster (4132) |
Adernò,
Count of
Confirmed 1595 and 1662
|
|
Perp.
|
Francesco de Moncada (3P of Paternò)
|
1572–92†
|
Moncada (949) |
Aguilar
de Campoo, Marqués de, inmemorial
|
|
Conf. |
Luis Fernández Manrique (2M
of Aguilar de Campoo)
|
1520–34†
|
Manrique de Lara (3908) |
Alba
de Tormes, Dukedom of, inmemorial
|
|
Conf. |
Fadrique
Álvarez de Toledo (2D of Alba) |
1520–31†
|
Álvarez de Toledo (12) |
|
Aytona,
Marquisate of
2nd
class 1868
|
|
Life
|
Francisco
de Moncada (3M of Aytona)
|
1626–35†
|
Moncada (949) |
|
Perp.
|
Miguel
de Moncada (5M of Aytona)
|
1670–74†
|
Moncada (949) |
|
Bivona,
Dukedom of
(Sicily)
|
|
Life
|
Pietro
de Luna (1D of Bivona)
|
1544
|
Luna (2321) |
|
Bivona,
Dukedom of
(Spain)
1st class
|
Perp.
|
José
María Álvarez de Toledo (D of Bivona) |
1865–85† |
Álvarez de Toledo (12) |
|
Carpio,
Marquisate del
1st
class
|
Perp.
|
Diego López de Haro (5M del Carpio)
|
1640–48†
|
Haro (3155) |
Casa
Pontejos, Marquisate of
|
|
Perp.
|
Genoveva
Samaniego (8Mss de Casa Pontejos)
|
1915
|
Samaniego
(4102) |
|
Eril,
Countship of
2nd
class; first class 1757
|
Perp.
|
Antonio Roger de Eril (4C of Eril)
|
1708–15†
|
Eril (5297) |
|
Escalona,
Dukedom of, inmemorial
2nd
class 1520; first class 1750
|
|
Conf.
|
Diego López Pacheco (2D of Villena)
|
1520–29†
|
Pacheco
(3492) |
|
Curr.
|
Francisco
de Borja Soto (21D of Escalona)
|
1998
|
Soto
(4332) |
|
Francavilla,
Dukedom of
|
|
Perp.
|
Diego
Hurtado de Mendoza
(1D of Francavilla)
(Naples)
|
1555–78†
|
Mendoza
(3293) |
| ►Neapolitan
title revived in Spain 1921
|
|
Perp.
|
Íñigo de Arteaga
(18D del Infantado)
|
1921–97†
|
Arteaga
(2335) |
|
Huéscar,
Dukedom of, 1563
|
|
Perp.
|
María
Josefa Pimentel (1Dss of Huéscar)
|
1563–66†
|
Pimentel
(2702) |
Last
|
Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart (15D of Alba)
|
1835–?
†1881
|
|
| ►New
creation 1871
|
Perp.
|
Carlos Fitz-James Stuart (16D of Alba)
|
1871–1901†
|
|
Curr.
|
Fernando Fitz-James Stuart (14D of Huéscar)
|
2016–;
*1990
|
|
|
Infantado,
Dukedom del, inmemorial
|
|
Conf. |
Diego
Hurtado de Mendoza (3D del Infantado)
|
1520–31†
|
Mendoza
(3293) |
|
Curr. |
María
de la Almudena de Arteaga (20Dss del Infantado)
|
2018–;
*1967
|
Arteaga
(2335) |
|
Lerma,
Dukedom of, inmemorial
1st
class confirmed 1726
|
| ►Grandeeship
transferred from the Marquisate of
Denia before 1568
|
|
Curr.
|
Fernando
Larios (16D of Lerma)
|
1998–;
*1943
|
Larios
(4080) |
|
Mancera,
Marquisate of
2nd
class 1686
|
Pers. |
Antonio
de Toledo Molina (2M of Mancera) |
1686–92;
†1715 |
Álvarez de Toledo (12) |
Perp. |
Antonio
de Toledo Molina (2M of Mancera) |
1692–1715† |
Álvarez de Toledo (12) |
|
Curr. |
Marina
Fernández de Cordoba (13Mss of Mancera)
|
|
Fernández de Cordoba (488) |
|
Medina
Sidonia, Dukedom of, inmemorial
|
|
Conf. |
Juan
Pérez de Guzmán (6D of Medina Sidonia)
|
1520–59†
|
Pérez
de Guzmán
(3326) |
|
Curr. |
Leoncio
González de Gregorio (22D of Medina Sidonia) |
2008–;
*1956 |
González
de Gregorio
(5460) |
|
Miraflores,
Marquisate of
1st
class
|
|
Perp.
|
Carlos
Francisco de Pando (1M de MIraflores)
|
|
Pando (5410) |
|
Curr. |
Manuel
Álvarez de Toledo (5D of Zaragoza) |
|
Álvarez de Toledo (12) |
|
Monterrey,
Countship of
2nd
class
|
Perp.
|
Manuel
de Zúñiga (6M de Monterrey)
|
|
Zúñiga (2754) |
|
Montoro,
Dukedom of
1st
class
|
Perp.
|
Luis
de Haro y Guzmán (4C-D of Olivares)
|
1660–61†
|
Guzmán (3326) |
|
Olivares,
Countship-Dukedom of
1st
class 1577
|
Life
|
Juan
Álvarez de Toledo (5C of Oropesa) |
|
Álvarez de Toledo (12) |
Perp.
|
Gaspar
de Haro y Guzmán (3C-D of Olivares)
|
1621–45†
|
Guzmán (3326) |
|
Oropesa,
Countship of
2nd
class life 1577; 1st class 1690
|
Life |
Juan
Álvarez de Toled (4C of Oropesa) |
1577–1619† |
Álvarez de Toledo (12) |
Perp. |
Manuel
Álvarez de Toledo (8C of Oropesa) |
1690–1707† |
Álvarez de Toledo (12) |
|
Osorno,
Countship of
|
Perp.
|
James
Fitz-James Stuart (17D of Alba)
|
1902
|
Fitz-James Stuart (4059) |
|
Osuna,
Dukedom
of
1st
class
|
|
►Subrogated
from the Countship of Ureña 1562
|
Perp.
|
Pedro Tellez-Girón (1D of Osuna)
|
1562–90†
|
Tellez-Girón (2692) |
Palma,
Dukedom of
1st
class confirmed 1726
|
Perp.
|
Ferdinando
Tomasi (4P of Lampedusa) |
1724–64
ced.; †1775 |
Tomasi
di Lampedusa (504) |
|
Pastrana,
Dukedom of,
|
|
Perp.
|
Ruy
Gómez de Silva (1P of Éboli)
|
1572–73†
|
Gómez
de Silva (3216) |
|
Paternó,
Princedom of
Confirmed 1672, 1673, 1713 and 1716
|
|
Perp.
|
Luigi de Moncada (5P of Paternò)
|
1662–72†
|
Moncada (949) |
|
Santa
Cristina, Dukedom of
|
|
Perp.
|
Fulco
Ruffo de Calabria (1D
of Santa Cristina)
|
1830
|
Ruffo di Calabria (716) |
|
Távara,
Marquisate of
1st
class
|
Life
|
Miguel
Álvarez de Toledo (9M of Távara) |
1709–29;
†1735 |
Álvarez de Toledo (12) |
Perp.
|
Miguel
Álvarez de Toledo (9M of Távara) |
1729–35† |
Álvarez de Toledo (12) |
|
Ureña,
Countship of |
|
►Subrogated
to Dukedom of Osuna 1562
|
|
Vélez,
Marquisate de los, inmemorial
2nd
class
|
|
Conf.
|
Pedro Fajardo (1M de los Vélez)
|
1520–42†
|
Fajardo
(3318) |
|
Curr. |
Leoncio
González de Gregorio (22D of Medina Sidonia) |
2008–;
*1956 |
González
de Gregorio
(5460) |
Villafranca
del Bierzo, Marquisate of
2nd
class; 1st class 1705; confirmed 1765
|
|
Perp.
|
María
Osorio Pimentel (2Mss of Villafranca del Bierzo)
|
1535–39†
|
Pimentel
(2702) |
|
Curr. |
Leoncio
González de Gregorio (22D of Medina Sidonia) |
2008–;
*1956 |
González
de Gregorio
(5460) |
Zaragoza,
Dukedom
of
1st
class
|
|
Pers.
|
José
de Palafox (1D of Zaragoza)
|
1834
|
Palafox (676) |
|
Perp.
|
Francisco
de Palafox (2D of Zaragoza)
|
1848
|
Palafox (676) |
|
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Notes
Conf. = confirmation of grandee status for grandezas inmemoriales
Curr. = current holder
Life = life/honorary grant
Perp. = perpetual grant
Pers. = personal grant, not attached to a title
3Suc.= granted limited to theree successive holders |
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