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. // Nobility is a traditional hereditary status (see hereditary titles) that exists today in many countries (mainly present or former monarchies). ... The Spanish monarchy, referred to as the Crown of Spain (Corona de España) in the Spanish Constitution of 1978, is the office of the King or Queen 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. King Juan Carlos I His Majesty King Juan Carlos I (Juan Carlos Alfonso Víctor María de Borbón y Borbón), styled HM The King (born January 5, 1938), is the reigning King of Spain. ... A trial at the Old Bailey in London as drawn by Thomas Rowlandson and Augustus Pugin for Ackermanns Microcosm of London (1808-11). ... Ancien Régime means Old Regime or Old Order in French; in English, the term refers primarily to the social and political system established in France under the Valois and Bourbon dynasties, and secondarily to any regime which shares the formers defining features: a feudal system under the control...

During the rule of General Francisco Franco, the titles granted by the Carlist pretenders were recognized and some other new titles were conceded. Franco redirects here. ... Carlism was a conservative political movement in Spain, purporting to establish an alternative branch of the Bourbons in the Spanish throne. ...

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. Adolfo Suárez González, Duke of Suárez (born September 25, 1932) was Spains first democratically elected prime minister after the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco. ... Spanish writer Camilo José Cela Don Camilo José Cela Trulock, Marquis of Iria Flavia (es: Don Camilo José Cela Trulock, marqués de Iria Flavia) (May 11, 1916 – January 17, 2002) was an influential Spanish writer and member of the Generation of 50. ... Iria Flavia or simply Iria in Galicia, northwestern Spain, was a Celtiberian port, the main seat of the Caporos, on the road between Braga and Astorga, which the Romans rebuilt as via XVIII or Via Nova [1]. The Romans refounded it as Iria Flavia (Flavian Iria) to compliment Vespasian. ... HRH Infante Don Juan of Spain, Count of Barcelona, Juan Carlos Teresa Silvestre Alfonso de Borbón (June 20, 1913 - April 1, 1993), was the fourth son and designated heir of King Alfonso XIII of Spain, the monarch replaced by the Second Spanish Republic, and father of King Juan Carlos...

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. Spanish nobles are classified either as Grandees (also called Peers) or as Titled Nobles. ... Look up peer in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

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.

Ranks

The titles of Prince of Asturias, Prince of Gerona and Prince of Viana are bestowed on the heir apparent of the Spanish crown. HRH The Prince of Asturias The title Prince of Asturias is given to the heir apparent to the Spanish throne, and the earlier kingdom of León. ... // Origin The title of Prince of Girona comes from the Crown of Aragon, more precisely when in the year 1351, the king Pere IV of Aragon nominated its successor and conceded him the title of Duke of Girona, which embraced territories of the counties of Girona, Besalú, Empúries and... Charles, Prince of Viana, (1421 - 1461), sometimes called Charles IV, king of Navarre, was the son of John, afterwards king of Aragon, by his marriage with Blanche, daughter and heiress of Charles, king of Navarre. ...

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

Duke / Duchess (Duque / Duquesa)

• Dukedom of Alba
• Dukedom of Cadiz
• Dukedom of Hernani
• Dukedom of Fernández-Miranda
• Dukedom of Lugo
• Dukedom of Medina Sidonia
• Dukedom of Montblanch
• Dukedom of Segovia
• Dukedom of Sotomayor
• Dukedom of Suárez
• Dukedom of Palma de Mallorca
• Dukedom of Vigo

This article or section may be confusing or unclear for some readers, and should be edited to rectify this. ... The House of Alba (es: La Casa de Alba) is an important aristocratic family of Spanish origin who can trace back their ancestry to 1429, when the first “Alba” was made “Lord of the City of Alba de Tormes”. In 1492, it was a member of this family, the second... Dukes of Medina Sidonia (1445) Juan Alfonso de Guzman El Bueno, 1st Duke of Medina Sidonia (1410-1468) Enrique de Guzman El Bueno, 2nd Duke of Medina Sidonia (d. ...

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

A marquess is a nobleman of hereditary rank. ... The title Marquis de Vallado is a Spanish title bestowed upon Humphrey Walrond on August 5, 1653 by King Philip IV of Spain. ...

Count / Countess (Conde / Condesa)

• Count of Barcelona
• Count of Cervera
• Count of Covadonga
• County of Empúries
• County of Frigiliana
• County of Guaqui
• Count of Mansilla
• Count of Ripalda
• Counts of Roussillon
• Count of Salvatierra
• County of Teba
• County of Toreno
• Counts of Urgell

A count is a nobleman in most European countries, equivalent in rank to a British earl, whose wife is also still a countess (for lack of an Anglo-Saxon term). ... The now-extinct title of Count of Barcelona was, through much of its history, merged with that of King of Aragon; see also List of Aragonese Monarchs. ... The County of Empúries was a Medieval county centered around the town of Empúries, and that bear enclosed the region of Peralada. ... The title of Count of Mansilla (Conde de Mansilla) originates from the 16th century, when Felipe Campuzano (a Castilian nobleman) was elevated to the peerage by King Felipe II of Spain. ... This is a list of the counts of Roussillon (see Roussillon): Carolingian counts These counts were nominated by the Carolingian kings of France, of whom they were vassals. ... This is a list of the counts of Urgell. ...

Viscount / Viscountess (Vizconde / Vizcondesa)

A viscount is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl (in Britain) or a count (his continental equivalent). ...

Baron / Baroness (Barón / Baronesa)

Baron is a specific title of nobility or a more generic feudal qualification. ...

Lord / Lady (Señor / Señora)

• Lord of Balaguer
• Lord of Biscay

A Lord (Laird in Scottish contexts) is a male who has power and authority. ... Lord of Biscay (Basque: Bizkaiko Jauna, Spanish: Señor de Vizcaya) is a historical title of the head of state of the autonomous territory of Biscay, Basque Country. ...

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. Letters Patent by Queen Victoria creating the office of Governor-General of Australia Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of an open letter issued by a monarch or government granting an office, a right, monopoly, title, or status to someone or some entity such as...

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 Spanish monarchy, referred to as the Crown of Spain (Corona de España) in the Spanish Constitution of 1978, is the office of the King or Queen of Spain. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... First page of a 1555 version of the Siete Partidas, as annotated by Gregorio López. ... Prince Felipe, Prince of Asturias (Don Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbón y de Grecia or The Honorable [Sir] Philip John Paul Alphonse of All the Saints of Bourbon and of Greece or simply Philip Alponse Bourbon; born January 30, 1968), is the third child... The Spanish Constitution of 1978 is the culmination of the Spanish transition to democracy. ...

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. Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart. ... Suresh Joachim, minutes away from breaking the ironing world record at 55 hours and 5 minutes, at Shoppers World, Brampton. ...

References

• Atienza, Julio de. Nobiliario Español: Diccionario Heraldico de Apellidos Espanoles y de Titulos Nobiliarios. Madrid: Aguilar, 1948.
• Figueroa y Melgar, Alfonso de. Estudio Historico Sobre Algunas Familias Españolas. 6v. in 12 parts. Madrid: Editions Dawson & Fry, 1965.
• Noble Titles in Spain and Spanish Grandees