Grandee - Spain

Spain

Spanish nobles are classified either as Grandes de España (or simply, 'grandees'), or as Títulos del Reino (titled nobles).

The dignity of grandee ("grand one") was apparently originally assumed by the most important nobles, to distinguish them from the mass of the ricoshombres (wealthy men) of the Hidalgo, as a 'grand' señor (lord) of the realm. It was, as John Selden pointed out, not a general term denoting a class, but 'an additional individual dignity not only to all Dukes, but to some Marquesses and Condes also'. The titles, including and above count, were seldom given or passed hereditarily in Castile or Aragon until late in the Middle Ages—in contrast to more developed forms of feudalism in France or other parts of Europe—and remained more of a royal official's post until the 14th century. Being a grandee formerly implied certain privileges, notably that of the ancient uses of remaining covered or seated in the presence of royalty. The later grandees had also certain more important rights: e.g., freedom from taxation; immunity from arrest—save at the King's express command—as they were the major justice officers in their regions; and even, in certain cases, the right to renounce their allegiance and to make war on the king.

In the late 1470s, King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I were the first to break the grandee power of the territorial nobles. In the 16th century, limitations on the number of grandees were first established by King Charles I (later Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor), who reserved to the crown the right to bestow the title of grandee.

The Grandes de España (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 the king 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 mi Primo (my cousin), whereas ordinary nobles were only qualified as mi Pariente (my kinsman). The title could be given to foreigners, and the memoirist Louis de Rouvroy, duc de Saint-Simon was extremely proud of his, received at the end of his embassy to Spain for Louis XIV.

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

Nowadays grandees of all three ranks are deemed to share the status 'of the first class'. The designation is purely titular, implying neither privilege nor power. An individual is a grandee if he holds a Grandeza de España (grandeeship), regardless of possession of a title of nobility. Normally each grandeza is granted along with a title, although this was not always the case. Furthermore, a Grandeza de España is normally awarded along with every ducal title.

A grandee of any rank outranks a non-grandee (except official members of the Spanish Royal Family), even if that non-grandee possesses a hereditary title (titulo) of a higher grade than that of the grandee. Thus, a baron-grandee would outrank a non-grandee marquis, making the grandeza an official hereditary rank rather than a title of nobility. Children of an infante of Spain, traditionally members of the royal family, since 1987 are entitled to the rank and style of a grandee, but are not grandees unless a title with a grandeza attached is conferred upon them by the sovereign.

Some of the best-known titles of grandees of Spain are the Duke of Alba, Duke of Medinaceli, Duke of Villahermosa, Duke of Osuna, Duke of Infantado, Duke of Alburquerque, Duke of Moctezuma de Tultengo, Duke of Nájera, Duke of Frías and Duke of Medina Sidonia; the Marquis of Aguilar de Campoo, Marquis of Astorga, Marquis of Santillana, and Marquis of Los Vélez; the Count of Benavente, Count of Lerín, Count of Olivares, Count of Oñate, and Count of Lemos.

Grandees and their consorts are entitled to the style of 'Most Excellent Lord/Lady' or 'His/Her Excellency' and are addressed as Primo (Cousin) by the king.