Marquisate of Fontellas

Marquessate of Fontellas
Crown of a Spanish Marquess
Creation date19 April 1793
Created byCharles IV of Spain
PeerageSpanish Nobility
First holderJosé Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano y Gante
Present holderÁlvaro de Mendizábal y Carredano
StatusExtant
Motto"Ave Maria, Gratia Plena, Dominus Tecum"

The Marquessate of Fontellas is a hereditary Spanish noble title granted by King Charles IV, along with the title Viscount of Amaláin, in favor of the 14th Lord of Fontellas, José Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano y Gante,[1] 7th Viscount of Azpa, by Royal Dispatch on 19 April 1793.[2][3][4] Its name refers to the municipality of Fontellas in the province of Navarre, which had been the lordship of the Peralta family from 1438 until the early XVI century when it passed to the Gante lineage and finally the Medrano lineage.[5]

History of the Marquisate of Fontellas

Fontellas, Navarra (Spain): Palace of Carlos V and Riverside of the Ebro River

Fontellas is located 4 miles (6.5km) away from Tudela. The fiscal inventory carried out after the Castilian invasion of the Kingdom of Navarra in 1512, reflected that the town of Fontellas did not pay "alcaba," which was a tax of the time, because its population was entirely Moslem.[6]

Palace of Ripalda in Valencia

On 10 April 1793 Charles IV of Spain granted the title of 1st Marquess of Fontellas,[7][8] 1st Viscount of Amaláin to José Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano[9] (b. 2 March 1761, Pamplona - d. 10 February 1826, Fontellas), 7th Viscount of Azpa, 14th Lord of Fontellas, and a Knight of the Order of Malta, whose Hospitaller Order had estates in Fontellas since the 13th century.[5] José Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano was granted the title of Marquess of Fontellas, however he had to pay 843,000 reales (roughly 3,358,000.00 USD) for the rights and processing fees.[10]

Marquess José Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano was the Lieutenant of the Royal Spanish Guards, 21st Lord of Autol and Yerga, 13th of Quel de Suso and Ordoño, and 14th of Fontellas and of the places and palaces of Mendillorri and Beúnzalarrea, the places of Amaláin, Lavaiz, and Villanueva, and of the palaces and mayorazgo (entailed estate) of Liédena, Aoiz, and Ripalda, Representative to the General Courts for the military arm, and Magistrate of Pamplona.[11] [12] José Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano y Gante, VII Vizcount of Azpa, born on 2 March 1761 in Pamplona, successor of his brother, Knight of the Order of Saint John, died unmarried in Fontellas on 10 February 1826.[13]

Involved in political affairs, José Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano y Gante served in the Cortes of Navarre in 1794 and 1801.[5] This branch of the Medrano family resided in the now-disappeared palace of Fontellas, increasing their territorial assets during the Mendizábal confiscations in Navarra.[5] The title of Fontellas has recently passed outside the descendants of the ancient Lords of this Villa. The Medrano family had notable figures in the military, church, and politics, rising to international prominence when his ancestor Juan Martínez de Medrano The Elder became regent of the Kingdom of Navarre in 1328.[14]

Family of the I Marquis of Fontellas

Don José Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano was the maternal grandson of Don Francisco Javier de Gante y Sáenz de Tejada, lord of Fontellas, Quel and Ordoyo (baptised in Quel on 23 April 1713) and Dona Manuela Gutiérrez de Labarreda. Their daughter Doña Antonia Francisca de Gante Gutiérrez de la Barreda was the last Lady of Fontellas and Quel from this lineage. Doña Antonia Francisca married Don Joaquín Antonio Vélaz de Medrano y Alava, Viscount of Azpa, Lord of the Villa de Autol and Yerga, etc. Jose had two brothers:

  • D. Judas Vélaz de Medrano y Gante, Lord of Fontellas and Quel, who died unmarried.
  • D. Pedro Vélaz de Medrano y Gante. He was the father of D. Fernando Vélaz de Medrano y Alava, II Marquess of Fontellas, and successor in the Estates of the House of Gante, who left no legitimate heirs († 1858). The title then passed to his brothers D. Ramón and D. Eduardo Vélaz de Medrano, the latter dying unmarried in 1865. Don Ramón Vélaz de Medrano y Alava, III Marquess of Fontellas, etc., also died unmarried in 1875. His executors had to engage in a highly publicized legal dispute with Don Evencio de Gante y San Clemente, the last representative of the Tafalla line.

List of the Marquises of Fontellas

I Marquess

  • José Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano y Gante (died 1826), I Marquess of Fontellas, VII Viscount of Azpa, I Viscount of Amalin, Knight of the Order of Malta, lieutenant of the Royal Spanish Guards, territorial owner of the town of Fontellas, lord of the place and palace of Mendillorri, the palace of Azpa and Ripalda, and in Castile, territorial owner of Autol, Yerga, and Quel de Suso. José was the son of Joaquín Antonio Vélaz de Medrano y Álava, Count of Ripalda, Viscount of Azpa, and lord of various towns, including Autol, Ripalda, and Yerga, and his wife, Antonia Francisca de Gante Gutiérrez de la Barreda, Lady of Fontellas and Quel. José Joaquín died unmarried, and was succeeded by his nephew, Fernando, the son of his brother Pedro Vélaz de Medrano y Gante.[4]

II Marquess

  • Fernando Vélaz de Medrano y Álava (died 28 May 1858), II Marquess of Fontellas, II Viscount of Amalin.[4] Son of Pedro Vélaz de Medrano y Gante. Certification verifying his legal eligibility as a deputy indicated Fernando's property ownership in Logroño, Fontellas, and Pamplona.[5] Fernando died on 28 May 1858, without legitimate heirs.[3] The Marquisate of Fontellas passed to his brother Don Ramón Vélaz de Medrano.

III Marquess

  • Ramón Vélaz de Medrano y Álava (died 1875), III Marquess of Fontellas.[4] He also died unmarried without descendants. He distributed his substantial fortune among hospitals and charitable institutions in Tudela, Pamplona, Vitoria, Bilbao, and San Sebastián; General Hospital, Peace College, Poor of San Bernardino, Princess Hospital, and Aid Houses in Madrid, as well as other charitable establishments and convents of nuns in Pamplona, Tudela, and Vitoria, his nephews (children of D. Fernando), and his servants.[3] His brother Eduardo Vélaz de Medrano y Álava was a professor of literature, history of dramatic art in Navarre and music critic for La España and La Zarzuela; author of Historical Review of the Montserrat Music School from 1456 to 1856.[15] The Marquisate of Fontellas passed to Fausto León, VII Marquess of Vessolla.

IV Marquess

  • Fausto León de Elío y Mencos Jiménez-Navarro y Manso de Zúñíga Aguirre Enríquez de Navarra y Ezpeleta Hurtado de Mendoza Esparza y Artieda Vélaz de Medrano, IV Marquess of Fontellas,[4] and VII Marquess of Vesolla, married to María Josefa de Magallón y Campuzano.[16]

V Marquess

  • María del Pilar Élio y Mencos Jiménez-Navarro y Manso de Zúñíga Aguirre Enríquez de Navarra y Ezpeleta Hurtado de Mendoza Esparza y Artieda Vélaz de Medrano, V Marchioness of Fontellas.[4]

VI Marquess

  • José de Mendizábal y Gortázar (died 11 June 1958),[17] VI Marquess of Fontellas,[4] son of Francisco Javier de Mendizábal y Argaiz, 14th Count of Peñaflorida, and María del Carmen Gortázar y Arriola (d. 9 March 1939).[18]

VII Marquess

  • Javier de Mendizabal y Gortázar (died 2 December 1970),[19] VII Marquess of Fontellas,[4][20] and 16th Count of Peñaflorida,[21] married to Sofía de Arana Churruca.[22]

VIII Marquess

  • Íñigo de Mendizabal y Arana (died 29 April 2018),[23] VIII Marquess of Fontellas, son of Javier de Mendizábal y Gortázar and Sofía de Arana Churruca.

IX Marquess

  • Álvaro de Mendizábal y Carredano, the current IX Marquess of Fontellas,[24] and 18th Count of Peñaflorida,[25] son of Álvaro de Mendizábal y Arana, 17th Count of Peñaflorida, and Rosa María Carredano García.

References

  1. ^ Nobles of the city of Pamplona p. 487 https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/16199.pdf
  2. ^ «Marqués de Fontellas». Diputación Permanente y Consejo de la Grandeza de España y Títulos del Reino. Búsqueda en Guía de Títulos Fontellas. Madrid.
  3. ^ a b c Revista Hidalguía número 6. Año 1954 (in Spanish). Ediciones Hidalguia. pp. 502–503.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Marquesés of Fontellas". Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Fernando Vélaz de Medrano Álava | Real Academia de la Historia". dbe.rah.es. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Peio Joseba Monteano Sorbet". Dialnet (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  7. ^ http://www.enciclopedianavarra.com/?page_id=9858
  8. ^ https://www.diariodenavarra.es/noticias/cultura-ocio/cultura/2021/02/14/los-115-titulos-del-reino-navarra-717212-1034.html
  9. ^ Castles and Palaces of Navarre page 112. https://www.fundacioncajanavarra.es/cultura-y-educacion/archivo/navarra-castillos-y-palacios.pdf
  10. ^ Marquessate of Fontellas https://www.culturanavarra.es/uploads/files/Navarra-Castillos-torres-palacios.pdf
  11. ^ https://www.ramhg.es/images/stories/pdf/discursos_ingreso/garrido_mercedes_nobiliarias_reino_navarra.pdf
  12. ^ https://amarauna.org/uztariz/pdf/artikuluak/aldizkaria0502.pdf
  13. ^ https://www.ramhg.es/images/stories/pdf/discursos_ingreso/garrido_mercedes_nobiliarias_reino_navarra.pdf
  14. ^ "Juan Martínez de Medrano | Real Academia de la Historia". dbe.rah.es. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Velaz de Medrano Álava, Eduardo - Auñamendi Eusko Entziklopedia". aunamendi.eusko-ikaskuntza.eus (in Basque). Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  16. ^ Acha, Jaime de Salazar y (2001). Estudio histórico sobre una familia extremeña, los Sánchez Arjona (in Spanish). RAMHG. ISBN 978-84-88833-01-3.
  17. ^ Revista Hidalguía número 30. Año 1958 (in Spanish). Ediciones Hidalguia.
  18. ^ https://www.ramhg.es/images/stories/pdf/movimiento-nobiliario/Movimiento-nobiliario-1939.pdf
  19. ^ "ABC MADRID 30-11-1971 página 105 - Archivo ABC". abc. 12 August 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  20. ^ «Carta de Sucesión». Boletín Oficial del Estado (167). Por fallecimiento de su hermano, don José de Mendizábal y Gortázar. Madrid. 14 de julio de 1959. p. 9747.
  21. ^ https://www.boe.es/datos/pdfs/BOE//1955/303/A06545-06545.pdf
  22. ^ "ABC MADRID 30-11-1971 página 105 - Archivo ABC". abc. 12 August 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  23. ^ "ABC MADRID 06-05-2018 página 79 - Archivo ABC". abc. 10 September 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  24. ^ "BOE-A-2019-11308 Orden JUS/834/2019, de 15 de julio, por la que se manda expedir, sin perjuicio de tercero de mejor derecho, Real Carta de Sucesión en el título de Marqués de Fontellas a favor de don Álvaro de Mendizábal y Carredano". www.boe.es. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  25. ^ https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2019/08/01/pdfs/BOE-A-2019-11303.pdf