Barony of Polop
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The Barony of Polop and Benidorm is an ancient Spanish hereditary lordship in the Kingdom of Valencia under the Crown of Aragon (in Spanish, baronía señorial aragonesa). The barony, including the castles of Polop and Benidorm and extensive land, is located in the province of Alicante, Valencia, Spain, only a few miles from the Mediterranean Sea.
Barony of Polop and Benidorm (in Spanish, Señorío de la Baronía de Polop y Benidorm or simply, Señorío de Polop y Benidorm) | |
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Creation date | 1268 (first creation) 1271 (second creation) 1300 (third creation) 1335 (fourth creation) 1429 (fifth creation) Ever since the fifth creation the barony has been possessed by the Fajardo de Mendoza family and its descendants |
Created by | King Jaume I of Aragon |
Peerage | Crown of Aragon |
First holder | Doña Berenguela Alfonso of Castile and León |
Present holder | Don Francisco de Borja de la Peña Fernández-Garnelo[1] |
Remainder to | the 1st Baron's male (or female heirs since 1654) lawfully begotten |
Subsidiary titles | Lordship of La Raya, La Ñora, Ávalos and Ceutí |
Former seat(s) | Polop Castle, Benidorm Castle |
The coat of arms of The Barons of Polop and Benidorm | |
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Motto | Ave Maria Gratia Plena, Latin for "Hail Mary Full of Grace" |
After being possessed by the Crown of Aragon, in 1429 the barony was bestowed by King John II of Aragon, father of King Ferdinand of Spain the Catholic upon the Fajardo de Mendoza family. The most notable Barons of Polop are the Infantes of Aragon and Doña Beatriz Fajardo de Mendoza y Guzmán, Lady of Albudeyte. Other people associated with the Barony include the Castilian nobleman Don Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, better known as El Cid Campeador.