Marquisate of Fontellas

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]

Marquessate of Fontellas
Crown of a Spanish Marquess
Creation date	19 April 1793
Created by	Charles IV of Spain
Peerage	Spanish Nobility
First holder	José Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano y Gante
Present holder	Álvaro de Mendizábal y Carredano
Status	Extant
Motto	"Ave Maria, Gratia Plena, Dominus Tecum"

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]

1st Marquess of Fontellas

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 Navarre, which saw the expropriation of church and noble estates, though the Medrano family retained much of theirs.^[5][14]

Ancestry

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

2nd Marquess of Fontellas

The Cortes Generales, Spain's legislative assembly, underwent significant changes during the 19th century, reflecting the shifting political landscape between absolutism and liberal constitutionalism. Fernando Vélaz de Medrano y Álava, 2nd Marquess of Fontellas, played an active role in these Cortes as a representative for Tudela. His first term, from June 1851 to December 1852, marked his entry into the assembly during a period of political consolidation under the moderate liberal regime.^[15]

He returned for a second term from March 1853 to August 1854, amidst rising tensions leading to the progressive biennium. His final term, spanning May 1857 to September 1858, occurred during the early years of the Bourbon Restoration under Queen Isabella II. Medrano’s participation influenced Navarrese and national politics during a pivotal era in Spanish history.^[15]

The 2nd Marquess of Fontellas died in 1858. The title then passed to his brothers Ramón and Eduardo Vélaz de Medrano, the latter dying unmarried in 1865. 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 Evencio de Gante y San Clemente, the last representative of the Tafalla line.

List of the Marquesses 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.^[4]

II Marquess

• Fernando Vélaz de Medrano y Álava (died 28 May 1858), II Marquess of Fontellas, II Viscount of Amalin.^[4] 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 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.^[16] 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.^[17]

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),^[18] 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).^[19]

VII Marquess

• Javier de Mendizabal y Gortázar (died 2 December 1970),^[20] VII Marquess of Fontellas,^[4][21] and 16th Count of Peñaflorida,^[22] married to Sofía de Arana Churruca.^[23]

VIII Marquess

• Íñigo de Mendizabal y Arana (died 29 April 2018),^[24] 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,^[25] and 18th Count of Peñaflorida,^[26] son of Álvaro de Mendizábal y Arana, 17th Count of Peñaflorida, and Rosa María Carredano García.