Marquess of Villena facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marquessate of Villena
Creation date	12 November 1445
Monarch	John II
Peerage	Peerage of Spain
First holder	Juan Pacheco y Téllez-Girón, 1st Marquess of Villena
Present holder	Francisco de Borja de Soto y Moreno-Santamaría, 21st Marquess of Villena

The Marquess of Villena (in Spanish, Marqués de Villena) is a special noble title in Spain. It was first given out in 1445 by King John II.

The first person to officially hold this title was Juan Pacheco. He was a very important person at the time. Juan Pacheco was the Grand Master of the Order of Santiago, which was a powerful knightly order. He later also became the 1st Duke of Escalona.

History of the Villena Title

The story of the Villena title began a long time before it became a Marquessate. In the 1200s, it was known as a seigniory. This means it was a large area of land controlled by a lord. King Ferdinand III of Castile created it for his youngest son, Don Manuel.

From Seigniory to Marquisate

In 1369, the Villena estate became something new: a marquisate. This was the very first time such a title was given in Castile, a kingdom in Spain. It was awarded to Don Alfonso of Aragon. However, this title was not passed down through his family. In 1395, it went back to the King of Castile.

After that, the Villena title had a complicated past. It was given out and then taken back by the crown many times. But in 1445, King John II made a big change. He granted the title to Juan Pacheco, and this time, it was a hereditary title. This means it could be passed down from parent to child. It was also the first time someone who wasn't part of the royal family held the Marquessate.

A Famous Marquess

One important Marquess was Juan Manuel Fernández Pacheco. He was the 8th Marquess of Villena. He did something very significant for Spanish culture. He helped create the Royal Spanish Academy. This academy is still very important today for studying and protecting the Spanish language.

List of Marquesses of Villena

Here is a list of the people who have held the title of Marquess of Villena over the centuries:

• Juan Pacheco, 1st Marquess of Villena (1419–1474)
• Diego Lopez de Pacheco, 2nd Marquess of Villena (1456–1529)
• Diego López Pacheco, 3rd Marquess of Villena (1506–1556)
• Francisco Pacheco, 4th Marquess of Villena (1532–1574)
• Juan Fernández Pacheco, 5th Marquess of Villena (1563–1615)
• Felipe Fernández Pacheco, 6th Marquess of Villena (1596–1633)
• Diego López Pacheco, 7th Marquess of Villena (1599–1653)
• Juan Manuel López de Pacheco, 8th Marquess of Villena (1650–1725)
• Mercurio López Pacheco, 9th Marquess of Villena (1679–1738)
• Andrés Fernández Pacheco, 10th Marquess of Villena (1710–1746)
• Juan López Pacheco, 10th Marquess of Villena (1746–1751)
• Felipe Lopez-Pacheco de La Cueva, 12th Marquess of Villena (1727–1798)
• Diego López Pacheco y Téllez-Girón, 13th Marquess of Villena (1754–1811)
• Bernardino Fernández de Velasco, 14th Marquess of Villena (1783–1851)
• Francisco de Borja de Martorell y Téllez-Girón, 15th Marquess of Villena (1839–1897)
• Mariano Tellez-Giron y Fernandez de Cordoba, 16th Marquess of Villena (1887–1931)
• Gabino de Martorell y Téllez-Girón, 17th Marquess of Villena (1894–1918)
• María de La Soledad de Martorell y Castillejo, 18th Marchioness of Villena (1924–)
• Ángela María Téllez-Girón y Duque de Estrada, 19th Marchioness of Villena (1961 –1966)
• Francisco de Borja de Soto y Martorell, 20th Marquess of Villea (1966–1997)
• Francisco de Borja de Soto y Moreno-Santamaría, 21st Marquess of Villena

See also

In Spanish: Marquesado de Villena para niños

• Spanish nobility