Marquis of Molina is a Castilian noble title that the Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor granted to the heirs to the Marquis of Los Vélez.[a]
The title was given to Luis Fajardo, 2nd Marquis of los Vélez.
For centuries "Marquis de Molina" was the courtesy title of the apparent heir of the Marquis de los Vélez.
The grant did not bring new fiefs to the family, since it was just an elevation of the rank of the Lordship of Molina de Segura, owned by the Fajardo family since 1387.[b]
Members of this Murcian family held the title until 1713.
In 1779, after various marriage alliances,[c] it entered the House of Medina Sidonia.
At present, as recognized by the Ministry of Justice of Spain, the legitimate title holder is Miguel Márquez y Osorio,[d] 5th Duke of Santa Cristina and descendant of José Joaquín Álvarez de Toledo, 19th Duke of Medina Sidonia.
History
The House traces its origins to the Kingdom of Galicia, as the genealogist Felipe de la Gándara points out: "Faxardo traces its origin to King Fruela I of Asturias, and from his son Count don Román, such as the Lugos, Bahamondes, Montenegros, Gayosos and others of Galicia", having its original base in the town of Santa Marta de Ortigueira. Although the family's birthright was based in Galicia, the Marquises de los Vélez are considered to be heads of the Fajardo since they are Grandees of Spain.[4]
There is little historical significance to this marquessate, since it was one of many titles[5] inherited by the primogeniture of the House of Fajardo, whose leaders were Marquises of Vélez.
However, as long as they were heirs to their House, all their political and military actions would be associated with the Marquisate of Molina.
After the abolition of the señoríos, the privilege of the title established by Carlos V was not taken into account, so the second children of the House were given it in turn.
This was the situation until 1693, when the death without offspring of the 6th Marquis de los Vélez, also Marquis de Molina, caused the extinction of the male line of the Fajardo de Murcia.
The succession of the estate of Vélez fell to María Teresa Fajardo, Duchess consort of Montalto, who added the Marquisate to a house possessing vast estates and an immense conglomerate of noble titles.
This was a branch of the powerful Catalan House of Montcada lineage, based in Sicily since the reign of Ferdinand I of Aragon. Over time, they became one of the most important families in the Kingdom and accumulated numerous possessions, such as the rich villas of Biancavilla, Melilli, Caltabellotta, Bivona and Adrano. Their influence earned them the rank of grandees of Spain and peers of the Kingdom of Sicily, along with leading government and military positions.[8]
In 1713 Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo inherited the titles of Montalto and Vélez from his mother, the 8th Marquise de los Vélez.
He added them to his titles of Marquis de Villafranca, Duke of Fernandina, Marquis of Villanueva de Valdueza and Prince of Montalbán.
In 1779 the dukedom of Medina Sidonia was inherited by José Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba, 11th Marquis of Villafranca, which, being one of the twenty-five lineages that possessed "Immemorial Greatness",[e] held a higher rank than the other estates in possession of the Marquis.
This meant that Count of Niebla, along with Duke of Fernandina as used by the heirs to the House of Villafranca, were the titles of the firstborn.
When the title of Marquis was supplanted in its original function, throughout the nineteenth century the title was granted to second sons of the House.
Lack of offspring prevented succession of the title in these younger branches, so it remained in the main branch of the family until the 20th century[11]
