Duke of Aliaga ( es, Duque de Aliaga) is a hereditary title in the Peerage of Spain, accompanied by the dignity of

Grandee Grandee (; es, Grande de España, ) is an official royal and noble ranks, aristocratic title conferred on some Spanish nobility. Holders of this dignity enjoyed similar privileges to those of the peerage of France during the , though in neith ...

and granted in 1487 by Ferdinand II to Juan Fernández de Híjar, Count of Aliaga,

Duke of Híjar Duke of Híjar ( es, Duque de Híjar) is a hereditary title in the Peerage of Spain, accompanied by the dignity of Grandee and granted in 1483 by Ferdinand II to Juan Fernández de Híjar, Lord of Híjar and later also Duke of Lécera and ...

and later also

Duke of Lécera Duke of Lécera ( es, Duque de Lécera) is a hereditary title in the Peerage of Spain accompanied by the dignity of Grandee, granted in 1493 by Ferdinand II of Aragon to Juan Fernández de Híjar. The title makes reference to the small town o ...

. It is one of the highest titles of

Spanish nobility Spanish nobles are persons who possess the legal status of hereditary nobility according to the laws and traditions of the Spanish monarchy and historically also those who held personal nobility as bestowed by one of the three highest orders of ...

associated with one of the members of the Grandes de España. The title was created in 1487 by King

Ferdinand II of Aragón Ferdinand II ( an, Ferrando; ca, Ferran; eu, Errando; it, Ferdinando; la, Ferdinandus; es, Fernando; 10 March 1452 – 23 January 1516), also called Ferdinand the Catholic (Spanish: ''el Católico''), was King of Aragon and List of Sardin ...

(''el Catolico'') who raised the County of Aliaga to the status of a Dukedom. The title was created as a favor to

Juan Fernández de Híjar y Cabrera Juan Fernández de Híjar y Cabrera (ca. 1419 - 27 November 1491) was a Spanish noble of the House of Híjar. He was the son of Juan Fernández de Híjar, the fifth Baron of Hijar and first lord of Lécera (title which he purchased). His mother ...

who had been previously appointed as Count of Aliaga on 31 December 1461 by Ferdinand's father, John II of Aragon. Aliaga is a municipality in the Province of Teruel,

Aragon Aragon ( , ; Spanish and an, Aragón ; ca, Aragó ) is an autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. In northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces (from north to sou ...

. The title of Count of Aliaga, along with a title of lordship over Castellote, was granted to Juan Fernández by John II as a compensation and restitution bonus after peace was made in a war for power between

Carlos de Viana Charles, Prince of Viana ( eu, Karlos IV.a) (29 May 1421 – 23 September 1461), sometimes called Charles IV of Navarre, was the son of King John II of Aragon and Queen Blanche I of Navarre. Background His mother was the daughter and heiress of ...

, King John II's son and the king. Juan Fernández had fought on the side of the king's illegitimate son. Juan Fernández de Híjar y Cabrera was the son of Juan Fernández de Híjar, the fifth Baron of Hijar and first lord of Lécera (title which he purchased). His mother was Juan Fernandez' second wife, Timbor de Cabrera, daughter of

Bernardo de Cabrera Bernat II de Cabrera (Spanish: ''Bernardo II de Cabrera''. 1298–1364) was an Aragonese nobleman, diplomat, and military commander. Born in Calatayud, he participated in the conquest of Majorca (1343). He commanded the naval squadron that defe ...

, first Count of Módica, XXIV Viscount of Cabrera, XXVI Viscount of Bas, and II Viscount of Osuna. The title over the Dukedom of Aliaga has been carried consistently for almost five centuries, having been almost 400 years under the control of the House of Híjar. As such, the Dukedom of Híjar and the Dukedom of Lécera have also traditionally been associated with title over Aliaga. These titles were separated after the reign of 12th Duke, José Rafael de Silva y Fernández de Híjar in 1863 who became the last Híjar to hold the title. Duke of Híjar by Pantoja

Dukes of Aliaga

References

Sources

* {{cite book , author = Instituto Luis de Salazar y Castro , title = Elenco de Grandezas y Títulos Nobiliarios Españoles , url = https://books.google.com/books?id=_alQAQAAIAAJ , year = 2011 , publisher = Ediciones de la Revista Hidalguía , location = Madrid , language = es Aliaga y Castellot Grandees of Spain