Caballerizo mayor from Casa Real (Uniformes de la) (cropped)

The Caballerizo mayor (Great Equerry) was the Officer of the

Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain The Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain was the institution that governed the organization of the Royal Spanish Court from the time of the Habsburg dynasty, which introduced the so-called Burgundian etiquette, up to the reign of Alfon ...

in charge of the trips, the mews and the hunt of the King of

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

Regime during the 16th to 18th centuries

The Office of “Caballerizo mayor” was one of the main Offices of the Royal Household in charge of the Royal Stables and everything related to the transportation of the Monarch. When the King sorted out from the Royal Palace, the Caballerizo had the main position behind him and the major rang over the other Court Officials. He managed as well the stables, the carriages and the horses. He was assisted by the “Primeros Caballerizos” (First Equerries) who were nominated by him. He was in charge of the Royal hunt as “Montero mayor” (Great Hunter) holding, in many cases, the “Alcaldias” (Majorships) of the Spanish royal sites.

Regime during the 19th and 20th centuries

During the reigns of the last two Kings before the proclamation of the

Second Spanish Republic The Spanish Republic (), commonly known as the Second Spanish Republic (), was the form of government in Spain from 1931 to 1939. The Republic was proclaimed on 14 April 1931, after the deposition of Alfonso XIII, King Alfonso XIII, and was di ...

Alfonso XII Alfonso XII (Alfonso Francisco de Asís Fernando Pío Juan María de la Concepción Gregorio Pelayo; 28 November 185725 November 1885), also known as El Pacificador or the Peacemaker, was King of Spain from 29 December 1874 to his death in 188 ...

and

Alfonso XIII Alfonso XIII (17 May 1886 – 28 February 1941), also known as El Africano or the African, was King of Spain from 17 May 1886 to 14 April 1931, when the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed. He was a monarch from birth as his father, Alfo ...

, the “Caballerizo”, which joined to his function that of the “Montero mayor” (Great Hunter) of the King (which was an Office created during the reign of

Isabella II Isabella II ( es, Isabel II; 10 October 1830 – 9 April 1904), was Queen of Spain from 29 September 1833 until 30 September 1868. Shortly before her birth, the King Ferdinand VII of Spain issued a Pragmatic Sanction to ensure the successio ...

), was the second person in category after the

Mayordomo mayor {{short description, High Steward of Spain The Mayordomo mayor (High Steward) was the Officer of the Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain in charge of the person and rooms of the King of Spain. The Office of “Mayordomo mayor” wa ...

having the sole authority so soon the Monarch left the Royal Palace. Only a peer that had the rank of

Grandee of Spain Grandee (; es, Grande de España, ) is an official 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 neither country did they ha ...

could be nominated for this Office. His annual wages were 15.000 pesetas, the same ones that had the “Mayordomo” and, equally, he had the right to a private office at the

Royal Palace of Madrid The Royal Palace of Madrid ( es, Palacio Real de Madrid) is the official residence of the Spanish royal family at the city of Madrid, although now used only for state ceremonies. The palace has of floor space and contains 3,418 rooms. It is the ...

. Under his command they were the "Primer Caballerizo" (First Equerry) and the "Primer Montero" (First Hunter) with wages, both, of 7.500 pesetas per year. Under them they were situated the "Caballerizos de campo" (Equerries), who, usually, were officers of the Army. The “Caballerizo” accompanied the King in all his trips or, as it was called, "days" and sat close to him in every carriage, in car or in the trips by train or by ship throughout

or foreign countries. The “Caballerizo mayor”, with assistance of the First Caballerizo, was the chief of the Royal Mews. Also, he was the chief of the Armory of the

. As “Montero mayor”, with the help of the First Montero, he managed the hunting lodges of the Heritage of the Crown and organized the hunts attended by the King on the hunting-grounds of the Crown as the Royal forests of El Pardo, the Royal Hunting Lodge of la Encomienda de Mudela or the Royal forests of Valsaín. In the hunts organized by others, and attended also by the King, the “Montero mayor” was always accompanying him in that condition. As “Montero mayor” equally, his uniform was of green very dark cloth with own embroideries in form of branches of oak. In the Public Chapels and official ceremonies he normally stood right behind the

. He was styled “Excelentísimo señor Caballerizo y Montero mayor de Su Majestad”. This Office was suppressed after the proclamation of the

in 1931 and never re-created after the restoration of the Monarchy in 1975.

List of “Caballerizos mayores” (Great Equerries) to the King of Spain between 1515 and 1931

“Caballerizos mayores” to the Emperor
Charles V Charles V may refer to: * Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558) * Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain * Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise * Charles V, Duke of Lorraine (1643–1690) * Infan ...
, 1515-1556

* 1515-1522:

Charles de Lannoy Charles de Lannoy (c. 1487 – 23 September 1527) was a soldier and statesman from the Low Countries in service of the Habsburg Emperors Maximilian I and Charles V. Family He was a member of the noble de Lannoy family. Charles de Lannoy wa ...

* 1522-1526: Cesare Ferramosca * 1526-1529: Adrien de Croy, Count of Roeulx * 1529-1530: Guillermo de Monfort, Lord of Montfort * 1530-1556: Jehan Lenin-Liéthard, Count of Bossu,

* 1556: Sieur de Dandelot

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King
Philip II Philip II may refer to: * Philip II of Macedon (382–336 BC) * Philip II (emperor) (238–249), Roman emperor * Philip II, Prince of Taranto (1329–1374) * Philip II, Duke of Burgundy (1342–1404) * Philip II, Duke of Savoy (1438-1497) * Philip ...
, 1556-1598

* 1556-1579: Antonio de Toledo * 1598: Diego Fernández de Córdoba, Lord of Armuña

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King Philip III, 1598-1621

* 1598-1618: Francisco de Sandoval y Rojas,

Duke of Lerma Francisco Gómez de Sandoval y Rojas, 1st Duke of Lerma, 5th Marquess of Denia, 1st Count of Ampudia (1552/1553 – 17 May 1625), was a favourite of Philip III of Spain, the first of the ''validos'' ('most worthy') through whom the later H ...

* 1618-1621: Cristóbal Gómez de Sandoval y de la Cerda,

Duke of Uceda Duke of Uceda ( es, Duque de Uceda) is a hereditary title in the Peerage of Spain, accompanied by the dignity of Grandee and granted in 1610 by Philip III to Cristóbal Gómez de Sandoval, who succeeded his father Francisco Gómez de Sandoval ...

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King
Philip IV Philip IV may refer to: * Philip IV of Macedon (died 297 BC) * Philip IV of France (1268–1314), Avignon Papacy * Philip IV of Burgundy or Philip I of Castile (1478–1506) * Philip IV, Count of Nassau-Weilburg (1542–1602) * Philip IV of Spain ...
, 1621-1665

* 1621-1624: Juan Hurtado de Mendoza,

Duke of the Infantado Duke of the Infantado ( es, Duque del Infantado) is a Spanish peerage title that was granted to Diego Hurtado de Mendoza y Figueroa, son of Íñigo López de Mendoza, 1st Marquis of Santillana, by the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand II of Aragon an ...

* 1624-1643: Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares,

* 1643-1648: Diego López de Haro Sotomayor y Guzmán,

Marquess of Carpio Marquess of Carpio ( es, Marqués del Carpio, link=no) is a hereditary title in the Peerage of Spain accompanied by the dignity of Grandee, granted in 1559 by Philip II to Diego López de Haro, Lord of Carpio, '' veintiquatro'' and first chief ...

* 1648-1661:

Luis Méndez de Haro Luis Méndez de Haro, 6th Marquis of Carpio or Luis Méndez de Haro y Guzmán, Grandee of Spain (in full, es, Don (honorific), Don Luis Méndez de Haro Guzmán y Sotomayor de la Paz, sexto marqués del Carpio, segundo conde de Morente, quinto co ...

* 1661-1665: Fernando de Borja, Prince of Squillace and Count of Mayalde,

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King Charles II, 1665-1701

* 1667-1669: Pedro Portocarrero de Córdoba y Aragón,

Duke of Camiña Duke of Camiña ( es, Duque de Camiña) is a hereditary title in the Peerage of Spain accompanied by the dignity of Grandee, granted in 1619 by Philip III to a Portuguese aristocrat, Miguel de Meneses, 2nd Duke of Vila Real in the peerage o ...

* 1669-1675: Francisco de Moura Corte-Real y Melo, Marquess of Castel-Rodrigo,

* 1675-1683: Juan Gaspar Enríquez de Cabrera y Sandoval,

Duke of Medina de Rioseco Duke of Medina de Rioseco ( es, Duque de Medina de Rioseco) is a hereditary title in the Peerage of Spain, accompanied by the dignity of Grandee and granted in 1538 by Charles I to Fernando Enríquez de Velasco, Admiral of Castile and Lord of Me ...

Admiral of Castile Admiral of Castile was the representative of the King of Castile at the head of the Navy. It was a dignity created in 1247 that lasted until 1705. Admiral of Castile The title of Admiral of Castile was created by King Ferdinand III the Saint in ...

* 1683-1687: Juan Francisco de la Cerda,

Duke of Medinaceli Duke of Medinaceli () is an hereditary title in the peerage of Spain, accompanied by the dignity of Grandee. The Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, created the title and awarded it on 31 October 1479 to ...

* 1687-1688: Francisco Fernández de Córdoba,

Duke of Sessa Duke of Sessa is a Spanish noble title awarded to Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba by Ferdinand II in 1507. It was the fifth ducal title bestowed on Gonzalo, after the ducal titles of Santángelo (1497), Terranova (1502), Andría (1507) and M ...

* 1693-1701: Juan Tomás Enriquez de Cabrera,

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King
Philip V Philip V may refer to: * Philip V of Macedon (221–179 BC) * Philip V of France (1293–1322) * Philip II of Spain, also Philip V, Duke of Burgundy (1526–1598) * Philip V of Spain Philip V ( es, Felipe; 19 December 1683 – 9 July 1746) was ...
, 1701-1724

* 1701-1713: Juan Clarós Pérez de Guzmán y Fernández de Córdoba,

Duke of Medina Sidonia Duke of Medina Sidonia ( es, Duque de Medina Sidonia) is a peerage grandee title of Spain in Medina-Sidonia, holding the oldest extant dukedom in the kingdom, first awarded by King John II of Castile in 1380.Grandee of Spain Grandee (; es, Grande de España, ) is an official 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 neither country did they ha ...

* 1715-1721: Francesco Maria Pico, Duke of la Mirandola,

* 1721-1724:

Alonso Manrique de Lara Alfonso or Alonso Manrique de Lara y Solís (Segura de León, Badajoz, 1476 – Seville, 28 September 1538) was a Spanish churchman. Biography Manrique was born in Segura de León in Badajoz, apparently a son from the third marriage of the famous ...

, Duke of Arco,

“Caballerizo mayor” to the King
Louis I Louis I may refer to: * Louis the Pious, Louis I of France, "the Pious" (778–840), king of France and Holy Roman Emperor * Louis I, Landgrave of Thuringia (ruled 1123–1140) * Ludwig I, Count of Württemberg (c. 1098–1158) * Louis I of Blois ( ...
, 1724

* 1724: Alonso Manrique de Lara, Duke of Arco,

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King
Philip V Philip V may refer to: * Philip V of Macedon (221–179 BC) * Philip V of France (1293–1322) * Philip II of Spain, also Philip V, Duke of Burgundy (1526–1598) * Philip V of Spain Philip V ( es, Felipe; 19 December 1683 – 9 July 1746) was ...
, 1724-1746

* 1724: Alonso Manrique de Lara, Duke of Arco,

* 1737-1746: Manuel de Benavides y Aragón, Duke of Santisteban del Puerto,

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King
Ferdinand VI , house = Bourbon-Anjou , father = Philip V of Spain , mother = Maria Luisa of Savoy , birth_date = 23 September 1713 , birth_place = Royal Alcazar of Madrid, Madrid, Spain , death_date = , death_place = Villavici ...
, 1746-1759

* 1746-1749: Francisco VI Fernández de la Cueva y de la Cerda,

Duke of Alburquerque Duke of Alburquerque ( es, Duque de Alburquerque) is a hereditary title in the Peerage of Spain, accompanied by the dignity of Grandee and granted in 1464 by Henry IV to Beltrán de la Cueva, his "royal favourite" and grand master of the Order ...

* 1749-1759: Luis Fernández de Córdoba y Spínola,

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King
Charles III Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. He was the longest-serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales and, at age 73, became the oldest person to ...
, 1759-1788

* 1759-1768: Luis Fernández de Córdoba y Spínola,

* 1768-1777: Pedro de Alcántara Pérez de Guzmán y Pacheco,

* 1780-1788: Felipe López Pacheco de la Cueva,

Marquess of Villena Marquess of Villena ( es, Marqués de Villena) is a hereditary title in the Peerage of Spain, granted in 1445 by John II to Juan Pacheco, Grand Master of the Order of Santiago and later also 1st Duke of Escalona. It was originally founded as a ...

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King Charles IV, 1788-1808

* 1788-1798: Felipe López Pacheco de la Cueva,

* 1798-1801: Juan de la Cruz Belbis de Moncada y Pizarro, Marquess of Bélgida * 1801-1808: Vicente Joaquín Osorio de Moscoso y Guzmán,

Marquess of Astorga Marquess of Astorga ( es, Marqués de Astorga) is a hereditary title in the Peerage of Spain, accompanied by the dignity of Grandee and granted in 1465 by Henry IV to Álvar Pérez Osorio, 2nd Count of Trastámara and captain general of Galic ...

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King
Ferdinand VII , house = Bourbon-Anjou , father = Charles IV of Spain , mother = Maria Luisa of Parma , birth_date = 14 October 1784 , birth_place = El Escorial, Spain , death_date = , death_place = Madrid, Spain , burial_plac ...
, 1808 and 1814-1808

* 1808: Vicente Joaquín Osorio de Moscoso y Guzmán,

* 1814-1822: Juan de la Cruz Belbis de Moncada y Pizarro, Marquess of Bélgida * 1822-1823: Vicente Isabel Osorio de Moscoso y Álvarez de Toledo,

* 1823-1833: Juan de la Cruz Belbis de Moncada y Pizarro, Marquess of Bélgida

“Caballerizos mayores” to the Queen
Isabella II Isabella II ( es, Isabel II; 10 October 1830 – 9 April 1904), was Queen of Spain from 29 September 1833 until 30 September 1868. Shortly before her birth, the King Ferdinand VII of Spain issued a Pragmatic Sanction to ensure the successio ...
, 1833-1868

* 1833-1838: Fernando de Aguilera y Contreras, Marquess of Cerralbo,

* 1838-1839: Ángel María de Carvajal y Fernández de Córdoba y Gonzaga,

Duke of Abrantes Duke of Abrantes ( es, Duque de Abrantes) is a hereditary title in the Peerage of Spain, accompanied by the dignity of Grandee and granted in 1642 by Philip IV to Alfonso de Láncaster, son of the 3rd Duke of Aveiro and a great-grandchild ...

* 1839-1854: Joaquín Fernández de Córdoba Pacheco, Duke of Arión,

* 1854: Mariano Patricio de Guillamas y Galiano, Marquess of San Felices,

* 1854-1856: Vicente Pío Osorio de Moscoso y Ponce de León, Duke of Montemar,

* 1856-1859: Francisco Javier Arias Dávila y Matheu, Count of Puñonrostro,

* 1860-1868: Fernando Díaz de Mendoza y Valcárcel, Count of Lalaing,

“Caballerizo mayor” to the King
Amadeo I Amadeo ( it, Amedeo , sometimes latinized as Amadeus; full name: ''Amedeo Ferdinando Maria di Savoia''; 30 May 184518 January 1890) was an Italian prince who reigned as King of Spain from 1870 to 1873. The first and only King of Spain to come fro ...
, 1871-1873

* 1871: Carlos O'Donnell,

Duke of Tetuan Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of Royal family, royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, t ...

(1)

“Caballerizo mayor” to the King
Alfonso XII Alfonso XII (Alfonso Francisco de Asís Fernando Pío Juan María de la Concepción Gregorio Pelayo; 28 November 185725 November 1885), also known as El Pacificador or the Peacemaker, was King of Spain from 29 December 1874 to his death in 188 ...
, 1875-1885

* 1875-1885: José Isidro Osorio y Silva-Bazán, Marquess of Alcañices,

“Caballerizos mayores” to the King
Alfonso XIII Alfonso XIII (17 May 1886 – 28 February 1941), also known as El Africano or the African, was King of Spain from 17 May 1886 to 14 April 1931, when the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed. He was a monarch from birth as his father, Alfo ...
, 1885-1931

* 1885-1900: José Joaquín Álvarez de Toledo y Silva,

(1) * 1903-1906: Manuel Felipe Falcó y Ossorio, Marquess of la Mina,

* 1906-1927: José de Saavedra y Salamanca, Marquess of Viana,

* 1927-1931: Baltasar de Losada y Torres, Count of Maceda,

(1) From 1871 to 1873 this Office was suppressed. From 1900 to 1903 it remained vacant

List of “Primeros Caballerizos” (First Equerries) to the King of Spain between 1875 and 1931

“Primeros Caballerizos” to King
Alfonso XII Alfonso XII (Alfonso Francisco de Asís Fernando Pío Juan María de la Concepción Gregorio Pelayo; 28 November 185725 November 1885), also known as El Pacificador or the Peacemaker, was King of Spain from 29 December 1874 to his death in 188 ...
, 1875-1885

* 1875-1876: Ricardo Castellví e Ibarrola, Count of Carlet * 1876-1885: Ignacio de Arteaga y Puente, Count of el Pilar

“Primeros Caballerizos” to King
Alfonso XIII Alfonso XIII (17 May 1886 – 28 February 1941), also known as El Africano or the African, was King of Spain from 17 May 1886 to 14 April 1931, when the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed. He was a monarch from birth as his father, Alfo ...
, 1885-1931

* 1885-1894: Ignacio de Arteaga y Puente, Count of el Pilar * 1894-1903: Bernardo Ulibarri * 1903-1912: Rodrigo Álvarez de Toledo * 1912-1914: Fernando Moreno de Tejada y Díaz de Cabria, Count of Fuenteblanca * 1914-1931: Miguel Tacón y Calderón, Duke of la Unión de Cuba,

List of "Primeros Monteros" (First Hunters) to the King of Spain between 1875 and 1931

“Primer Montero” to King
Alfonso XII Alfonso XII (Alfonso Francisco de Asís Fernando Pío Juan María de la Concepción Gregorio Pelayo; 28 November 185725 November 1885), also known as El Pacificador or the Peacemaker, was King of Spain from 29 December 1874 to his death in 188 ...
, 1875-1885

* 1875-1885: Honorio de Samaniego y Pando, Count of Villapaterna

“Primeros Monteros” to King
Alfonso XIII Alfonso XIII (17 May 1886 – 28 February 1941), also known as El Africano or the African, was King of Spain from 17 May 1886 to 14 April 1931, when the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed. He was a monarch from birth as his father, Alfo ...
, 1885-1931

* 1885-1893: Honorio de Samaniego y Pando, Count of Villapaterna * 1903-1927: Baltasar de Losada y Torres, Count of Maceda * 1927-1931: Alonso Alvarez de Toledo y Samaniego,

Marquess of Valdueza Marquess of Villanueva de Valdueza ( es, Marqués de Villanueva de Valdueza), commonly known as Marquess of Valdueza is a hereditary title in the Peerage of Spain granted in 1624 by Philip IV to Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo, an important General ...

Bibliography

* Enciclopedia universal ilustrada europeo-americana. Volume 49. Hijos de J. Espasa, Editores.1923 * Martínez Millán José. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Departamento de Historia Moderna. La Corte de Carlos V. 2000 * Martinéz Millán (dir). José. La Corte de Felipe II. Madrid. Alianza 1994 * Martínez Millán, José y Visceglia, Maria Antonietta (Dirs.). La Monarquía de Felipe III. Madrid, Fundación Mapfre, 2008/2009 *

Archivo General de Palacio The Archivo General de Palacio was created by Ferdinand VII in 1808 with more than 120 millions of documents from the 13th century until now. It collects, classifies and preserves all the documents from the Patrimonio de la Corona and the Spanish ...

(AGP

Patrimonio Nacional Patrimonio Nacional ( en, National Heritage) is a Spanish autonomous agency, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Presidency, that administers the sites owned by the Spanish State and used by the Monarch and the Spanish Royal Fami ...

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