The Spanish nobility are people who possess a title of nobility confirmed by the Spanish Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes, as well as those individuals appointed to one of Spain's three highest orders of knighthood, the Order of the Golden Fleece, the Order of Charles III and the Order of Isabella the Catholic. Some member of the Spanish nobility possess various titles that may be inherited or not, but the creation and recognition of titles is legally the prerogative of the Monarchy of Spain.
Portrait of a Spanish nobleman, The 5th Duke of Alburquerque, Grandee of Spain, at the height of the Spanish Empire, 1560
Palacio de Liria in Madrid, home of the Dukes of Alba
Leonor, Princess of Asturias, heir presumptive to the Spanish throne
Cristóbal Colón de Carvajal, 18th Duke of Veragua
Order of Isabella the Catholic
The Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic is a Spanish civil order of chivalry and honour granted to persons and institutions in recognition of extraordinary services to the homeland or the promotion of international relations and cooperation with other nations. By law, its Grand Master is the King of Spain, and its Grand Chancellor is the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Order is open to both Spaniards and foreigners.
Martín Fernández de Navarrete, librarian of the Royal Spanish Academy, wearing the sash and grand cross of the order.
Collar granted to Czech President Václav Havel.
Samuel Morse wearing the knight's cross (fourth from left) and the commander cross of the order (bottom), 1866.
