Constable of Castile: Difference between revisions

Constable of Castile (Spanish :Condestable de Castilla), was a title created by John I, King of Castile in 1382, to substitute the title Alférez Mayor del Reino. The constable was the second person in power in the kingdom, after the King.
The constable's responsibility was to command the military in the absence of the king.
After the reign of Henry IV of Castile, the title ceased to have military or administrative connotations, and was simply an honorific title.

Constables of Castile :

• Alonso de Aragón, natural son of Ferdinand II of Aragon
• Pedro Enrique de Trastámara, son of Fadrique Alfonso of Castile
• Rui López de Dávalos
• Álvaro de Luna
• Miguel Lucas de Iranzo
• Pedro Fernández III de Velasco

In 1473 Henry IV of Castile made the title hereditary and the next Constables were all members of the Velasco family and Dukes of Frías.

The present day Constable of Castile is Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba.