Marquisate of Fontellas

The Marquessate of Fontellas is a hereditary Spanish noble title granted by King Charles IV, along with the title Viscount of Amalin, in favor of José Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano y Gante, 7th Viscount of Azpa, by Royal Dispatch on April 19, 1793. Its name refers to the municipality of Fontellas in the province of Navarre, which had been the lordship of the Peralta family from 1438 until the early XVI century when it passed to the Gante lineage and then the Medrano lineage.

History of the Marquisate of Fontellas
The Marquessate of Fontellas was created in favor of the noble Viscounts of Azpa from the ancient house of Medrano at the end of the 18th century. The fiscal inventory carried out after the Castilian invasion of the Kingdom of Navarra in 1512, reflected that it did not pay "alcaba," which was a tax of the time, because its population was entirely Moslem. Fontellas is located 4 miles (6.5km) away from Tudela. The lords of Fontellas held lordship over Amaláin, Buenzalarrea and Villanueva.

José Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano y Gante, I Marquess of Fontellas, I Viscount of Amalin
On April 10, 1793, Carlos IV of Spain granted the title of 1st Marquess of Fontellas and 1st Viscount of Amaláin to José Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano (b. 2 March 1761, Pamplona - d. 10 February 1826, Fontellas), 7th Viscount of Azpa, 14th lord of Fontellas, and a Knight of the Order of Malta, whose Hospitaller Order had estates in Fontellas since the 13th century. The I Marquess was the Lieutenant of the Royal Spanish Guards, 21st Lord of Autol and Yerga, 13th of Quel de Suso and Ordoño, and 14th of Fontellas and of the places and palaces of Mendillorri and Beúnzalarrea, the places of Amaláin, Lavaiz, and Villanueva, and of the palaces and mayorazgo (entailed estate) of Liédena, Aoiz, and Ripalda, Representative to the General Courts for the military arm, and Magistrate of Pamplona.

Involved in political affairs, José Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano y Gante served in the Cortes of Navarre in 1794 and 1801. This branch of the Medrano family resided in the now-disappeared palace of Fontellas, increasing their territorial assets during the Mendizábal confiscations in Navarra. The title of Fontellas has recently passed outside the descendants of the ancient Lords of this Villa. The Medrano family had notable figures in the military, church, and politics, rising to international prominence when Juan Martinez de Medrano 'El Mayor' became regent of the Kingdom of Navarre in 1328.

Family of the I Marquis of Fontellas
Don José Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano was the maternal grandson of Don Francisco Javier de Gante y Sáenz de Tejada, lord of Fontellas, Quel and Ordoyo (baptised in Quel on April 23, 1713) and Dona Manuela Gutiérrez de Labarreda. Their daughter Doña Antonia Francisca de Gante Gutiérrez de la Barreda was the last Lady of Fontellas and Quel from this lineage. Doña Antonia Francisca married Don Joaquín Antonio Vélaz de Medrano y Alava, Viscount of Azpa, Lord of the Villa de Autol and Yerga, etc. Their marriage produced:


 * D. Judas Vélaz de Medrano y Gante, Lord of Fontellas and Quel, who died unmarried.
 * D. José Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano y Gante, VII Vizcount of Azpa, born on 2 March 1761 in Pamplona, successor of his brother, Knight of the Order of Saint John, created Viscount of Amalin and Marquess of Fontellas by Royal decree on April 19, 1793. He also died unmarried in Fontellas on 10 February 1826.
 * D. Pedro Vélaz de Medrano y Gante. He was the father of D. Fernando Vélaz de Medrano y Alava, II Marquess of Fontellas, and successor in the Estates of the House of Gante, who left no legitimate heirs († 1858). The title then passed to his brothers D. Ramón and D. Eduardo Vélaz de Medrano, the latter dying unmarried in 1865. Don Ramón Vélaz de Medrano y Alava, III Marquess of Fontellas, etc., also died unmarried in 1875. His executors had to engage in a highly publicized legal dispute with Don Evencio de Gante y San Clemente, the last representative of the Tafalla line.

I Marquess

 * José Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano y Gante (died 1826), I Marquess of Fontellas, VII Viscount of Azpa, I Viscount of Amalin, Knight of the Order of Malta, lieutenant of the Royal Spanish Guards, territorial owner of the town of Fontellas, lord of the place and palace of Mendillorri, the palace of Azpa and Ripalda, and in Castile, territorial owner of Autol, Yerga, and Quel de Suso. José was the son of Joaquín Antonio Vélaz de Medrano y Álava, Count of Ripalda, Viscount of Azpa, and lord of various towns, including Autol, Ripalda, and Yerga, and his wife, Antonia Francisca de Gante Gutiérrez de la Barreda, Lady of Fontellas and Quel. José Joaquín died unmarried, and was succeeded by his nephew, Fernando, the son of his brother Pedro Vélaz de Medrano y Gante.

II Marquess

 * Fernando Vélaz de Medrano y Álava (died May 28, 1858), II Marquess of Fontellas, II Viscount of Amalin. Son of Pedro Vélaz de Medrano y Gante. Certification verifying his legal eligibility as a deputy indicated Fernando's property ownership in Logroño, Fontellas, and Pamplona. Fernando died on May 28, 1858, without legitimate heirs. The Marquisate of Fontellas passed to his brother Don Ramón Vélaz de Medrano.

III Marquess

 * Ramón Vélaz de Medrano y Álava (died 1875), III Marquess of Fontellas. He also died unmarried without descendants. He distributed his substantial fortune among hospitals and charitable institutions in Tudela, Pamplona, Vitoria, Bilbao, and San Sebastián; General Hospital, Peace College, Poor of San Bernardino, Princess Hospital, and Aid Houses in Madrid, as well as other charitable establishments and convents of nuns in Pamplona, Tudela, and Vitoria, his nephews (children of D. Fernando), and his servants. His brother Eduardo Vélaz de Medrano y Álava was a professor of literature, history of dramatic art in Navarre and music critic for La España and La Zarzuela; author of Historical Review of the Montserrat Music School from 1456 to 1856. The Marquisate of Fontellas passed to Fausto León, VII Marquess of Vessolla.

IV Marquess

 * Fausto León de Elío y Mencos Jiménez-Navarro y Manso de Zúñíga Aguirre Enríquez de Navarra y Ezpeleta Hurtado de Mendoza Esparza y Artieda Vélaz de Medrano, IV Marquess of Fontellas, and VII Marquess of Vesolla, married to María Josefa de Magallón y Campuzano.

V Marquess

 * María del Pilar Élio y Mencos Jiménez-Navarro y Manso de Zúñíga Aguirre Enríquez de Navarra y Ezpeleta Hurtado de Mendoza Esparza y Artieda Vélaz de Medrano, V Marchioness of Fontellas.

VI Marquess

 * José de Mendizábal y Gortázar (died June 11, 1958), VI Marquess of Fontellas, son of Francisco Javier de Mendizábal y Argaiz, 14th Count of Peñaflorida, and María del Carmen Gortázar y Arriola (d. March 9, 1939).

VII Marquess

 * Javier de Mendizabal y Gortázar (died December 2, 1970), VII Marquess of Fontellas, and 16th Count of Peñaflorida, married to Sofía de Arana Churruca.

VIII Marquess

 * Íñigo de Mendizabal y Arana (died April 29, 2018), VIII Marquess of Fontellas, daughter of Javier de Mendizábal y Gortázar and Sofía de Arana Churruca.

IX Marquess

 * Álvaro de Mendizábal y Carredano, the current IX Marquess of Fontellas, and 18th Count of Peñaflorida, son of Álvaro de Mendizábal y Arana, 17th Count of Peñaflorida, and Rosa María Carredano García.