The Marquess of Fontellas (Spanish: Marquesado de Fontellas, English: Marquisate of Fontellas) is a hereditary Spanish noble title granted by King Charles IV, along with the title Viscount of Amaláin, in favor of José JoaquÃÂn Vélaz de Medrano y Gante, 14th Lord of Fontellas, by Royal Dispatch on 19 April 1793. Its name refers to the municipality of Fontellas in 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 was inherited by José JoaquÃÂn Vélaz de Medrano y Gante.
Fontellas is located 4 miles (6.5km) away from Tudela. The fiscal inventory carried out after the Castilian invasion of the Kingdom of Navarra in 1512, reflected that the town of Fontellas did not pay "alcaba," which was a tax of the time, because its population was entirely Moslem.
On 10 April 1793 Charles IV of Spain granted the title of 1st Marquess of Fontellas, 1st Viscount of Amaláin to José JoaquÃÂn Vélaz de Medrano (b. 2 March 1761, Pamplona - d. 10 February 1826, Fontellas), 14th Lord of Fontellas, and a Knight of the Order of Malta, whose Hospitaller Order had estates in Fontellas since the 13th century. José JoaquÃÂn Vélaz de Medrano was granted the title of Marquess of Fontellas, however he had to pay 843,000 reales (roughly 3,358,000.00 USD) for the rights and processing fees.
Marquess José JoaquÃÂn Vélaz de Medrano 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. José JoaquÃÂn 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, died unmarried in Fontellas on 10 February 1826.
Involved in political affairs, José JoaquÃÂn 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 Navarre, which saw the expropriation of church and noble estates, though the Medrano family retained much of theirs.
José JoaquÃÂn Vélaz de Medrano was the maternal grandson of Francisco Javier de Gante y Sáenz de Tejada, lord of Fontellas, Quel and Ordoyo (baptised in Quel on 23 April 1713) and Manuela Gutiérrez de Labarreda. Their daughter Antonia Francisca de Gante Gutiérrez de la Barreda was the last Lady of Fontellas and Quel from this lineage. Antonia Francisca married JoaquÃÂn Antonio Vélaz de Medrano y Alava, Viscount of Azpa, Lord of the Villa de Autol and Yerga, etc.
The Cortes Generales, Spain's legislative assembly, underwent significant changes during the 19th century, reflecting the shifting political landscape between absolutism and liberal constitutionalism. Fernando Vélaz de Medrano y ÃÂlava, 2nd Marquess of Fontellas, played an active role in these Cortes as a representative for Tudela. His first term, from June 1851 to December 1852, marked his entry into the assembly during a period of political consolidation under the moderate liberal regime.
He returned for a second term from March 1853 to August 1854, amidst rising tensions leading to the progressive biennium. His final term, spanning May 1857 to September 1858, occurred during the early years of the Bourbon Restoration under Queen Isabella II. MedranoâÂÂs participation influenced Navarrese and national politics during a pivotal era in Spanish history.
The 2nd Marquess of Fontellas died in 1858. The title then passed to his brothers Ramón and Eduardo Vélaz de Medrano, the latter dying unmarried in 1865. 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 Evencio de Gante y San Clemente, the last representative of the Tafalla line.