Grandees

Grandees (Span. grandes), since the 13th century the most highly privileged class of nobility in the kingdom of Castile, in which the members of the royal family were included. Their honours were hereditary; they held lands from the crown on the tenure of military service, were exempted from taxation, could not be summoned before any civil or criminal judge without a special warrant from the king, and could leave the kingdom, and even enter the service of a foreign prince at war with Castile, without incurring the penalties of treason. Besides this, they had the right of being covered in the presence of the king. In the national assemblies they sat immediately behind the prelates and before the titled nobility (titulados). Under Ferdinand and Isabella they were deprived of most of their peculiar privileges; and Charles V. converted them from an independent feudal nobility into a dependent court nobility. Under Joseph Bonaparte their dignities and privileges were entirely abolished; but they were partially regranted at the subsequent restoration. Grandees are still members of the senate in their own right.