The Count of Plasencia is a Spanish nobility title, created in 1611 by King Philip III, in favor of Pedro Lanuza y Ximénez de Urrea.
The title was granted in memory of the ancient dominion that the Lanuza family had exercised in the 16th century on Plasencia de Jalón, until it was dispossessed of it by Philip II, when his brother Juan de Lanuza was beheaded, for having supported Antonio Pérez, his secretary, who had invoked the Fueros of Aragon, to avoid being tried for the murder in El Escorial of Escobedo (secretary of Don Juan de Austria). Granted the Grandee of Spain on August 18, 1707.
Its denomination, of the current title in force, refers to the town of Plasencia de Jalón, in the province of Zaragoza.
Background The title of Count of Plasencia (in the kingdom of Castile), had been created for the first time in 1442, by John II of Castile, referring to Plasencia (locality of Extremadura) for Pedro de Zúñiga y Leiva, in exchange for the lordship of Trujillo, who transmitted it to his son Álvaro de Zúñiga y Guzmán who was the II and last Count of Plasencia, of this first concession.
The primitive county of Plasencia was extinguished in 1476, when the Catholic Monarchs elevated this county to a duchy with the same denomination, in favor of Álvaro de Zúñiga y Guzmán, in compensation for the loss of the Duchy of Arévalo, which reverted to the Crown.
Counts of Plasencia
Holder Time First concession by John II of CastileIPedro de Zúñiga y Leiva1442-1453IIÁlvaro de Zúñiga y Guzmán1453-1476 Holder Time First concession by Philip III of SpainI Pedro Lanuza y Ximénez de Urrea1611-IIFerrer de Lanuza y Silva - 1643IIIJosé de Lanuza y de Rocabertí ? -1688IVJuan de Lanuza y de Oms ? -1723VFrancisco de Lanuza y de GilabertVIJuan Antonio de Lanuza y de Boxadors ? -1770VIIMaría Helena de Lanuza y de Boxadors ? -1806VIIIJosefa Rabasa de Perellós y LanuzaIXMaría Dolores de Marimón Queri XJosé María de Arróspide y Marimón ? -1893XIJosé María de Arróspide y Álvarez1893-1936XIIFrancisco de Arróspide y ArróspideXIIIÍñigo de Arróspide y Valera -1983XIVÁlvaro de Arróspide y López de Letona1983-2012XVCristina de Arróspide y Núñez2012 - at present
References
Elenco de Grandezas y Títulos Nobiliarios Españoles. Instituto "Salazar y Castro", C.S.I.C.
External links B.O.E. Title updates