Caballerizo mayor


The [Juan Tomas Enriquez de Cabrera, 7th Duke of Medina de Rioseco|]Caballerizo mayor was an officer of the Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain. The position was responsible for overseeing royal journeys, the mews, and the king's hunts.

Regime during the 16th to 18th centuries

The office of Caballerizo mayor was one of the principal positions within the Royal Household, responsible for the royal stables and all matters related to the monarch's transportation. When the king departed from the royal palace, the Caballerizo mayor occupied the foremost position behind him and held higher rank than other court officials. The role also included oversight of the stables, carriages, and horses, with assistance from the Primeros Caballerizos, who were appointed by the Caballerizo mayor.
In addition, the Caballerizo mayor was in charge of the royal hunt in his capacity as Montero mayor. In many cases, he also held the alcaldías of the Spanish royal sites.

Regime during the 19th and 20th centuries

During the reigns of Alfonso XII and Alfonso XIII, the Caballerizo mayor, who also assumed the functions of Montero mayor —an office created during the reign of Isabella II—was the second-ranking official after the Mayordomo mayor, holding sole authority once the monarch left the royal palace. Only a peer with the rank of Grandee of Spain could be appointed to this office. The annual salary was 15,000 pesetas, the same as that of the Mayordomo mayor, and the Caballerizo mayor was also entitled to a private office at the Royal Palace of Madrid.
Reporting to the Caballerizo mayor were the Primer Caballerizo and the Primer Montero, each with an annual salary of 7,500 pesetas. Below them were the Caballerizos de campo, who were typically army officers.
The Caballerizo mayor accompanied the king on all journeys, referred to as "days," and sat beside him in carriages, automobiles, trains, or ships both within Spain and abroad. Together with the Primer Caballerizo, he was head of the royal mews and also chief of the Armory of the Royal Palace of Madrid.
In his capacity as Montero mayor, and with the assistance of the Primer Montero, he managed the hunting lodges of the Crown's heritage and organised royal hunts in the hunting grounds of the Crown, such as the Royal forests of El Pardo, the Royal Hunting Lodge of La Encomienda de Mudela, and the royal forests of Valsaín. At hunts organised by others but attended by the king, the Montero mayor was also present in his official role. The uniform of the Montero mayor consisted of very dark green cloth decorated with oak-branch embroidery.
At public chapels and official ceremonies, the Caballerizo mayor normally stood directly behind the Mayordomo mayor. He was styled Excelentísimo señor Caballerizo y Montero mayor de Su Majestad.
The office was suppressed after the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931 and was not reinstated following the restoration of the monarchy in 1975.

List of ''Caballerizos mayores'' (Great Equerries) to the King of Spain, 1515–1931

''Caballerizos mayores'' under Emperor [Charles V, [Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] (1515–1556)

''Caballerizos mayores'' under King Philip II">Philip II of Spain">Philip II (1556–1598)

''Caballerizos mayores'' under King Philip III">Philip III of Spain">Philip III (1598–1621)

''Caballerizos mayores'' under King Philip IV">Philip IV of Spain">Philip IV (1621–1665)

''Caballerizos mayores'' under King Charles II">Charles II of Spain">Charles II (1665–1701)

Juan Tomás Enriquez de Cabrera, Duke of Medina de Rioseco, Admiral of Castile, Grandee of Spain

''Caballerizos mayores'' under King Philip V">Philip V of Spain">Philip V (1701–1724)

''Caballerizo mayor'' under King Louis I">Louis I of Spain">Louis I (1724)

''Caballerizos mayores'' under King Philip V">Philip V of Spain">Philip V (1724–1746)

''Caballerizos mayores'' under King Ferdinand VI">Ferdinand VII">Ferdinand VI (1746–1759)

''Caballerizos mayores'' under King Charles III">Charles III of Spain">Charles III (1759–1788)

''Caballerizos mayores'' under King Charles IV">Charles IV of Spain">Charles IV (1788–1808)

''Caballerizos mayores'' under King [Ferdinand VII] (1808; 1814–1833)

''Caballerizos mayores'' under Queen [Isabella II] (1833–1868)

''Caballerizo mayor'' under King Amadeo I">Amadeo I of Spain">Amadeo I (1871–1873)

''Caballerizo mayor'' under King [Alfonso XII] (1875–1885)

''Caballerizos mayores'' under King [Alfonso XIII] (1885–1931)

From 1871 to 1873 the office was suppressed. From 1900 to 1903 the office remained vacant.

List of ''Primeros Caballerizos'' (First Equerries) to the King of Spain, 1875–1931

''Primeros Caballerizos'' under King [Alfonso XII] (1875–1885)

  • 1875–1876: Ricardo Castellví e Ibarrola, Count of Carlet
  • 1876–1885: Ignacio de Arteaga y Puente, Count of El Pilar

''Primeros Caballerizos'' under King [Alfonso XIII] (1885–1931)

  • 1885–1894: Ignacio de Arteaga y Puente, Count of El Pilar
  • 1894–1903: Bernardo Ulibarri
  • 1903–1912: Rodrigo Álvarez de Toledo
  • 1912–1914: Fernando Moreno de Tejada y Díaz de Cabria, Count of Fuenteblanca
  • 1914–1931: Miguel Tacón y Calderón, Duke of La Unión de Cuba, Grandee of Spain

List of ''Primeros Monteros'' (First Hunters) to the King of Spain, 1875–1931

''Primer Montero'' under King [Alfonso XII] (1875–1885)

  • 1875–1885: Honorio de Samaniego y Pando, Count of Villapaterna

''Primeros Monteros'' under King [Alfonso XIII] (1885–1931)

  • 1885–1893: Honorio de Samaniego y Pando, Count of Villapaterna
  • 1903–1927: Baltasar de Losada y Torres, Count of Maceda
  • 1927–1931: Alonso Álvarez de Toledo y Samaniego, Marquess of Valdueza