Espana
The house of Espana had its start, since from time in memory, in the Baronia of Ramefort, County and Bishoprick of Cominges, in the valley of Aran, an ancient province of Gascuna, which "limi-taba" with or by our nation for the part of Cataluna. This Baronia was recognized with the older of various towns in the same County and was the oldest.
Leaving aside improper legends, taking all our work seriously we are going to do the study of this lineage obtaining support from the numerous written works that French and Spanish authors have written on this family--that the male line comes from the ancient Sovereign Counts of Cominges, and the female by one of the Sovereign Counts of Foix, bound with the Kings of France, from Navarre and Aragon.
The Trunk, which produced the initial Branch
I. Arnaldo de Espana, first of that name, Lord of Montespan, of Morejeau and of Riviere, and Baron of Borderes, lived and prospered in the years around 1243, and was father of:
II. Garcie or Grisa de Espana, who contracted marriage with Rogerio de Cominges, fourth of that name (i) Vice-Count Sovereign of Couserans and of Cabadan and Count of Pallas by sale and donation of his stepmother the Countess dona Guillerma. He died a young man in 1257, leaving of his union with lady Grisa of Espana this son:
III. Arnaldo de Cominges, also named Arnaldo de Espana, second of that name, who was fifth Vice-Count of Couserans, Count of Pallas and Count of Montespan, which he inherited from his mother.
He figured much in the wars of his time, and in 1306 he founded by endowment an abby of a male religious order in the village of Saint-Girons. A record of said foundation is kept in the archives of the Marquis de Espana.
He [Arnaldo de Cominges or Arnaldo de Espana] was an Escort in the Crusades to San Louis, King of France, and contracted marriage with Lady Felipa of Foix (daughter of Rogerio of Foix, fourth of that name, and of Lady Brumisenda of Cardona), being born of that union:
1. Rogerio de Espana, who was sixth Vice-Count of Couserans.
2. Rogerio Arnaldo de Cominges or de Espana, Lord of Montespan, who died without children of either of his two marriages: the first one, with dona Corille, and the second, with dona Guirande.
3. Arnaldo de Cominges or de Espana, third of that name, whose lineage continues.
4. Bertran de Cominges or de Espana, Senor of the Ro-que, of Coratil and of Bondrae.
5. Brumisenda de Cominges or de Espana, the spouse of Sance Amet of Pins.
6. Esclaramunda de Cominges or de Espana, woman of Brisserius of Castelnau.
7. Ines de Cominges or de Espana, and
8. Felipa de Cominges or de Espana, who carried a religious responsibility in the Church in Peillan.
IV. The third of the eight children, Arnaldo de Cominges or de Espana, third of that name, was the first who adopted the last name Espana and who passed it on to his descendants. He inherited the Lordship of Montespan from his brother Rogerio Arnaldo, and made marriage with dona Marquise, or Marquesa of Cemeae Cousiac or Ceuriac, alias of Benac, and with her had children as follows:
1. Rogerio de Espana, Lord of Bordieres and of Montespan, who offered testament [gave last will and testament, transferring to Arnaldo] in Tolosa November 3, 1333. He was married to lady Guirande de Son. There were no children.
2. Arnaldo de Espana, fourth of that name, who follows.
3. Bertran de Espana, Marshal of France, and father to Carlos de Espana, who married with his cousin dona Cecilia of Levis, and had children who were:
i. Tribaut of Espana, and
ii. Bertran of Espana.
4. Raimundo Rogerio de Espana, and
5. Douce of Espana, woman of Israud of Aure, Vizconde of Larboust.
V. The second born, Arnaldo de Espana, fourth of that name in this branch, was Lord of Montespan by inheritance from his brother Rogerio of Espana, and Senescal [household manager or administrator] of Perigord. He served in 1338 under the command of Gaston, Count of Foix, in Flanders, against the King of England. He contracted marriage with lady Margarita of the Barthe, and of this union were born:
1. Arnaldo de Espana, fifth of that name, who follows.
2. Raimundo Arnaldo of Espana, Senor of Ramefort, who acquired the land of Estacayosse in 1373. He had no children.
3. Guillermo of Espana, chosen Bishop of Pamiers in 7 of February of 1351, and in 1371 Bishop of Cominges, which he retained until 1382.
4. Thibaut de Espana, Lord of Saint-Laurent, and
5. Bernardo de Espana, father of: i. Arnanton de Espana of whom speaks Froissart, calling him the "Bourg" of Espana. He was Governor of Saint-Beat, and they called him the most valiant of his time.
VI. Arnaldo of Espana, fifth of that name, was Lord of Montespan, Capitan and Senescal of Quercy and of Perigord, and later of Carcasona and of Beziers. He was taken prisoner in the battle of Poitiers in 1356 and was carried to England, where six thousand pounds was paid for his release. Before 1377 he was married to dona Gallarda of Merimont (sister of Raimundo of Merimont), and of this link were born:
1. Rogerio de Espana, first of that name, who follows.
2. Caxindo de Espana, Governor of Saint-Gaudens, who was found present at the death of Gaston, Count of Foix.
3. Juan de Espana, Governor of Saint-Gaudens, and
4. Arnaldo de Espana, Governor of Couserans.
VII. Rogerio of Espana, first of that name, was Lord of Montespan, Counselor and Gentleman of the King in 1375. He took part in the fights of France in his time, and was married two times: the first, with Lady Esclaramunda, and the second with Lady Clara of Gramont. Of the first marriage were born:
1. Juan de Espana, who died before his father.
2. Espanolet de Espana, one of the leaders of the troops that the King Carlos VII of France sent in 1386 to Juan I, King of Castille and of Leon, against the King of Portugal. He died in the battle of Inberos; and
3. Aymon de Espana, who fought together with his brother for the Monarch of Castille cited above, who also died in the war of Portugal.
Of the second marriage were these children:
4. Rogerio de Espana, second of that name, who follows.
5. Arnaldo de Espana, who inherited the Baronias of Durfot, Rive, Pelaport and Orsans. Before his death in1442, he was married to dona Margarita of Montant, and was founder of the lineage of the Senores of Durfot; and
6. Bertran de Espana, Lord of Ramefort, Senescal of Foix and one of the "Procuradores" of the Count of Foix who handled the wedding of his first born son with Lady Leonor, Infanta of Navarre, in 1434. He contracted marriage with Lady Anneta of Aster, and they had these children:
a. Raimundo Arnaldo de Espana, Lord of Ramefort, who was married in 27 of June of 1470 to dona Catalina of Villemur, and they had a son, Bertran de Espana, who died before his father;
b. Clariana, or Clariada de Espana, woman of Aymerico de Cominges, fifth of that name, Baron of Pequilhan, who was the mother of:
i. Arnaldo Guillermo, and
ii. Aymerico de Cominges and Espana; and
c. Arnaldo de Espana, Bishop of Oleron in 1442 and of Cominges in 1446.
VIII. The first born of the second marriage, Rogerio of Espana, second of that name, was Lord of Montespan and intervened in the politics of his land. He gave his will/testament [passing the lordship of Montespan to Mateo de Espana] December 21, 1442 and died May 2, 1443, leaving with his wife Lady Jacobita of Mauleon (daughter of Gerardo, Lord of Mauleon), these children:
1. Mateo de Espana, who follows.
2. Rogerio de Espana, Senor of Launaguet, who formed the lineage of the Senores of Panassac, "extinguida y refundida" in the houses of Noailles and of Ossun.
3. Antonio Arnaldo de Espana, Senor or Niza. He had no children.
4. Martin de Espana, Senor de Lavagnon.
5. Bernardo de Espana, and
6. Arnaldo de Espana, Senor de Anisson and Senescal de Cominges in 1475, who was married to Lady Ines of Foix (daughter of Juan, Lord of Rabat, and of Lady Eleonor de Cominges) and was father of
a. Francisco de Espana, who died without having been married.
b. Juana de Espana, whose first marriage, in 1498, was with Rogerio of Espana, third of that name, which will be cited later, and whose second marriage was with Juan Goth, Senor of Roillac. She offered testament in 10 of December of 1516. She did not have children.
c. Gabriela de Espana, woman of Juan of Murat, Lord of Letang, that enviudo in 1516.
d. Margarita de Espana, wife of Antonion of Astorg, Lord of Montbertier.
e. Maria de Espana, married with Mateo of Montesquieu, Senor of Vernet, and
f. Clara Beatriz de Espana, a single woman.
IX. Mateo of Espana was Lord of Montespan, and was married in ?? of November of 1461 with dona Catalina of Foix (daughter of Juan of Foix, second of that name, and close relative of the King of France don Enrique IV, who before that was from Navarre) being born of that union:
1. Rogerio of Espana, third of that name, who follows.
2. Arnaldo of Espana, sixth of that name, who continues..
3. Carlos of Espana, Lord of Ramefort, who we will return to cite in the second branch.
4. Bertran of Espana, "Protonotario" of the Holy Headquarters in 1498, and later Bishop of Rieux.
5. Margarita of Espana, married in the first marriage, in 1486, with Juan, Senor of Cardaillac, and in the second with Guillermo of Marmain, Vizconde of Rodez, and
6. Catalina of Espana, woman of Pons of Peune of Penastudis, Baron of Durfort.
X. Rogerio de Espana, third of that name, who was Lord of Montespan, and contracted marriage in 1498 with his first cousin dona Juana of Espana (cited in the letter b of the number 6 of the paragraph VIII of this same family). They had no children, for which it [title of Lord of Montespan] was given to his brother by inheritance..
XI. Arnaldo de Espana, sixth of that name, who was Lord of Montespan. He offered testament February 6, 1484 and was married January 18, 1498 with dona Magdalene of Aure (daughter of Guiraud of Aure, Vizconde of Larbust); they begat the following children:
1. Rogerio de Espana, fourth of that name, who follows.
2. Paula de Espana, who continues, and
3. German of Espana, that married two times: the first one, with Hector of Lastie, Lord of Ansac, and the second, with Luis of Sachnenage or Sasenage, Lord of Baure of Soisonaille. She bore no children.
XII. Rogerio de Espana, fourth of that name, who was Lord of Montespan. He was captured and made prisoner in the battle of Pavia, in 1524. He gave testament February 26, 1547, and added a codicile April 25, 1553. He died in the castle of Aussun March 22, 1555, and was buried in Mont-Real. He had married in 1526 with dona Catalina de Vese (son of Carlos de Vese, Lord of Grimaut, and of dona Antonieta of Clermont). They had no children, causing the inheritance of the house [of Montespan] to go to his sister.
XIII. Paula de Espana, Senora de Montespana, who celebrated two marriages: the first one, with Pedro of Coaraze, and the second, in 1521, with Antonio of Pardaillan, Lord of Gondrin. To the Family of this second husband they passed the states of Montespan and Antain, which became "Marquisate" by the King Louis XIII of France in 1612 and 1615.
SECOND BRANCH
Senores and Barons of Ramefort. ---Marqueses of Espana
I. Carlos de Espana (third son of Mateo de Espana and of his woman dona Catalina de Foix, cited in the paragraph IX of the prior branch) carried the title of Lord and Baron of Rame-fort. He gave testament July 12, 1531, and was married with dona Maria of Aure (daughter of Juan, Vizconde of Aster, and of dona Juana of Beam), from which marriage the following children came to be:
1. Onofre de Espana, who follows.
2. Francisco de Espana,
3. Gabriela de Espana,
4. Margarita de Espana ,
5. Maria de Espana,
6. Bertran de Espana, who was destined to the Church in 1523.
7. Catalina de Espana,
8. Ana de Espana,
9. Germana de Espana, who testified in 1566 and left all of her goods to her nephew as her heir,.
10. Magdalena de Espana, woman of Juan of Cominges, Lord of Saubole, and
11. Margarita de Espana
12. Elena de Espana, religious, and
13. Gerarda de Espana
II Onofre de Espana, Baron of Ramefort, who in 1555 was Maestre of Field of Caballeria, and who died in 15 of August of 1589, leaving with his wife, dona Catalina of Saman (daughter of Juan, Senor of Saman), these children:
1. Juan Alejandro de Espana, to whom himself concedio the Sea-co of gold the n of December of 1584. He was Capitan of Guards and died having not been married.
2. Carlos de Espana, second of that name in this line, who continues.
3. Pedro de Espana, husband of dona Juana of Sivras, and both parents of Farsent of Espana, Senor of Soule.
4. Juan de Espana, who was called in 1607 the Capitan of Ramefort. He died without children in 1621.
5. Another Juan of Espana, who died with no descendants in 1607.
6. Juan Jacobo de Espana, Senor of Gariscan and Governor of Cisteran in 1621. He married with dona Isabel of Rames (daughter to Mateo of Rames, Senor of Croetes, and of dona Villeneuve of Traus). They were without children.
7. Ana de Espana, married in 4 of August of 1584 with Guy de la Tour, Lord of Sajas, of whom she had Carlos de la Tour.
8. Filiberta de Espana
9. Juana de Espana, who married in 1573 with Pedro of Ossum, seventh grandfather of the Marques of Ossum, Ambassador of France in Spain in 1771.
10. Carlota de Espana, married in 6 of July of 1591 with Pedro of Serracaut, Lord of Sante Pe, and
11. Magdalena de Espana, woman of Juan de Castenet, Lord of Puysegur, and both grandparents of the celebrated Marshal of Puysegur.
III. The second born of these eleven brothers, Carlos of Espana, second of that name in this line, was Lord and Baron of Ramefort and Governor of Cisteron, in the Provenza, in 1592. He married in 30 of April of 1590 with dona Juana of Saman (daughter of Bertran of Saman and of dona Margarita of Areissac), and they were the parents of:
1. Carlos de Espana, third of that name, who follows.
2. Jaime de Espana, Senor of Gariscan and Governor of Cisteron, in the Provenza, in 1643.
3. Francisco de Espana, who inherited the title of Lord of Gariscan from his uncle Juan Jacobo de Espana, and
4. Margarita de Espana, woman of the Lord of Belleze.
IV. Carlos de Espana, third of that name, Lord and Baron of Ramefort, was married in 1622 with dona Margarita de Saint Pastour, and they had these children:
1. Melchor de Espana, who follows.
2. Carlos de Espana, and
3. Margarita de Espana.
V. Melchor de Espana, Lord and Baron of Ramefort, contracted marriage in 1652 with dona Francisca de Orbessan (daughter of the Senor de Busquiere), and with her procreated:
VI. Carlos de Espana, fourth of tha name, Lord and Baron of Ramefort, who was born
in the castle of that name in Ramefort, in the "High Garonne" (France) and gave testament on October 9 of 1750. He was married April 16, 1692 in Tolosa, with dona Margarita of Sapte, originally of Tolosa, in France (she was daughter of Juan Andres of Sapte, Counselor of the Parliament of Tolosa), and of this union were born:
1. Jose Andres de Espana, who follows.
2. Jorge Gabriel de Espana, Lord of Saleneueve, and
3. Bernardo de Espana, Lord of Peprouzete.
VII. Jose Andres of Espana, Senor and Baron of Ramefort, who was in the Palace of that name, in Ramefort, the n of April of 1693. He obtained the title of Mark of Espana, dying October 9 of 1759. With his wife, dona Francisca of Orbessan of Lissac, he left these four children:
1. Enrique Bernardo de Espana, who follows,
2. Andrea Urbana de Espana, woman of the Count of Huraut,
3. Margarita de Espana, and
4. Juana Gabriela Cristina de Espana.
VIII. Enrique Bernardo de Espana, natural of Ramefort, was second Mark of Spain, Baron of Ramefort and Marshal of Field. He was escort to King of France Louis XV, and figured a lot in the military, being distinguished in numerous battles. When the war of the revolution between France and Spain broke out, he was admitted in the army of our land [Spain]. He was in the military campaigns of Cataluna of 1794 and 1795, and retired December 4, 1802, setting his residence in Palma of Mallorca. His death was in that city September 23, 1811, and he was buried in the Chapel of the Sanctified Christ, of the parish of Holy Eulalia. In 27 of December of 1763, he had married with dona Clara Carlota of Cabalby?? and of Esplas, who was originally of the city of Seix (France) (daughter of the Barons of Esplas, Senores of Galas), and of this marriage were children:
1. Arnaldo Rogerio, who died a glorious death July 21, 1795 fighting in the disembarking which the English did in Quiberon.
2. Maria Andres Valentin de Espana, who follows. @@@@@@@@
3. Carlos Jose de Espana, who will be cited again in the third branch.
4. Octaviana de Espana, who died without having been married in Tolosa in 1830, and
5. Luisa de Espana, who passed away in Paris in the same year.
IX. Maria Andres Valentin of Espana was third Mark of Spain, and was born in @@@@@@@@@@
Tolosa of France, February 13, 1774. With pontifical dispensation because of his
young age, he was elected Young Man of the Order of San Juan of Jerusalem in 1778. He came to Espana with his father at the time of the French Revolution, residing in Palma, and on our side [the side of Spain], he took part in the war of the Independence of Spain, being found in numerous skirmishes, retiring or withdrawing in 1833. He passed away in Granada February 3, 1838, and was buried in the "boveda" of the Sagrario. He had married the October 2 of 1797 in Zamora, with dona Ana Paula of Taberner (daughter of the Brigadier Colonel Nicolas of Taberner and Gil, and of dona Maria Isabel Fronca and of the Sierra),
being born of this link the following children:
1. Enrique Andres de Espana y Taberner, who follows. @@@@@@@@@@@@
2. Carlos de Espana y Taberner, who was Lieutenant General of the Royal Army.
3. Francisco Javier de Espana y Taberner, and
4. Maria Jacinta de Espana y Taberner.
X. Enrique Andres de Espana y Taberner was born in Palma de Mallorca March 23 of 1801, and became a cadet in the I Spanish Army September 30, 1811. He took part in the war of Independence and first Carlist War. In 7 of December of 1831 he obtained seat of office authorizing him to use the title of Baron of Ramefort, which was possessed by his father [who was away fighting]. As the one who would inherit, he was fourth Mark of Espana and was also authorized, by Royal decree of 7 of November of 1838, to use this title in Spain as well as abroad. He arrived in our army at the position of General and was Capitan general of Puerto Rico and Cuba. By Royal decree of 29 of September of 1846, to him it was given the honor of "la Have de Gentilhombre,", and in 8 of November of the following year he was named "Caballero de la Orden de Isabel la Catolica." (Young Man of the Order of Isabel the Catholic). He also was given the award of the Great cross of San Hermenegildo and other decorations. He was succeeded by his son
XI. Enrique de Espana and Perez, who by Royal letter of sucesion of October 9 of 1880 was Baron of Ramefort. He also was fifth Mark of Spain, having been authorized to use that title in our nation by Royal decree on 20 of January of 1883. @@@@@@@@@@@
