Vicente de Cadenas y Vicent
Encyclopedia
Vicente de Cadenas y Vicent (29 April 1915-21 December 2005) was a Cronista Rey de Armas
("Chronicler King of Arms") of the Kingdom of Spain.
A native of Madrid
, Spain
, Cadenas was born on 29 April 1915, the son of Francisco de Cadenas y Gaztañaga and Vicenta Vicent y Nogues. Beginning in 1932, he studied the fields of history
and journalism
, at the University of Madrid
. He maintained dual professions as both the Chronicler of Arms and as a journalist, and was decorated with several high Spanish and foreign Orders. He was for many years a member of the Deputation of the Constantinian Order, of which he was Secretary and which he joined in 1960 upon the succession of the Infante D. Alfonso
as Grand Master.
Cadenas founded the Asociación de Hidalgos a Fuero de España in 1954 to obtain the recognition of the untitled nobility (nobleza llana). In 1953 he founded the review Hidalguía (with the particular aim of challenging false genealogies, fake titles and pseudo orders of chivalry) and the Instituto Internacional de Genealogía y Heráldica. The following year he founded the Instituto Luis de Salazar y Castro and in the following years the Colegio Mayor Marqués de la Ensenada, the Casasolar Santo Duque de Gandia, and the Casa Quinta Vita Natural Durante, each of which were dependent on the Association of Hidalgos.
He also organized two meetings of the International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences
in Madrid
(1955 and 1982) and at the former founded the International Commission for Orders of Chivalry , becoming a fellow of this body in 2003. The 15th Congress met in Madrid from the 19th to the 25th of September in 1982 under the presidency of His Royal Highness Infante Carlos, Duke of Calabria
(a cousin to King Juan Carlos I of Spain
who opened the meeting) with Vicente de Cadenas serving as one of three vice presidents.
He published books and articles on historical themes as well as heraldry, genealogy, chivalric orders and documentary sciences. In 1959, he founded the first school of genealogy in the world. His multi-volume study of the life and achievements of the Emperor Charles V (who was also, King Charles I of Spain)
, will remain an important monument to his scholarship and determination.
In 1993, he assisted in the foundation of the Istituto Araldico Genealogico Italiano, persuading the surviving members of the Istituto Italiano di Genealogia ed Araldica to enter the new body and become founding members of the new institution.
On the occasion of his 75th birthday he authorized the foundation of the Association of Owners of Certifications of Genealogy, Nobility and Coat of Arms issued by the Corps of the Cronistas King of Arms of Spain (of which he was President) to protect the lawful owners of these historical heraldic documents.
Cronista Rey de Armas
The Chronicler King of Arms in the Kingdoms of Spain was a civil servant who had the authority to grant armorial bearings. The office of the King of Arms in Spain originated from those of the heralds . In the early days of heraldry, anyone could bear arms and as is normal where human beings are...
("Chronicler King of Arms") of the Kingdom of Spain.
A native of Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Cadenas was born on 29 April 1915, the son of Francisco de Cadenas y Gaztañaga and Vicenta Vicent y Nogues. Beginning in 1932, he studied the fields of history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
, at the University of Madrid
University of Madrid
The Complutense University of Madrid is a public university in Madrid, Spain, and one of the oldest universities in the world.The University of Madrid may also refer to:* The Autonomous University of Madrid, a public university founded in 1968...
. He maintained dual professions as both the Chronicler of Arms and as a journalist, and was decorated with several high Spanish and foreign Orders. He was for many years a member of the Deputation of the Constantinian Order, of which he was Secretary and which he joined in 1960 upon the succession of the Infante D. Alfonso
Infante Alfonso, Duke of Galliera
Alfonso de Orleans y Borbón, Infante of Spain, Duke of Galliera was a Spanish military aviator.-Early life:...
as Grand Master.
Cadenas founded the Asociación de Hidalgos a Fuero de España in 1954 to obtain the recognition of the untitled nobility (nobleza llana). In 1953 he founded the review Hidalguía (with the particular aim of challenging false genealogies, fake titles and pseudo orders of chivalry) and the Instituto Internacional de Genealogía y Heráldica. The following year he founded the Instituto Luis de Salazar y Castro and in the following years the Colegio Mayor Marqués de la Ensenada, the Casasolar Santo Duque de Gandia, and the Casa Quinta Vita Natural Durante, each of which were dependent on the Association of Hidalgos.
He also organized two meetings of the International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences
International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences
The International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences is a biennial conference discussing topics of heraldic and genealogical interest. The Congress brings together scholars and other interested persons from all the nations of Europe and from many countries around the world...
in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
(1955 and 1982) and at the former founded the International Commission for Orders of Chivalry , becoming a fellow of this body in 2003. The 15th Congress met in Madrid from the 19th to the 25th of September in 1982 under the presidency of His Royal Highness Infante Carlos, Duke of Calabria
Infante Carlos, Duke of Calabria
Infante Carlos of Spain, Prince of the Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria, KOGF, KGCHS is the son of Don Alfonso of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria and Princess Alicia of Bourbon-Parma .-Biography:Infante Carlos is one of two claimants of the dignity of...
(a cousin to King Juan Carlos I of Spain
Juan Carlos I of Spain
Juan Carlos I |Italy]]) is the reigning King of Spain.On 22 November 1975, two days after the death of General Francisco Franco, Juan Carlos was designated king according to the law of succession promulgated by Franco. Spain had no monarch for 38 years in 1969 when Franco named Juan Carlos as the...
who opened the meeting) with Vicente de Cadenas serving as one of three vice presidents.
He published books and articles on historical themes as well as heraldry, genealogy, chivalric orders and documentary sciences. In 1959, he founded the first school of genealogy in the world. His multi-volume study of the life and achievements of the Emperor Charles V (who was also, King Charles I of Spain)
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
, will remain an important monument to his scholarship and determination.
In 1993, he assisted in the foundation of the Istituto Araldico Genealogico Italiano, persuading the surviving members of the Istituto Italiano di Genealogia ed Araldica to enter the new body and become founding members of the new institution.
On the occasion of his 75th birthday he authorized the foundation of the Association of Owners of Certifications of Genealogy, Nobility and Coat of Arms issued by the Corps of the Cronistas King of Arms of Spain (of which he was President) to protect the lawful owners of these historical heraldic documents.
Honors and appointments
- Bailiff Grand Cross of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint GeorgeSacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint GeorgeThe Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George is a Roman Catholic order of chivalry. It was fictively established by Constantine the Great, though in reality it was founded between 1520 and 1545 by two brothers of the Angeli Comneni family. Members of the Angeli Comneni family remained...
with Collar - Knight of the Order of St. JanuariusOrder of St. JanuariusThe Illustrious Royal Order of Saint Januarius is an order of knighthood bestowed by the head of the Royal House of Bourbon of the Two Sicilies...
- Commander of the Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila ViçosaOrder of the Immaculate Conception of Vila ViçosaThe Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa is an dynastic order of knighthood of the House of Braganza, the former Portuguese Royal Family...
- Commander of the Order of Saint Sava
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Civil MeritOrder of Civil MeritThe Order of Civil Merit was established by HM. King Alfonso XIII of Spain in 1926. The order recognizes “the civic virtue of officers in the service of the Nation, as well as extraordinary service by Spanish and foreign citizens for the benefit of Spain”....
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic