El Molino del Rey

FIELD MARSHAL THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR ARTHUR WELLESLEY KG GCB GCH, FIRST DUKE OF WELLINGTON

WALTER COWLEY, an English gentleman, was sent to Ireland during the reign of HENRY VII, to watch the conduct of 8th Earl of Kildare, then Lord Deputy of Ireland. He resided at Drogheda, where he acquired some property in 1506.

WALERAN DE WELLESLEY, who is stated to have been of a branch of Wellesley of Wellesley, Somerset, was Justice Itinerant for Ireland, 1261.

GARRET COLLEY-WESLEY, 2nd Baron Mornington, was born in 1735.

His lordship was further advanced, in 1760 to the dignities of Viscount Mornington and EARL OF MORNINGTON.

He married, 1759, Anne, daughter of Arthur, 1st Viscount Dungannon, of Belvoir Park, Newtownbreda, County Down.

Lady Mornington subsequently enjoyed the multiplied glories and well-earned honours of her children.

They had issue,

1.  RICHARD, 2nd Earl of Mornington and 1st Marquess Wellesley.

2.  Arthur Gerald, died in childhood.

3.  WILLIAM, Baron Maryborough.

4.  ARTHUR, Duke of Wellington, KG etc.

and five other offspring.

Hailed as the conquering hero by the nation, Wellesley was created Marquess Douro and Duke of Wellington, titles still held by his successors.

As Sir Arthur did not return to England until the Peninsular War was over, he was awarded all his patents of nobility in a unique ceremony lasting a full day.:

•  Baron Douro, 1809
• Viscount Wellington, 1809
• Earl and Marquess of Wellington, 1812
• Marquess Douro and Duke of Wellington, 1814
• Count of Vimeiro in Portugal, 1811
• Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo, Grandee of Spain 1st Class (Grandeza de España,) 1812
• Duke of Vittoria and Marquess of Torres Vedras in Portugal, 1812
• Prince of Waterloo in the Netherlands, 1815

Although the Great Duke spent nearly six years driving the French Army from Spain and removing Joseph Bonaparte from the Spanish throne, he had received little recognition in Spain.

History, as taught in Spanish schools, minimizes His Grace's contribution and those of the British and Portuguese soldiers that fought with him.

Sir Arthur received some recognition during his lifetime (the title of Duque de Ciudad Rodrigo) and the King of Spain, Ferdinand VII, allowed him to keep part of the works of art from the Royal Collection which he had recovered from the French.

Arthur Charles Valerian Wellesley, OBE, is the 10th Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo and 9th Duke of Wellington.

In addition, as a mark of gratefulness for Sir Arthur's service during the War of Independence against the Napoleonic occupation, the Government of Spain donated in perpetuity a country estate which was built at the beginning of the 19th century called “Prince of La Paz,” Manuel Godoy.

The property, also called “the Tower,” occupies all the old Low Meadow of Íllora, a large estate called El Molino del Rey [the King's Mill] which extends to about 12,000 acres.

Although the 1st Duke never visited the Molino del Rey estate, outside Íllora, near the south-western city of Granada, it was passed down to his heirs and is now the property of the 9th and present Duke.

The principal seat of the Dukes of Wellington is Stratfield Saye House in Hampshire, given to the 1st Duke by a grateful Nation; while their London home remains Apsley House in Piccadilly.

Wellington arms courtesy of European Heraldry.First published in March, 2011.