Don Alfonso de Ceballos-Escalera y Gila, Marquess of La Floresta (Madrid, March 4, 1957), is a Spanish lawyer, political scientist, and historian. He holds the titles of Marquess of La Floresta and Viscount of Ayala in the Kingdom of Spain, Duke of Ostuni of the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (Italy), and Count of Xila of the Kingdom of Georgia. He serves as the King of Arms for the Autonomous Community of Castile and León and has authored numerous books on jurisprudence, royalty, nobility, heraldry, and genealogy.

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Biography

He holds a doctorate in Law from the Complutense University of Madrid, a doctorate in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Minho (Portugal), and a doctorate in Medieval and Modern History from UNED. He also holds a bachelor's degree in Nautical Sciences and is a former Merchant Marine Captain and Lieutenant Commander in the Navy's General Corps; he is a certified Security Director (Ministry of the Interior) and holds a University Specialist qualification in Security and Crisis Management from Francisco de Vitoria University (Madrid).

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He serves as the Chronicler of Castile and León and is a senior civil servant (since 1991); he also presides over the Santiago and Santa Isabel Foundation in La Rioja, a non-profit educational institution (since 1980).

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He has taught Geopolitics at the University of Lisbon (Institute of Social and Political Sciences), served as director of the Chair of Maritime Studies at Camilo José Cela University (Madrid), and taught at the Center for Higher National Defense Studies (CESEDEN), the Modern University of Lisbon, the University of Valladolid (Faculty of Law), the Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies, the Naval War College, and the Naval Military Academy.

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In the field of Law, he has practiced as a lawyer since 1982 and works as a university professor.

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In the field of Geopolitics, he has dedicated himself since 1985 to analyzing maritime crises and conflicts, security and peacekeeping in various regions of the world, and counter-terrorism. In the fields of Humanities and Social Sciences, he specializes in the History of Law and Institutions (Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian), Historiographical Sciences and Techniques, Medieval History, and Maritime History. He has dedicated his efforts and research to the history of social events and the history of Hispanic naval power. He has also served as director and editor of the historical journal *Cuadernos de Ayala* since 2000.

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He is the Spanish delegate for the State Agency for Science, Innovation and Informatization of Ukraine and has served as a principal consultant in Spain for the Leonardo Finmeccanica S.p.A. Group (Land and Naval Defense Electronics Division, Rome, Italy) and for the Fondazione Terzo Pilastro Internazionale (Rome, Italy).

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He is a corresponding member of the Royal Academy of History and the Royal Academy of Jurisprudence and Legislation. He is a full member of the Andalusian Academy of History, the Grand Duke of Alba Institution of Ávila, the Melitensian Academy, and the Belgian-Spanish Academy of History. He is a corresponding member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Luis (Zaragoza), the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and Historical Sciences of Toledo, the Royal Majorcan Academy, the Cantabrian Mountain Studies Center, and the Fernán González Institution of Burgos. He has also served as Deputy Director and Secretary-General of the Royal Academy of the Sea; he is a member of the Portuguese Academy of History, the Italian Naval Academy, and the Portuguese Naval Academy; and he is an honorary member of the Association of Graduates in Advanced National Defense Studies (CESEDEN) and the Society for International Studies, as well as a former librarian of the Cervantes Society.

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He has published 48 books and 551 monographs and articles, and has taught courses and delivered numerous lectures in diverse cultural contexts, both nationally and internationally (particularly in France, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Russia, Ukraine, and Albania). Orders, Distinctions, and Honors

Notable among the distinctions and awards received for his studies and work are:

• Commander of the Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III

• Commander of the Orders of Isabella the Catholic, Civil Merit, and Beneficence

• Distinguished Cross (1st Class) of the Order of Saint Raymond of Penyafort

• Silver Cross of the Order of Civil Guard Merit

• Crosses of Naval Merit (two), Military Merit, and Police Merit

• Civil Protection Medal (Blue Distinction)

• Knight of the Legion of Honour (France) and of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic

• Commander of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword (Portugal) and of the Order of the Star of Italy

• Grand Officer of the Order of the Quetzal (Guatemala)

• Grand Cross with Swords of the Order of Merit of Malta (Malta)

• Admiral Ushakov Medal (Russia)

• International Cooperation Medal (Russia)

• Armed Forces Medal of Honor (Ukraine)

• Humanitarian Participation in Counter-Terrorism Operations (Ukraine)

• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (USA)

• "Marqués de Lozoya" National History Award (1994)

• "Flanders" Award (2001)

• "Domingo de Soto" Awards (2002 and 2003)

• International Protocol Award (2008)

• History Award City of Alfaro Award (2009)

• Rocca d'Oro International Award (2015)

• Riace International Award (2019)

• Lifetime Achievement Award (twice)

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King of Arms

The heraldic office of the Spanish King of Arms dates back to the 14th century. Historically, while heralds held titles and positions linked to Iberian provinces or major cities, the Kings of Arms represented the Kingdom of Spain. Appointments were made for the Kings of Arms of Spain, Castile, León, Frechas, Seville, Córdoba, Murcia, Granada (established in 1496 to celebrate the reunification of Spain), Bethune, Estella, Viana, Libertat, Blanc Lévrier, Bonne Foy, Las, Gounzcuant, Lamas, Navarre, Catalonia, Sicily, Aragon, Naples, Toledo, Valencia, and Majorca. Such appointments were for life (*ad vitam*), and at least fifteen Spanish families produced more than one herald over the past five hundred years.

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The persistent state of warfare between the Moorish kingdom and the Christian kingdoms of the medieval Iberian Peninsula helped foster a sense of ethnic identity—or *limpieza de sangre* (purity of blood)—and heraldry became a significant means of expressing national identity. Over time, attempts were made to create coats of arms that distinguished between social classes and ethnicities; Castilian kings restricted the use of coats of arms to members of the nobility under Law 64 of the Cortes of Tudela (1583), a measure confirmed by Law 13 of the Cortes of 1642.

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Since 1915, Kings of Arms have customarily been appointed by the Ministry of Justice and handle civic heraldry for that ministry. Appointed by a decree from the Council of Castile and León dated May 9, 1991—published in the Official Gazette—Marquis Alfonso de Ceballos-Escalera y Gila holds the position of Director General (a high-ranking State official) in his capacity as Chronicler of Arms of Castile and León. However, under Spanish law, the Marquis (as Chronicler of Arms of Castile and León) is authorized to certify the coats of arms—including those of non-noble families—only for the families who request them.

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Marriages and children

Don Alfonso Ceballos-Escalera married Doña Ana Moyano y Vital, with whom he has the following children:

1. Doña Angelina de Ceballos-Escalera y Moyano (b. Madrid, August 1, 1984)

2. Don Antonio de Ceballos-Escalera y Moyano (b. Madrid, September 16, 1987)

3. Don Ignacio de Ceballos-Escalera y Moyano (b. Madrid, December 9, 1988)

4. Doña María Teresa de Ceballos-Escalera y Moyano (b. Segovia, March 13, 1994)

He married a second time to Doña María Jofre y Gómez, born on January 28, 1969, in Madrid. From his second marriage, he has:

1. Don Ramiro de Ceballos-Escalera y Jofre (b. Madrid, March 13, 2002)

2. Doña Isabel de Ceballos-Escalera y Jofre (b. Madrid, January 18, 2005)

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